Why the name "Grand Sport"?
10-12-2011, 09:02 PM
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
Why the name "Grand Sport"?
Is their any real significance to the Grand Sport name? Just to name a few with the word Grand. We have Grand Jerokee jeep, Grand Marquee Mercury. What is it about The word Grand that fits the Corvette? And then the word Sport. I like Z06, has some Corvette history. Just something to me that Grand Sport name just doesn't sound right. Love the car however.
10-12-2011, 09:26 PM
#4
Melting Slicks
Here's a pretty good article about the creation of the original 5 Corvette Racing Grand Sports.
No real insight into the name, but good info.
http://www.corvettelegends.com/grandspr.htm
No real insight into the name, but good info.
http://www.corvettelegends.com/grandspr.htm
10-12-2011, 09:38 PM
#5
Team Owner
Member Since: Aug 2007
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St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
Why the name "Grand Sport"?
Because "Kickass outa most things on the road" was too long?
10-12-2011, 09:39 PM
#6
Le Mans Master
Here's a pretty good article about the creation of the original 5 Corvette Racing Grand Sports.
No real insight into the name, but good info.
http://www.corvettelegends.com/grandspr.htm
No real insight into the name, but good info.
http://www.corvettelegends.com/grandspr.htm
10-12-2011, 10:08 PM
#11
Burning Brakes
Is their any real significance to the Grand Sport name? Just to name a few with the word Grand. We have Grand Jerokee jeep, Grand Marquee Mercury. What is it about The word Grand that fits the Corvette? And then the word Sport. I like Z06, has some Corvette history. Just something to me that Grand Sport name just doesn't sound right. Love the car however.
10-12-2011, 10:12 PM
#12
Team Owner
Study your CORVETTE history and you'll know the origins of the Grand Sport name and why they bring it back to pay homage to the 5 racers of the 60's.The stripes also have a story.They couldn't tell the cars apart from one another so they put a stripe on them to distinguish each one. In a nutshell. 
10-12-2011, 11:28 PM
#13
Race Director
Is their any real significance to the Grand Sport name? Just to name a few with the word Grand. We have Grand Jerokee jeep, Grand Marquee Mercury. What is it about The word Grand that fits the Corvette? And then the word Sport. I like Z06, has some Corvette history. Just something to me that Grand Sport name just doesn't sound right. Love the car however.
Grand Marquis
Grand Am
Grand Prix
Grand Ville
Grand National
Grand Caravan
Grand Wagoneer
Grand piano
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Ma
Ain't life grand?
10-12-2011, 11:47 PM
#14
Names of consumer goods, especially those with high emotional content in the purchasing decision, are carefully chosen. They are not chosen to pay homage to the past, keep a link with tradition, or because product line managers and execs are sentimental.
Names are chosen because of expectations of how they will impact sales. It's ALL about the bottom line.
Names are tested in what are called "focus groups" of present owners of like products or prospective new buyers.
Names are also tested through survey methods, again of people who presently own very similar products or who are thought to be prospects.
In the late 60s the phenomenally successful first generation Camaro had "Rally Sport" and "Super Sport" models. These names proved very successful at promoting sales of their respective option packages. Buyers liked the word "Rally" and everybody is a "Sport" and/or likes "Sports". "Super" of course is just that...it must be great.
In fact, the Rally Sport version offered almost nothing of a performance nature...mostly just cosmetic differences. The Super Sport models added large engines and some heavy duty driveline components but these were inadequate to handle the additional power.
In both cases it was about the efficacy of the names in increasing sales....not about whether or not the name actually meant anything in relationship to what the product REALLY offered.
So we have the "Grand Sport". I personally think it's a silly name but it's proven very successful and resonates with those who are prospects for the model. However, in fact, when the "Grand Sport" is compared to the "narrow body" "standard" "original" LS3 based model it is clear that it is, like the first generation Camaros, mostly a cosmetic makeover...the wide body that is underneath almost identical to the "narrow body" car.
The marketing formula is: 1/ Understand demand, in this case for a wide body that looks like a Z06. 2/ Create a car that fills this demand at the lowest incremental cost above the original model. and 3/ Name the new model something that will sound good and have appeal without really promising anything new. ( A necessary strategy since there is little new beyond the styling. ) *
The Grand Sport marketing program has been very successful. What would have been narrow body sales have been converted to higher margin GS sales. What would have been Z06 sales have been converted to GS sales. This has added to net profit since the cost of goods of the GS is far lower than the Z06 yet the prices being paid are much closer than narrow body vs Z06...and for little incremental money.
Marketing is fascinating.
ps. See (*) above. Yes , yes, I know. The GS is much different that the narrow body LS3. It has that "hand assembled" engine in the manual trans cars. This engine must be more powerful or reliable right? Yet, no such claimes have ever been made. It is for the buyer to make this connection even though it may not be related to the facts.
Yes, the GS has Z06 brakes. These are the same brakes that many Z06 owners can't wait to ditch in favor of the two piece aftermarket type that should be on both the Z06 and the GS from the factory....after all, the design and technology is at least fifty years old.
