Why This Car Is Special

The 2011 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport occupies a specific and well-earned place in the C6 lineup. It sits between the base Corvette and the Z06, sharing the Z06's wider body and suspension tuning while running the LS3 6.2-liter V8 rather than the dry-sump LS7. The result is a car that handles with genuine precision, looks the part of a serious performance machine, and remains far more accessible to maintain and drive daily than the Z06 it visually mimics.

The Grand Sport name has real history behind it. Zora Arkus-Duntov originally developed the Grand Sport in 1963 as a lightweight racing Corvette intended to challenge Ferrari at Le Mans. Only five were built before GM shut the program down under pressure from the Automobile Manufacturers Association racing ban. When Chevrolet revived the Grand Sport nameplate for the C5 in 1996 and again for the C6 in 2010, they were drawing on that racing heritage deliberately — not just slapping a name on a trim package.

This particular car checks the boxes that separate a well-optioned Grand Sport from a base one. It's a convertible, finished in Jetstream Blue with the red and black fender hash marks that visually tie it to the original 1963 racing cars. The interior is the red and black two-tone combination with Grand Sport embroidered seats — one of the more striking factory interior options available on the C6. The Tremec TR6060 6-speed manual is in place, which is exactly the transmission that belongs in this car. And the odometer shows 78,017 miles — honest road miles on a machine that was built to cover them.

Features List

• LS3 6.2L V8 — 430 HP
• Tremec TR6060 6-Speed Manual Transmission
• Grand Sport Wide-Body Package
• Jetstream Blue Exterior
• Red/Black Two-Tone Leather Interior
• Grand Sport Embroidered Perforated Leather Sport Seats
• Power Heated Seats
• Chrome 5-Spoke Wheels
• Brembo Disc Brakes (front and rear)
• Quad Exhaust Tips
• Power Folding Soft Top
• K&N Air Intake
• Heads-Up Display
• Dual-Zone Climate Control
• Bose Sound System
• HID Xenon Headlights
• Fog Lights
• Cruise Control
• Keyless Entry
• Michelin Pilot Sport Tires
• Red/Black Fender Hash Graphics
• Power Windows
• Tachometer

Mechanical

The LS3 is a 6.2-liter pushrod V8 that produces 430 horsepower and 424 lb-ft of torque in standard form. It's an aluminum block engine with rectangular port cylinder heads, a design that flows significantly more air than the LS2 it replaced when the C6 was updated in 2008. The LS3 is widely regarded as one of the stronger naturally aspirated production V8s of its era, and it has a proven record for durability over high mileage when properly maintained. This car has a K&N air intake fitted, which improves airflow to the engine without altering the fundamental character of the motor.

The Tremec TR6060 is the correct gearbox for this application. It's a close-ratio 6-speed unit that handles the LS3's torque without complaint and provides a mechanical, direct-feeling shift experience that paddle shifters simply cannot replicate. Chevrolet spec'd the TR6060 across the Grand Sport, Z06, and ZR1 lineups during the C6 era, which tells you something about its capability.

The Grand Sport package brings the Z06's wider front and rear fenders, larger brake rotors, and sport-tuned suspension. Up front, the Grand Sport runs the same front brake package as the Z06 — Brembo calipers gripping large cross-drilled rotors. The rear suspension uses a wider track than the base Corvette, which improves cornering stability and allows for wider rear tires. The underside photos on this car show a clean, structurally sound chassis with the aluminum rear cradle and independent rear suspension geometry that C6 owners and mechanics will recognize immediately.

The Michelin Pilot Sport tires are a correct and performance-appropriate choice for this car. Michelin has supplied performance rubber to the Corvette program for decades, and the Pilot Sport line is well suited to the Grand Sport's handling envelope.

Interior

The red and black two-tone interior is one of the more visually committed color combinations Chevrolet offered on the C6. Red leather covers the seat bolsters, door panels, and lower dash accents, while black leather wraps the upper sections and headrests. The Grand Sport embroidery on the headrests is factory correct and ties the interior to the model's identity. The perforated leather on the seat centers provides both grip and breathability — a practical consideration in a Florida-climate car that also sees open-top driving.

The seats themselves are the sport bucket configuration, power-adjustable and heated. The driver's side features the full complement of controls including seat position memory. Ahead of the driver, the instrument cluster is flanked by four auxiliary gauges — oil pressure, coolant temperature, voltmeter, and fuel — giving the driver real mechanical feedback rather than just warning lights. The heads-up display projects vehicle speed and other data onto the windshield, keeping eyes forward. The Bose sound system integrates with the door-mounted speakers and is a noticeable step up in audio quality over the base system. Dual-zone climate control allows driver and passenger to set independent temperatures, which matters in a convertible where sun exposure is uneven.

The shifter position and the carbon-fiber-look center console surround give the cockpit a focused, driver-oriented feel. The steering wheel-mounted controls manage cruise control and audio functions without requiring the driver to reach for the center stack. The overall condition of the interior, as shown in photos, reflects a car that has been used and maintained — not stored and ignored.

Exterior

Jetstream Blue is a vivid, medium-depth metallic that reads differently in direct sun versus shade. It has a clarity to it that shows the Grand Sport's body lines well, particularly the flared rear quarters that are the most visible distinguishing feature between the Grand Sport and the base C6. Those wider rear fenders are not cosmetic additions — they're structural body changes that accommodate the wider rear track.

The red and black fender hash graphics on the front fenders are a direct visual reference to the original 1963 Grand Sport racing cars, which wore similar markings in period. On the 2011 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport, these graphics were a dealer-installed or factory-ordered option rather than a standard inclusion, making them a detail that distinguishes this car from a plain Grand Sport. Combined with the Jetstream Blue paint, the contrast is sharp and intentional.

The chrome 5-spoke wheels are the correct factory design for this trim level and complement the exterior color without competing with it. HID xenon headlights provide noticeably better illumination than the halogen units found on base-spec C6 Corvettes, which is relevant for anyone who actually drives the car at night. The power folding soft top operates smoothly and stows completely beneath a fitted cover, keeping the convertible look clean when the top is down. The quad exhaust outlets centered in the rear valance are a visual confirmation of the symmetrical dual exhaust routing visible in the underside photos — a clean, factory-correct layout.

Conclusion

The 2011 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Convertible is a specific car with a specific audience. It offers the wide-body Grand Sport package, the LS3's proven 430-horsepower output, a Tremec 6-speed manual, and a factory interior combination that most C6 buyers didn't order. At 78,000 miles, the LS3 is well within its useful life — these engines routinely exceed 150,000 miles with standard maintenance. The Jetstream Blue and red/black combination is a pairing that photographs well and holds up in person. This is a Corvette Grand Sport that was built to be driven, and it shows every sign of having been driven by someone who understood what they had.

If you have questions about this 2011 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Convertible or would like to arrange a closer look, call Skyway Classics in Sarasota, Florida at 941-254-6608. We're happy to walk you through the car in detail.

Disclaimer

Information found on the website is presented as given to us by the owner of the car, whether on consignment or from the owner we bought it from. Some Photos, materials for videos, descriptions and other information are provided by the consignor/seller and is deemed reliable, but Skyway Classics does not warranty or guarantee this information. Skyway Classics is not responsible for information that may incorrect or a publishing error. The decision to purchase should be based solely on the buyers personal inspection of the vehicle or by a professional inspection service prior to offer or purchase being made.