8. Q: I've heard that all Grand Sports started out as white Corvettes. Is this true?

A: No. This is another favorite old wives tale that insists that when GM was producing the Grand Sport, they started off with an Arctic White Corvette, then masked it off and painted the non-stripe areas Admiral Blue. There is an off white, primer base below the blue but its not an Arctic White finish coat. The rumor was probably started by someone who ran their fingernail over the pinstripes on a GS and noted that it caught on the blue, not the white, hence they assumed (incorrectly) that the blue paint was applied over white. The secret is that the pinstripes are not paint at all but rather tape with two parallel colors, white and blue. GM used tape for the pinstripes (and hashmarks) because they found it too difficult to paint. Understandable since the "skunk" stripe varies in width from front to back.

PeteK wrote:
2 questions.
1) Does that make me a poser?
2) Does the blue paint have white as the base coat?

Durango_Boy wrote:
I saw a C3 clone of a GS once and I was very impressed. The blue / white stripe and black rims really are quite stunning no matter which generation it's used on.

bogus wrote:
Why not?

I do wonder... real GS's have manuals... why not go that way? Or are you gonna drag it?

I agree with grizzly... if you don't claim it to be a real deal, then who cares.

CSS996 wrote:
Those fenders look like ass anyway. Tacked-on garbage. Not worth your money. And they cost a lot, I seem to remember reading...

Of course you will share plenty of pix of the build, right?

CSS996 wrote:
Those fenders look like ass anyway. Tacked-on garbage. Not worth your money. And they cost a lot, I seem to remember reading...

88BlackZ51 wrote:
I didn't expect this from you Pete. I was under the impression that your old girl was going to get a big cubic inch motor starting with the number 4xx.

I personally wouldn't do the stripes, but that's just me. I think it only belongs on the 96 GS. The factory did it right with the car, and too many ppl do it wrong!

tobijohn wrote:
Quote:

CSS996 wrote:
Those fenders look like ass anyway. Tacked-on garbage. Not worth your money. And they cost a lot, I seem to remember reading...

I wasn't always of that opinion but I seem to be leaning that way now. There's another way to get 315s under the rear fender wells and if you can provide the labor, it's a lot cheaper than a set of those GS flares. With a little minor machine work and using the narrower 84-87 rear spindles with the GS offset rims (50mm), the bigger tires will fit nicely. If anyone's interested, PM me with an email address and I'll send you a pdf of the original how-to article (Big Weenies) from the November 93 Vette magazine.

The first pic is an "after" shot of the mod, the second pic is a current "before" shot of mine. Both cars have the 11" 50mm offset rear rims and GY GSD3 315/35/17 tires...

PeteK wrote:
Quote:

88BlackZ51 wrote:
I didn't expect this from you Pete. I was under the impression that your old girl was going to get a big cubic inch motor starting with the number 4xx.

I personally wouldn't do the stripes, but that's just me. I think it only belongs on the 96 GS. The factory did it right with the car, and too many ppl do it wrong!

I have owned the 87 for 18 years now, and I promised myself I would not cut it up.

I have been looking for a GS for a while now that is priced right. They don't exist. Not in the price range I am willing to spend.

I am not a fan of C5's, so a GS clone it shall be.
I have a complete drivetrain I could install now, with an engine that begins with 4, but only ends in "06".
Time to go fast, and look good at the same time. I will do the GS exterior to be identical to a real GS, but with a black interior. Even though most of the world likes them with the red guts, I don't.

88BlackZ51 wrote:
Quote:

PeteK wrote:
Quote:

88BlackZ51 wrote:
I didn't expect this from you Pete. I was under the impression that your old girl was going to get a big cubic inch motor starting with the number 4xx.

I personally wouldn't do the stripes, but that's just me. I think it only belongs on the 96 GS. The factory did it right with the car, and too many ppl do it wrong!

I have owned the 87 for 18 years now, and I promised myself I would not cut it up.

I have been looking for a GS for a while now that is priced right. They don't exist. Not in the price range I am willing to spend.

