This comparison isn't so much as a comparison between two competing models as it is a comparison of a stock car versus a race version of that same car as viewed via models currently available. One side benefit of this comparison for me was to realize just how nice the Ertl Corvette is even when compared to a $150 die cast. This one was one of Ertl's earliest offerings and in my opinion it still stands up quite well. Anyway, as to the point of this comparison, it is really interesting to see what it took in 1963 to make a race car out of a stock car. To be clear, when it came to the Grand Sports, they had about as much in common with the street Corvettes as a 286 computer has with a Pentium II. They both do basically the same thing but one just does it better and faster. Remember, the GS had a custom built tube frame, a highly exotic derivative of the small block Chevy motor and a custom-made look-a-like body (kind of like how NASCAR bodies look like stock bodies but aren't).
One
other thing worth noticing is how exact the scale is on these
two. The wheelbases are exactly the same and the body shapes of
these two extremes of the die cast world (price wise) are both
well done and very, very similar. Neither model has been detailed
at all.
Just
look at the overall shape and size of the body. You will notice
how front fender peaks reach into the door on the GS and not the
street car. This is actually accurate to the two 1:1 cars as well.
Remember, the GS was hand built to LOOK like a street Corvette.
I chose this GS to photograph because I LOVE that hood. It looks
so much more tough than the other GS hood. Of course we can see
the GS had the rear window split removed, a new hood, a hood tie-down,
brake cooling scoops on the rear fenders, a trunk lid, an oil
cooler, headlight covers and prominent fender flares. The actual
headlight set up extended to the outer edge of the fender on the
GS so larger lights could be fitted and when needed they appeared
under clear plastic covers so as not to ruin the race car's aerodynamics.
From
the front you can see more of the stock/race modifications. The
bumper is gone on the GS, the hood has much more of a bulge and
the race car's tires are huge in comparison. The race car retains
the turn signal lights. From a modeling standpoint, look how very
similar the body shape is on these two.
Look
how much more similar they look with the front bumper off the
stock car. Now you can see how the front pan of the race car was
expanded and deepened. It does strike me odd how the ride height
is almost exactly the same. I would have expected the race car
to be sitting noticably lower than the street version.
Now
you can see the dramatic changes made for the race car. Notice
the depth and width of the rear panel of the GS. And notice the
size of the fender flares. I believe the additional holes in the
rear of the GS are for additional air flow from under the car
for improved aerodynamics and cooling. Again notice the wonderful
accuracy of BOTH models. With the lights on the GS, do you suppose
they could have been street legal with mufflers? I think the ultimate
intent was to sell a street version of the GS but like so many
great research projects at GM it was killed off by the bureaucrats.
Darn.
Again
you can notice the similarities in shape but of course what we
are looking at here are the engines. WOW! That GS engine is a
work of art in itself. The intake and carb set up is so large
you really can't see the engine itself. The stock car runs a 360hp
fuel injected 327 which is pretty impressive. The race car sports
a 377 ci engine with hemi heads, four valves per cylinder, central
spark plugs, one carb per cylinder and put out around 550hp. One
even more exotic version which was never run had an overhead cam
for each cylinder bank. Cool stuff!
Of
course where does a race car look more like a race car than anywhere
else? The interior of course. It's really interesting to see how
similar the GS interior is to the stock car's interior. Even though
the GS was a hand fabricated car, they took pains to make the
GS interior look a lot like the stock version. Brand identification
must have factored into this somehow since the Corvette interiors
have been unique and easily identifiable since 1953. The stylish
Corvette interior has been almost as important a design factor
as the style of the body itself.
I
can't help but say again how well the Ertl holds up in this comparison.
The Exoto is more detailed, but then it does cost over 7 times
as much more. The race car has racing harness seat belts but does
anyone else but me find it odd that the GS had carpet? The seat
are much more serious items in the race car as you would expect.
Odd to find the stock steering wheel in the GS. I wonder if it
has a radio! And watch your calves as you get out of that race
car. No safety shield around these babies!
Now
the race car shows it's true nature. On the GS you can see the
large-tube frame Zora had tooled up for the rigors of racing.
And you can also notice how the GS in the view bears very little
resemblance to the street car. Of course the street car has tires
way too small for the car's capabilities but as for the tires
on the race car they are monsters! The race car has a similar
suspension to the street car but is enhanced with a-frames made
from tubing, a rear anti-sway bar, drilled out rear trailing arms,
four wheel disc brakes and beefier components all around. Of course
the rear underpan is gone to allow air to flow out those rear
panel holes. You can again see how the rear pan is deeper and
wider. Some of the steering links are relocated on the race car
which also allows the oil pan to be much larger. The race car
motor ends up with four motor mounts (front, both sides, trans
tail shaft) compared to the stock car's three (both sides, trans
tail shaft). Also note how the GS frame is a straight ladder frame
unlike the street car's perimeter frame which is more stable for
a street car's purposes but not as rigid as a pure race car chassis.
All
in all a pretty educational and interesting comparison. Have you
ever seen a more impressive collection of street and race cars?