There are some other small differences as well. When you notice a GS owner protesting and going to great lengths to explain why the GS is far more car than the narrow body you are seeing "purchase confirmation" behavior in action.
The more vociferous the commentary from such people the more important it is for them to "confirm" that they made a wise and prudent purchase. The honest and insightful GS owner will just admit he bought the model for the looks and it didn't cost as much as a Z06. The less insightful GS owner will protest loudly and tout ( look it up if under 45 they didn't teach you this word in school ) the many superior attributes of the GS.
It's all a game. And most of us, in one way or another, whether it is related to automobiles or other consumer goods....up to and including politicians.....are being played like a flute and we dance to the tune of the marketing experts who design the products, name the products, and promote them in ways that make it very difficult for us to exercise free will in our choices.
Names are chosen because of expectations of how they will impact sales. It's ALL about the bottom line.
Names are tested in what are called "focus groups" of present owners of like products or prospective new buyers.
Names are also tested through survey methods, again of people who presently own very similar products or who are thought to be prospects.
In the late 60s the phenomenally successful first generation Camaro had "Rally Sport" and "Super Sport" models. These names proved very successful at promoting sales of their respective option packages. Buyers liked the word "Rally" and everybody is a "Sport" and/or likes "Sports". "Super" of course is just that...it must be great.
In fact, the Rally Sport version offered almost nothing of a performance nature...mostly just cosmetic differences. The Super Sport models added large engines and some heavy duty driveline components but these were inadequate to handle the additional power.
In both cases it was about the efficacy of the names in increasing sales....not about whether or not the name actually meant anything in relationship to what the product REALLY offered.
So we have the "Grand Sport". I personally think it's a silly name but it's proven very successful and resonates with those who are prospects for the model. However, in fact, when the "Grand Sport" is compared to the "narrow body" "standard" "original" LS3 based model it is clear that it is, like the first generation Camaros, mostly a cosmetic makeover...the wide body that is underneath almost identical to the "narrow body" car.
The marketing formula is: 1/ Understand demand, in this case for a wide body that looks like a Z06. 2/ Create a car that fills this demand at the lowest incremental cost above the original model. and 3/ Name the new model something that will sound good and have appeal without really promising anything new. ( A necessary strategy since there is little new beyond the styling. ) *
The Grand Sport marketing program has been very successful. What would have been narrow body sales have been converted to higher margin GS sales. What would have been Z06 sales have been converted to GS sales. This has added to net profit since the cost of goods of the GS is far lower than the Z06 yet the prices being paid are much closer than narrow body vs Z06...and for little incremental money.
Marketing is fascinating.
ps. See (*) above. Yes , yes, I know. The GS is much different that the narrow body LS3. It has that "hand assembled" engine in the manual trans cars. This engine must be more powerful or reliable right? Yet, no such claimes have ever been made. It is for the buyer to make this connection even though it may not be related to the facts.
Yes, the GS has Z06 brakes. These are the same brakes that many Z06 owners can't wait to ditch in favor of the two piece aftermarket type that should be on both the Z06 and the GS from the factory....after all, the design and technology is at least fifty years old.
There are some other small differences as well. When you notice a GS owner protesting and going to great lengths to explain why the GS is far more car than the narrow body you are seeing "purchase confirmation" behavior in action.
The more vociferous the commentary from such people the more important it is for them to "confirm" that they made a wise and prudent purchase. The honest and insightful GS owner will just admit he bought the model for the looks and it didn't cost as much as a Z06. The less insightful GS owner will protest loudly and tout ( look it up if under 45 they didn't teach you this word in school ) the many superior attributes of the GS.
It's all a game. And most of us, in one way or another, whether it is related to automobiles or other consumer goods....up to and including politicians.....are being played like a flute and we dance to the tune of the marketing experts who design the products, name the products, and promote them in ways that make it very difficult for us to exercise free will in our choices.
Last edited by OregonC6; 10-12-2011 at 11:56 PM. Reason: ps
10-12-2011, 11:54 PM
#15
Team Owner
Names of consumer goods, especially those with high emotional content in the purchasing decision, are carefully chosen. They are not chosen to pay homage to the past, keep a link with tradition, or because product line managers and execs are sentimental.
Names are chosen because of expectations of how they will impact sales. It's ALL about the bottom line.
Names are tested in what are called "focus groups" of present owners of like products or prospective new buyers.
Names are also tested through survey methods, again of people who presently own very similar products or who are thought to be prospects.
In the late 60s the phenomenally successful first generation Camaro had "Rally Sport" and "Super Sport" models. These names proved very successful at promoting sales of their respective option packages. Buyers liked the word "Rally" and everybody is a "Sport" and/or likes "Sports". "Super" of course is just that...it must be great.
In fact, the Rally Sport version offered almost nothing of a performance nature...mostly just cosmetic differences. The Super Sport models added large engines and some heavy duty driveline components but these were inadequate to handle the additional power.
