Superformance is a company that has been around for quite some time. Best known for building very high quality reproductions of the Shelby 427 Cobra, Daytona Coupe and GT40, they have now turned to making a highly accurate replica of the 1963 Corvette Grand Sport Corvette.
Ironically, the Corvette Grand Sport was brought out, sort of on the sly, as Chevy’s response to the Cobras. The Superformance Grand Sport is not your run of the mill, Fiero-based kit car, it’s a licensed replica of the original Corvette engineered by the legendary Zora Arkus-Duntov.
Duntov wanted to develop a purpose-built-race car to win Sebring and Le Mans, and starting in the early 1960s, and working in secret, Duntov and his staff at Chevrolet went ahead and without authorization, built a total of five specially engineered prototype racers based on the 1963 Corvette. Four were coupes, and one was a targa-esque convertible.
The GM execs never approved the program, however, and the production of the necessary 125 street-legal cars that were required for racing-class homologation were never built. Ergo, although the five constructed were very impressive, the whole thing was stopped before it ever really got started.
Superformance’s replica is practically a clone of the original lacking only an engine and transmission. Superformance, as part of their licensing deal acquired the original blue prints and molds from the No2 Grand Sport. That would be the chassis that Chevy converted from coupe to roadster before the project was canceled.
The Superformance Grand Sport clone will come as either a coupe or a roadster, the choice will be up to the buyer, and it can be fitted with any crate engine presently on hand from GM’s Performance Parts division. And even better, the Superformance licensed replica can be ordered to be completely street legal, unlike the original prototypes.
The first completed street version rollers will be available sometime in mid 2010 according to Superformance, and although pricing has not been announced, if you’re interested, you can find out more and even place your order by calling the company at (949) 900-1950.
Personally, I’d go for the roadster (the coupes were notoriously hot inside) and have it liveried like it was when Roger Penske raced it. Yes, Roger Penske used to race cars, not just run race teams.
Source: CarScoop
Sponsor: 1969 corvette
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