Grand Sport 005

[Richard S.]

Does anyone know the whereabouts and/or status of Grand Sport 005, once owned and raced in Montreal in 1965?

[John H.]

Re: Grand Sport 005

Yes, it's owned (and just finished complete restoration) by Bill Tower, in Plant City, Florida. #001, #002, and #003 are also restored, alive and well, and #004 is owned by the Miles Collier Collection in Naples, Florida and is currently undergoing a complete restoration.

[Michael S.]

Re: Grand Sport 005

I believe Mr. Tower has owned the car since the late 60's.

[Richard S.]

Re: Grand Sport 005

The book entitled "Corvette Grand Sport" by Lowell C. Paddock and Dave Friedman gets the 004 and 005 Grand Sports all mixed up. Is there another book or books or some other reference I can refer to for information on 005? Thanks.

[John H.]

Re: Grand Sport 005

Rick -

I guess I don't know what you mean by "mixed-up", but that book is the best single reference work I know of for the Grand Sports; I've followed those five cars for many years (especially #003, after which I modeled my D&D replica, with thanks to Tom Armstrong), including the sale of #001 immediately after the recent Monterey Historic Races. #005 wasn't raced as actively by name drivers as the others were, so there isn't a lot written about its history. Bill Tower has done a wonderful job bringing #005 back to life, especially considering its sorry shape when he started.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Grand Sport 005

John,

Who bought/sold it?

At this point in life I have a hard time keeping the coupes straight, especially since two are blue. The 005 of Tower's is easy, since he painted it two tone. I just know which one you and I drooled over in Monterey (#3, yes?).

Patrick

[John Daly]

Re: Grand Sport 005

John,
Do you know how much grand sport #1 sold for ? I heard it was well into the millions of dollars.
John

[John H.]

Re: Grand Sport 005

Patrick -

Rob Walton (of Wal-Mart fame) bought #001 from Gene Schiavone in 1998 (high six figures), and sold it to Harry Yeaggy (Cincinnati, Ohio) right after winning the Group 7 race at Monterey in August. Don't know what the price was, but I'm sure it wasn't any less than Rob paid for it in 1988, and the pit buzz is that it was WELL over a million. #001 was sold in 1966 for $2,000, and again in 1983 for $20,000. The Grand Sport on display in the Doubletree lobby was Tom Armstrong's #003; Tom ran the PacWest Racing Indy Car (CART) team for Bruce McCaw (the cable billionaire) before retiring two years ago. All five Grand Sports are expected to be at the Amelia Island Concours in March, if #004's restoration is completed by then - it's been stored and hasn't turned a wheel since 1987.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Grand Sport 005

Who owned #4 before the museum in Florida? Just trying to get them all straight.

Patrick

[Richard S.]

Re: Grand Sport 005

John, sorry for the late reply...I've been travelling. The book definately mixes up the history of 004 and 005.... and 005 did have some great name drivers,(005 was raced in Nassau)not to mention the Canadian owner. So, I guess there are no other references of any use or does anyone know any other source? Where can I see 005 or contact Bill Tower? Thanks for your help and contribution.

[John H.]

Re: Grand Sport 005

Patrick -

#004 was owned for many years by Jamey Mazzotta (California), and he restored it in 1986; he raced it at the Chevrolet 75th Anniversary celebration at the Monterey Historics in 1987, and sold it after that race to Miles Collier, and it's been in storage ever since. Jamey now owns the Parnelli Jones/Bud Moore Engineering Mustang Boss 302 Trans-Am car, and drove it in the Trans-Am race at Monterey in August.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Grand Sport 005

John,

OK, I would have guessed right. I think the car was at Bloomington in the mid-90's as well. It's got the number 50, right?

I saw Jamey and the Rustang at Monterey, so I know which one you're talking about. I wondered why he didn't have his GS there. Now I know.

Patrick