The Perfect American Sports Car— 1963 Corvette Grand Sport

Sometimes a slogan doesn’t mean very much. Take for example Exxon’s “Happy Motoring” or Pontiac’s “We Are Driving Excitement” – given the ever-increasing price of gas and the recent demise of an entire GM brand, these slogans may ring hollow in many ears. However, at Philadelphia’s Simeone Foundation Museum, home of a car collection that was personally selected over the course of 50 years by a man passionate about sports racers; their tag line – “Celebrating the Spirit of Competition” – tells you just everything you need to know about what’s inside.

Birth of the Grand Sport

While love for Corvettes may be one of America’ strongest automotive passions, the marque’s real “Faithful” lose their bearings when it comes to the Grand Sports – especially the original few built in secret in 1962 by Corvette chief engineer, Zora Arkus-Duntov. To the un-initiated, it may be difficult to explain this crazy attraction for racecars that never really won anything important. Even Doctor Simeone, current owner of #002 – the most original of the original Grand Sports – struggled with his decision to buy a car that lacks a serious competition history. But this love for the breed exists and there are none better than our subject GS002 Corvette.