In both cases it was about the efficacy of the names in increasing sales....not about whether or not the name actually meant anything in relationship to what the product REALLY offered.
So we have the "Grand Sport". I personally think it's a silly name but it's proven very successful and resonates with those who are prospects for the model. However, in fact, when the "Grand Sport" is compared to the "narrow body" "standard" "original" LS3 based model it is clear that it is, like the first generation Camaros, mostly a cosmetic makeover...the wide body that is underneath almost identical to the "narrow body" car.
The marketing formula is: 1/ Understand demand, in this case for a wide body that looks like a Z06. 2/ Create a car that fills this demand at the lowest incremental cost above the original model. and 3/ Name the new model something that will sound good and have appeal without really promising anything new. ( A necessary strategy since there is little new beyond the styling. )
The Grand Sport marketing program has been very successful. What would have been narrow body sales have been converted to higher margin GS sales. What would have been Z06 sales have been converted to GS sales. This has added to net profit since the cost of goods of the GS is far lower than the Z06 yet the prices being paid are much closer than narrow body vs Z06...and for little incremental money.
Marketing is fascinating.
Names are chosen because of expectations of how they will impact sales. It's ALL about the bottom line.
Names are tested in what are called "focus groups" of present owners of like products or prospective new buyers.
Names are also tested through survey methods, again of people who presently own very similar products or who are thought to be prospects.
In the late 60s the phenomenally successful first generation Camaro had "Rally Sport" and "Super Sport" models. These names proved very successful at promoting sales of their respective option packages. Buyers liked the word "Rally" and everybody is a "Sport" and/or likes "Sports". "Super" of course is just that...it must be great.
In fact, the Rally Sport version offered almost nothing of a performance nature...mostly just cosmetic differences. The Super Sport models added large engines and some heavy duty driveline components but these were inadequate to handle the additional power.
In both cases it was about the efficacy of the names in increasing sales....not about whether or not the name actually meant anything in relationship to what the product REALLY offered.
So we have the "Grand Sport". I personally think it's a silly name but it's proven very successful and resonates with those who are prospects for the model. However, in fact, when the "Grand Sport" is compared to the "narrow body" "standard" "original" LS3 based model it is clear that it is, like the first generation Camaros, mostly a cosmetic makeover...the wide body that is underneath almost identical to the "narrow body" car.
The marketing formula is: 1/ Understand demand, in this case for a wide body that looks like a Z06. 2/ Create a car that fills this demand at the lowest incremental cost above the original model. and 3/ Name the new model something that will sound good and have appeal without really promising anything new. ( A necessary strategy since there is little new beyond the styling. )
The Grand Sport marketing program has been very successful. What would have been narrow body sales have been converted to higher margin GS sales. What would have been Z06 sales have been converted to GS sales. This has added to net profit since the cost of goods of the GS is far lower than the Z06 yet the prices being paid are much closer than narrow body vs Z06...and for little incremental money.
Marketing is fascinating.
10-12-2011, 11:55 PM
#16
Drifting
However, in fact, when the "Grand Sport" is compared to the "narrow body" "standard" "original" LS3 based model it is clear that it is, like the first generation Camaros, mostly a cosmetic makeover...the wide body that is underneath almost identical to the "narrow body" car.
Last edited by Z06LUST; 10-13-2011 at 12:18 AM.
10-13-2011, 12:01 AM
#17
Race Director
Exactly! ...well accept for the brake calipers, brake rotors, various suspension pieces, dry sump (manual car), tranny gearing (manual car), rear end gearing (auto version), oil/tranny coolers (manual car), battery placement (weight distribution over the rear wheel) (manual car), wheels, tires...yeah, same car...just as the Z06 and ZR1 are the same car....
10-13-2011, 12:04 AM
#18
Drifting
JUST for the record--THAT verison (picture several posts up) of the Grand Sport didn't leave GM's hands looking like that (ugly). The original versions were clean and beautiful....The added on, cut up "thing" (still beautiful to many and I won't counter argue) was the work of privater racers trying to improve it's capabilities after GM dropped the program and Zora got the cars out the backdoor in the nick of time to keep them from being destroyed. Needed wider rubber for traction-tact on funky flares, better engine cooling AND eliminate (lessen) front end lift-louver the hell out of the hood type of approach. Looks be damned-it was racetrack performance they were trying for (and didn't quite achieve).
The GS was far from fully developed at the time Zora was ordered to kill it and those 5 cars left the building. The 2 roadsters (no tops) were both post GM cut ups...
The GS was far from fully developed at the time Zora was ordered to kill it and those 5 cars left the building. The 2 roadsters (no tops) were both post GM cut ups...
10-13-2011, 12:16 AM
#19
Instructor
Exactly! ...well accept for the brake calipers, brake rotors, various suspension pieces, dry sump (manual car), tranny gearing (manual car), rear end gearing (auto version), oil/tranny coolers (manual car), battery placement (weight distribution over the rear wheel) (manual car), wheels, tires...yeah, same car...just as the Z06 and ZR1 are the same car....
Oh, and that would be Except
