Chevrolet Corvette LT4 Gran Sport : 1996

Chevrolet released the Grand Sport (GS) version in 1996 to mark the end of production of the C4 Corvette.

GM built 1,000 limited edition Grand Sports for the 1996 model run... 810 coupes and 190 convertibles. GM records indicate that of these, 976 Domestic (US), 13 Canadian, and 11 European exports were produced. Only one convertible is believed to have been exported to Europe and all exports were believed to have black interior.

The Grand Sport came only in Admiral Blue with a white stripe down the middle, black wheels and red stripes on the front left wheel arch which added to its distinctive look.

The 1996 Grand Sport Highlights include...
The Grand Sport option (RPO Z16) included the LT4 engine, which was only available with the 6-speed manual transmission, special Admiral Blue paint with Arctic White racing stripe down the center of the car and two red hashmarks over the left front fender commemorating the 1963 Grand Sport Corvettes. Unique Grand Sport badging was placed on each side of the hood above the side fender vents as well as a unique chrome plated Corvette emblem on the nose and gas lid.

Grand Sports were available in both Coupe ($3250 option) and Convertible ($2880 option) versions. Only 1,000 were built consisting of 810 coupes and 190 convertibles. Grand Sport Coupes were equipped with P275/40ZR-17 tires on 17x9.5" wheels in front and P315/35ZR-17 tires on 17x11" wheels in the rear. Grand Sport Convertibles were equipped with P255/45ZR-17 tires on 17x8.5" wheels in front and P285/40ZR-17 tires on 17x9.5" wheels in the rear. Coupes came equipped with molded fender flares above the rear wheel arches while the convertibles did not. Grand Sport Wheels were the same as the 1994-1995 ZR-1's 5 spoke wheels except painted with a glossy black finish and a 50mm offset rather than the ZR-1's 36mm. Special gloss black finished front brake calipers with the "Corvette" name in bright aluminum were also part of the Grand Sport option as well.

Interior color choices for the Grand Sport were limited to all black, or a unique Torch Red and Black combination... red seats & trim but with black carpeting. The "Grand Sport" name was embroidered on the seat headrests.

All Grand Sport equipped Corvettes came with their own unique Vehicle Identification Number sequence, distinct from regular production 1996 Corvettes. The only other Corvette to have had a unique VIN sequence was the 1990-195 ZR-1.

The Z16 Grand Sport RPO was a 1-year only option for 1996 Corvettes. The production run for the Grand Sport ran from April 3rd, 1995 for GS VIN #0001 and ended with GS VIN #1000 on June 14th, 1996.

The LT4 engine was only available with a four speed transmission. This was the last year for the C-4 style Corvette.

Some people refer to Grand Sports as "Skunks".

(source: Grand Sport Registry).