Grand Sport returns!

[carboman]

I see there are posts on several Corvette sites that GM is bringing the Grand Sport Corvette back for 2010. Not much actual detail seems to be know, just lots of guessing. What color blue will they use? Will it have Z06 style fenders in the rear and or the front? Will the HP be elevated? It does appear it will be available in coupe and conv body styles since there is a model code for each in GM's internal computer system. My guess is they will unveil the car and details at the annual bash at the museum this coming April 23rd - 25th.

[Silver O Six]

There are always special or limited additions as body styles (C6) age.
I guess it's a way of boosting sales.

It's a good thing though.;aw;aw

[carboman]

There are always special or limited additions as body styles (C6) age.
I guess it's a way of boosting sales.

It's a good thing though.;aw;aw

We'll have to wait and see if they bump the HP.

[Silver O Six]

The question with the HP is how. 1. LS3 blown 2. LS4?? 3. Briggs and Stratton twin:D

[carboman]

The question with the HP is how. 1. LS3 blown 2. LS4?? 3. Briggs and Stratton twin:D

My guess is LS4. Either a direct injected version of LS3 with 450hp or just a cam'd LS3 with 450hp and avail only with a stick. I wonder if the 2010 Z06 will be moving to the 550hp+ supercharged LS8 from the CTS-V

[Silver O Six]

Will they do all that with the economic issues? I would agree that would get the blood flowing and get buyers excited.

Did the '96 have any performance goodies?

[carboman]

Will they do all that with the economic issues? I would agree that would
get the blood flowing and get buyers excited.

Did the 96' have any performance goodies?

The 96 GS coupe and special edition cars had a 10% hp bump over the standard car. Of course that was still only 330hp and with a stick only.

All the details are in the link below.

http://www.idavette.net/facts/96.htm

[Glennm27]

A C6 Grand Sport would be cool.

There really is an abundance of 07, 08 and 09 models still unsold throughout the US. I wonder if this Grand Sport is really a good idea?

[carboman]

A C6 Grand Sport would be cool.

There really is an abundance of 07, 08 and 09 models still unsold throughout the US. I wonder if this Grand Sport is really a good idea?

Who knows if it will ever be built. GM had announced a new competition package for 2010 that will be available on coupes and Z06's but it's just a bunch of tape stripes, etc added to existing options. With so many unsold cars on dealer lots it will be many months before the existing inventory gets close to used up.

I have to wonder if GM will start yhe plant back up at the end of Feb as previously announced. GM did announce that the Caddillac XLR is dead so that take production and jobs out of Bowling Green and only increases the cost of building Corvettes.

Would GM consider just skipping over the 2010 model. With what's left in the pipeline they could get into late summer and still have cars sitting on lots.

[Torch Red Ryder]

Mark, is this the GS you were posting information on?

http://www.corvettemuseum.com/specs/2009csp/index.shtml

[novat_99]

Mark, is this the GS you were posting information on?

http://www.corvettemuseum.com/specs/2009csp/index.shtml

That looks like the newly announced Competition Package for 2010 that Mark mentioned above that includes a bunch of stickers...the GS would be something different (if they actually do it).

Tom

[Glennm27]

Mark, is this the GS you were posting information on?

http://www.corvettemuseum.com/specs/2009csp/index.shtml

;nnn ;nnn

He's talking about a 2010 C6 that will have the appearance of a 1996 Grand Sport. Radar Blue with the white stripes and red hash marks.

It is just a rumor floating around GM. Many times in the past those rumors end up being reality.

Probably just a cosmetic thing this time around would be my guess. Maybe something like a coupe and/or convertible with wider (Z06) fenders and bigger brakes and GS colors and stripes.

[carboman]

Bob,

I had seen the Competition Sport option package that GM said will be available for the 2010 coupe and Z06. The GS is completely different and it appears that GM has designated two new model codes for a 2010 coupe and 2010 conv GS. If they follow past practice the coupes will get some sort of wider body work, possible Z06 rear fenders. As for the rag tops I doubt they will have the wider fenders since the rear quarter panels on coupe and convs are not the same so the Z06 fenders won't just bolt on.

In addition to the CS option package and GS model there's now another rumor that GM will offer some sort of C6R commemorative model in either black and/or yellow with stripes, jake skulls and who knows what in the way of stripes and other gingerbread.

GM has of course had several special(?) editions of C6's so far. Both Ron Fellows and 427 Will Cooksley Z06 editions as well as 2 different C6 pace cars and the ZHZ Hertz rent-a-vette. They've also had a couple of export only special editions. So far not one of these special(?) editions has had any extra performance capabilities that you couldn't already get. I'm guess the GS will have something special. Maybe Z06 brakes and sway bars, maybe a hotter cammed engine with 450hp, available with a 6spd stick only?

One thing I am confident of, Production of 2009 and 2010 Corvettes will be among the lowest in quite a long time. There are still hundreds of days of inventory on dealer lots. The special and or limited options and models for 2010 will help GM build interest in, and gain profit from the Corvette. With the XLR going away after 2009 the full expense of running Bowling Green falls back on the Corvette. These are interesting times in the auto industry to say the least.

[Glennm27]

................. If they follow past practice the coupes will get some sort of wider body work, possible Z06 rear fenders. As for the rag tops I doubt they will have the wider fenders since the rear quarter panels on coupe and convs are not the same so the Z06 fenders won't just bolt on.

................... .

C6 Coupe and Convertibles share the same exact fenders front & rear.
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee217/14vision/800x600b005.jpg

[carboman]

C6 Coupe and Convertibles share the same exact fenders front & rear.
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee217/14vision/800x600b005.jpg

Those may be Carvaggio rear fenders. I had seen guys with convs that did the wide body that said the factory rear fenders don't fit without modifications.

[Glennm27]

Those may be Carvaggio rear fenders. I had seen guys with convs that did the wide body that said the factory rear fenders don't fit without modifications.

Sorry sir, those are OEM GM rear quarters. There is absolutely no difference between coupe and convertible rear quarters.

GM may have proven to be sudstandard in many practices, but they were smart enough not to make that mistake (of making different quarter panels for two cars running the same assembly line)

I know the owner of this car.
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee217/14vision/800x600b010.jpg

[carboman]

Sorry sir, those are OEM GM rear quarters. There is absolutely no difference between coupe and convertible rear quarters.

GM may have proven to be sudstandard in many practices, but they were smart enough not to make that mistake (of making different quarter panels for two cars running the same assembly line)

I know the owner of this car.
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee217/14vision/800x600b010.jpg

You are correct sir. The difference turns out to be in the wheel tubs and or mounting of the tubs. I guess the power top hardware requires some additional clearance that may intrude in the rear tub area a bit.

Is it just me or does the paint on the rear quarters in the picture above not match the rear facia?

FYI, over 6,500 2009 Corvettes still on dealer lots.

[Torch Red Ryder]

Is it just me or does the paint on the rear quarters in the picture above not match the rear facia?

It does look like the rear fascia was painted at a different time and place than the rest of the car.

[Rick and Arleen Ball]

You are correct sir. The difference turns out to be in the wheel tubs and or mounting of the tubs. I guess the power top hardware requires some additional clearance that may intrude in the rear tub area a bit.

Is it just me or does the paint on the rear quarters in the picture above not match the rear facia?

FYI, over 6,500 2009 Corvettes still on dealer lots.
They do look different.
That is a Beautiful convt.