One of five legendary Chevrolet Corvettes dubbed the "Snake Eaters" is about to go up for grabs.RM Sotheby's will put one of the original 1963 Corvette Grand Sports up for bid this weekend at its annual Monterey sales event. The lightweight racecar is considered one of the most coveted versions of Chevy's most iconic model, which is why it will likely take an eight-figure bid to win this auction.More from Robb ReportAdvertisementAdvertisementInside a $65 Million Mansion in South Florida Inspired by Rolls-RoyceThis 180-Foot Sailing Yacht Lets You Race in a Famous Saint-Tropez RegattaOne of the World's Largest Private Collections of Hiroshige Prints Is Heading to AuctionThe car up for auction is the reason why so much fanfare accompanied the debut of the C8 Grand Sport earlier this year. In 1963, the Corvette's father, Zora Arkus-Duntov, began working secretly on a race car that would be able to best the famed Shelby Cobra. That model, which would eventually be named the Grand Sport, was based on the C2 Sting Ray but featured a more aerodynamic body made of a single piece of thin fiberglass, significantly lighter construction, and a massive V-8. The plan had been to build 125 examples to meet international homologation rules, but Chevy management caught wind of the project and shut it down with just five cars built. Those five would go on to race, though, and are now viewed as some of the most significant factory-built competition Corvettes ever created.1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand SportThe Grand Sport, chassis no. 003, which will cross the block this weekend, is the first of three coupes from the original production run. It spent a few years racing competitively, during which time it was driven by some of the finest American drivers of the era, including A.J. Foyt, Jim Hall, and Augie Pabst. It earned three SCCA class victories in 1963, when it was campaigned by Dick Doane, finished second in class at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1964, and third in class at the same event in 1965. Today, it wears the same blue and white Mecum Racing livery it wore at Sebring in 1964.Chassis no. 003 was fitted with a newly constructed 377-cubic-inch V-8 equipped with four original Weber carburetors in 2024, according to the auction house. The mill, which is mated to a four-speed manual gearbox, pumps out an estimated 600 hp and 600 ft lbs of torque. No performance numbers were provided, but we imagine it's pretty fast, especially since the Grand Sport weighs just 1,900 pounds, or 1,300 pounds less than a standard 1963 Corvette.Inside the 1963 Corvette Grand SportAlready imagining this 'Vette parked in your garage? Well, expect to spend big. RM Sotheby's estimates the 1963 Grand Sport will sell for between $11 million and $13 million at the latest installment of its Monterey sale. The auction runs from Thursday, August 13, to Saturday, August 15.AdvertisementAdvertisementClick here for more photos of the 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport.Best of Robb ReportThe 2024 Chevy C8 Corvette: Everything We Know About the Powerful Mid-Engine BeastThe World's Best Superyacht ShipyardsThe ABCs of Chartering a YachtSign up for RobbReports's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.Click here to read the full article.
