Danbury Mint / 1996 Corvette Grand Sport Coupe / 1:24th Scale

Admiral Blue

Scale 1:24; 7-1/2" in length.

  Chevy’s ’96 Vette was the last of a breed, the fourth generation (C4) to be exact, and it went out in Grand style. Corvette fashioned 5412 special Sebring Silver Collector Edition coupes and convertibles and made an even smaller number of Grand Sports. GS Coupes numbered 810 while GS Convertibles counted for 190 of the total 1000 made. All Grand Sports received the LT4 engine, 350ci 330hp, but there was a choice of all black or a red/black interior, as represented by this replica. Only the Coupe featured the rear fender flare over the wheel well arch but both were painted in Admiral Blue with a wide white center stripe, flanked on either side by a white pinstripe and two red LeMans-style “hash marks” on the front driver’s side fender. ZR1-style, five spoke wheels rounded out the package and were painted black for a purposeful look. All these details were selected to bring back memories of the short-lived but successful Grand Sport racing program of the ‘60’s.

  Danbury scores top honors on this effort. As usual, the paint work is phenomenal. Admiral Blue has a slight, but hard to duplicate, purple influence and Danbury nailed it. The white-as-snow center stripe is crisp with razor-sharp flanking stripes to accent their larger brethren. As with the ZR-1 and LE ’96 coupe, the interior is especially well done. The seats look like they have just been sat in. The center console actually opens. The gauge face and array of buttons and switches show up nicely, and the fit of the clamshell hood, doors (on internal hinges), and opening hatch window is particularly tight and precise, and so is the removable top panel. It locates with two tiny pins on the back of the panel and lies flat on the windshield frame. Both the hood and hatch are outfitted with telescoping prop rods, one for the hood and two pneumatic rods for the rear hatch. And, just like on the real C4’s, the removable roof panel stows neatly (flipped 180° to point backwards) in the storage area behind the seats. Yes, the fuel door opens to reveal the gas cap. Folks have asked if an antenna is included with DM’s C4 models. Our review for the ZR1 addresses this and bears repeating here. On the 1:1 car, the antenna comes up through a rubber gasket. It retracts completely into the car body when the radio is turned off. DM made a conscious decision to replicate the model with the radio off since there would be no easy way for collectors to get the antenna out of the body. That's dedication to detail. The chrome-foiled Corvette emblems are carried forward from the last C4 model, front and back, but metal “Grand Sport” emblems now join the show on the sides of the hood.

  In typical DM fashion, the under-the-hood modeler’s art will consistently thrill the detail seeker. Infinitely tiny metal lines combine with rubber tubes to replicate fluid hoses. Brake lines, plug wires and painted detail on the fuel rail covers complete a perfectly miniaturized presentation of the engine bay. Sitting on working suspension, the model’s ride height stance is spot-on. The overall look, feel and subject matter of the Grand Sport does a precision diecast collector’s heart proud. If you are a fan of Chevy’s all-American sports car, you have another measure of glee to look forward to with this beauty.

Part #: DM1366M

Condition: Mint in the Box w/ title & care

Price: 0.00

Status: SOLD! Thanks Ashton