Grand Sport - 1996To commemorate the twilight of Corvette's remarkable, 13-year fourth generation (C-4), the company offered another "Collector Edition" with a Metallic Sebring Silver exterior, as well as a special, limited-run "Grand Sport" in Admiral Blue with a wide white center stripe and special detailing.
The Grand Sport option was inspired by the five Grand Sport models built in 1963. Yet another small block, 350ci, V-8 engine was developed exclusively for the 1996 Corvette, the LT4. It was rated at 330 horsepower, 30 more than the traditional LT1 and featured a higher compression ratio; a new aluminum head design; new camshaft profile, and roller rocker arms. The rpm redline increased to 6,300 over the 1991-developed LT1's 5,700. The LT4 was standard on the Grand Sport and optional on other models, but only with six-speed manual transmissions.
Production in 1996 saw 17,167 coupes and 4,369 convertibles built. Of these, 5,412 were Collector Edition models and 1,000 were Grand Sports. The latter options added $1,250 and $3,250, respectively, to the price of the basic car. Base coupes sold for $37,225 and convertibles for $45,060.
Thus, the fourth generation of Corvette drew to a close.
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