The Cobra Killer Chevrolet Refused To Build

From 1963 - '65, the Shelby Cobra dominated SCCA production sports car racing and made history. And these successes further cemented Carroll Shelby's legendary status. But history could have been different if Zora Arkus-Duntov had realized his plans for producing a special lightweight version of the Corvette, called the Grand Sport. From a handful of races, the Grand Sport proved it was a match for the Cobra, but GM execs made sure the project never got going.

[@TheGravitywerks]

Lived on the same street as Jim Hall in Midland Tx, as sixth graders my friends and I would sometimes walk with he and his wife (the took nightly walks on pleasant evenings) and ask him what he had going on, ..curious about what he had cooking (we were all hot rod, race car fans..racing slot cars, etc..)...we were often disappointed with "the good stuff is in the shop..", when we got to his garage (hoping to see the "good stuff'). Thanks for the video!

[@theroaringseason380]

Thanks for sharing your memories! Thats so cool

[@jamesblair9614]

It’s the 427 Cobras that get all the attention, but when they were actually new cars, every Cobra I saw racing was a 289, and make no mistake, they were thrilling! I also saw Cheetah racing, I think it was Jerry Grant, it looked poor from a distance, and only got worse the closer I got.

[@raykaufman7156]

I think the AC Ace suspension design actually dated back to 1639... 😂 Years ago, I had to have new leaf springs made for a customer Cobra. Imagine telling a blacksmith you need spring leaf eyes rolled to within 1/8" in length.

[@ktriebol]

It would have been nice to hear some comments about the Grand Sports that are currently being built by Superformance. They are considered continuation cars from the original Grand Sport series, and are the only manufacturer that is fully licensed by GM to produce Grand Sports. The Superformance Grand Sport is quite a car.

[@markhale8084]

Licensing just means you are paying sufficient monies to be able to use somebody else’s intellectual property.

[@ktriebol]

@@markhale8084 Superformance is using GM's intellectual property to faithfully recreate these Grand Sports. Isn't that how you would want it done? Superformance obtained original drawings, molds, tooling, etc. from GM to ensure an accurate reproduction. That is why GM gave this license to Superformance and no one else. It is an exclusive license.

[@markhale8084]

GM didn’t “give” the license to Superformance, it was paid for. Superformance makes no claim that the car is a “faithful” recreation, reproduction, copy or facsimile of an original Grand Sport…heck, they clearly state that they have developed their own platform and that their version “pays homage” to the original.

[@grantwatson9232]

Can you do a follow on about the Cheetah which was the next attempt by Zora through Bill Thomas. G

[@theroaringseason380]

Sounds like a plan, one of my all time favorites

[@markhale8084]

But since GM didn’t build the requisite number of cars to be homologated as a production car (nor did Bill Thomas and GM with the Cheetah) its a comparison (to Cobra or GT350) that is irrelevant…Just like Ferrari and the 250 LM, you got to build enough, otherwise you race as a prototype. Coulda, shoulda just don’t cut it.

[@theroaringseason380]

But given the Grand Sport was intended to be a GT car, and was hobbled by the compromises of being a GT car, with the intention of building it in the required numbers, its only fair to compare it to other GT cars. As for the 250 LM, this was more a case of Enzo trying to sneak one past the FIA

[@markhale8084]

@@theroaringseason380 But intending to do something vs actually doing are two different things. The Cobra and GT350 were built in sufficient numbers to be homologated as production cars while the Corvette Grand Sport, Cheetah, and 250 LM were not. BTW…your material is the among the best on interweb and I thoroughly enjoy it all…I really liked the videos on the 64 Falcon Sprint that was a Graham Hill replica as well as the articles on the 64 Falcon Sprints down under in general (finding, building, racing, etc). I have many (if not most) of the books on your shelf AND I have both an original 67 GT500 (now with an original side oiler) and a 63.5 Falcon Sprint ragtop…if you find yourself in California for Monterey, Velocity, or maybe Shelby American Automobile Club National Convention, let me knownand I’ll buy you a frosty one (or 2 or 3)! All the best mate!

[@johnbecker70]

Might have been more relevant pitted against the big block Cobra, as it was developed in part due to the Grand Sport and also wasn’t homologated. That would be a more interesting comparison, as demonstrated at the Bahama Speed Weeks. The bean counters killed the potential entertainment for us all.

[@theroaringseason380]

@@markhale8084 thank you, I really appreciate it. You have some cool cars there

[@craigyirush3492]

But couldn’t the 100 homologation cars have been like the street GT350s or the street 289s rather than pure race cars? Ps Can you list the magazines and other sources you used (e.g., the article in the Grand Sport you showed). Just ordered your book on the Racing Mustangs!

[@theroaringseason380]

I'd think the biggest issue would be the alloy block 377 motor. Ferrari managed to sneak the 250 GTO through by suggesting it used an 'optional body' on the 250 GT SWB chassis. So technically the Grand Sport should be eligible to do the same. Thanks for your support. Hope you enjoy the book

[@markhale8084]

@@theroaringseason380 just like Shelby did with the Daytonas coupes…a body change was allowed by the FIA. Thing folks need to understand about the GS, however, is that nothing was really shared with the production Sting Ray, entirely different chassis with a 7/8 scale body…heck, GS even had a trunk!

[@maxmustermann9269]

interesting topic BUT horrible editing! you could hardly understand anything and on top you get distraced by music...