Once my company started to take off, I made it a practice of getting a new Corvette every 2 -3 years as my company car. I continued to be thrilled at the improvements that were being made to this car. 1996 Corvette was the final year of the C4. The 1996 introduced the new LT4 engine, with 330 horsepower, and was available only with the 6-speed manual transmission.
Not only did I take this new offering, but I decided it was time for a convertible again. By this time, I was firmly committed to my Corvettes being red, otherwise the new Grand Sport would have been my choice. When I purchased a new Corvette in 1998, I presented this car to my Chief Financial Officer. He resides in Florida, where this car still sits in his garage in pristine condition.
Chevrolet commemorated the ending of the fourth generation of Corvettes by making two special edition Corvettes available. Both of these special editions feature the LT4 engine, which was showcased in both the Collectors Edition Corvette and a limited edition Grand Sport Corvette.
There is a special significance that goes along with the “Grand Sport” nameplate. The 1996 Corvette Grand Sport Coupe tributes the most famous competition Corvettes ever, the 1963 Grand Sport lightweight racers. Only five Grand Sports were built, but these Sting-Ray based machines made history in a hurry, and then they were gone. The 1996 Grand Sport is the highest performance regular-production Corvette you can buy. It showcases the new 330-hp, LT4 V8 engines, F45 suspension with new Selective Real Time Damping, and Acceleration Slip Regulation (traction control). The 1996 Grand Sport recalls the original racer appearance of 1963- with Arctic White striping on vivid Admiral Blue paint.