I am not a fan of C5's, so a GS clone it shall be.
I have a complete drivetrain I could install now, with an engine that begins with 4, but only ends in "06".
Time to go fast, and look good at the same time. I will do the GS exterior to be identical to a real GS, but with a black interior. Even though most of the world likes them with the red guts, I don't.

Gotcha. What do you mean by cut it up?

So you are going to get GS seats as well? Have you driven a 02-04 Z06. It's quite the machine. Pete, have you thought about finding one with a ZF6. I drove a 02 SS Camaro the other day with over 500rwhp, and it was an auto. It would of been more enjoyable if it was a manual tranny car. Your not old yet, nothing like rowing threw the gears!

PeteK wrote:
For me, an auto is enjoyable. When I race, I drag race. And when I go, I go to win. Rowing gears is not the best way for me to achieve that. And no. I am not gay
Maybe old though.

bogus wrote:
The GS is going to be uber valuable in years to come.

The clone is the best way to have the look without the guilt.

Besides, with the unique serial number scheme, they are damned near impossible to really clone.

PeteK wrote: I can fit both into the budget, but not in the garage.

TommyT-Bone wrote:
For you guys who don't want to clone around, here are the GSR classifieds. I've been there a time or two before. Seems like there are fewer and fewer stock models around as they get older. Except of course the high dollar cars. Makes a clone seem that much more logical.



http://www.grandsportregistry.com/classifieds.htm

PeteK wrote:
I think I am going to do the clone.
I am packing to move back to Pa,

PeteK wrote:


After looking at that link, there is no way I would buy a real one. $30,000 + for blue paint, and a 330 hp engine is rediculous.
$12,000 car with a $18,000 vin tag, in my opinion.
I could build a better car for less than 1/2 the money. And when I toss a rod, slide in the oil and smack the wall, it would hurt much less.

anesthes wrote:
Quote:

PeteK wrote:
I think I am going to do the clone.
I am packing to move back to Pa,

Got sick of us that quick Pete ?

-- Joe

anesthes wrote:
Quote:

PeteK wrote:


After looking at that link, there is no way I would buy a real one. $30,000 + for blue paint, and a 330 hp engine is rediculous.
$12,000 car with a $18,000 vin tag, in my opinion.
I could build a better car for less than 1/2 the money. And when I toss a rod, slide in the oil and smack the wall, it would hurt much less.

I said something similar the other day on corvette forum and I was told I was "LOLOLROTFLMAO STUPID LOLO IDIOT LOLO"


-- Joe

BillH wrote:
Where in Pa?

I grew up there.

PeteK wrote:


Not at all Joe. New England is beautiful, but family illness requires I return to Pa. Other factors as well, primarily financial. Very expensive here, and because I travel for a living, it is a financial burden to be here.
I will still be back once a month or so to spend some time in the Lawrence office.
I will not miss the bullshit traffic on 93 though.

PeteK wrote:

I made the same post on CF and said the same thing there. They can bust my balls all they want, ain't gonna change my mind. Although I am a huge fan of any vette (especially the c4) It is just a car.
I already own the drivetrain for it, so I am convinced I can build a nice one for 10K or less with 7-8K as a target budget. Ultimately, it is me I aim to please. You and I share alot of the same opinions.

PeteK wrote:
Quote:

TommyT-Bone wrote:
For you guys who don't want to clone around, here are the GSR classifieds. I've been there a time or two before. Seems like there are fewer and fewer stock models around as they get older. Except of course the high dollar cars. Makes a clone seem that much more logical.



http://www.grandsportregistry.com/classifieds.htm

After looking at that link, there is no way I would buy a real one. $30,000 + for blue paint, and a 330 hp engine is rediculous.
$12,000 car with a $18,000 vin tag, in my opinion.
I could build a better car for less than 1/2 the money. And when I toss a rod, slide in the oil and smack the wall, it would hurt much less.

CSS996 wrote:
Wait for it.....

That interior is really going to give you away. Patience Grasshopper...