By Dean Larson

Photos courtesy of Hillbank Motor Corp.

When it comes to Corvette Grand Sport replicas, it’s most often chassis No. 003 with its white-on-blue paint scheme and No. 2 roundel that we see. With the connection to famed racer Bob Bondurant this makes sense, but I have to admit, it’s not the GS I’d choose if I had deeper pockets. For me, it would be a choice between GS 004 or GS 005, both hardtops with history, but seldom seen in replica form. There’s something about 005 with its 50-50 white and blue paintwork that has always stuck out to me, but this GS on the RCN classifieds is making a strong case for No. 004.

This Grand Sport Offered by Hillbank Motor Corp. in Irvine, California, is an ideal combination for an authentic-looking, drivable GS. While you’ll first have to stop at one of Hillbank’s recommended installers, the Vette has been prepped for a new GM Performance LT1 V8 (included), which was developed for the C7 Corvette. The conservative 460 hp made by the stock LT1 is manually shifted by a Tremec T-56 magnum six-speed transmission. While this combination sports a couple extra gears and electronic fuel injection, drivability and reliability should be greatly improved, and those stainless steel side pipes should provide a convincing soundtrack.

Thanks to a licensing agreement with GM, Superformance is able to sell a highly authentic Grand Sport with the correct badging, details and all the right lines. From the well-engineered hood bulge to the rear fender scoops and differential oil cooler, the Superformance GS is a mirror image of the original. 

A Grand Sport without the right wheels and tires wouldn't be quite as grand, and the Superformance GS is one of the only ones to get it right here. Deep 15-inch magnesium wheels in an “as-cast” finish wrapped in big, ultra-sticky Avon CR6ZZ tires look right, but I’d really like to see them sport the gold finish they did originally.

Only five original Grand Sports were ever built, and those cars are firmly in a price bracket titled "not for sale." A Superformance replica like this one is about the closest thing to the original that you can get without a custom build, but it comes at a price. This car, with the optional aesthetics and driveline package comes in at $169,270, about $60,000 over the GS base price. 

Check out the listing here on the RCN classifieds.