Meet the 800hp 2017 Chevrolet Yenko Corvette Grand Sport

In the world of classic Chevrolet performance, there are few names better known than Yenko, and while the Yenko name is best associated with the high performance Yenko Camaros, a high performance dealer-prep Yenko package made its way onto a couple of Corvettes back in the day. In the spirit of the classic Yenko-built Chevrolet performance cars, Specialty Vehicle Engineering in New Jersey is building a sample of 50 2017 Corvette Grand Sports which have been beefed up to the tune of 800 horsepower and just like the classic Yenko cars – this new Yenko Corvette makes big power from a big engine.

An 800hp LT1 Corvette
The Corvette Z06 is powered by a factory-supercharged LT4 V8 with 650 horsepower and 650lb-ft of torque, and it doesn’t take a whole lot of work to produce 800 horsepower from that mill. However, the folks at Specialty Vehicle Engineering have stuck with the same 6.2L LT1 that comes in the standard Corvette Grand Sport, but SVE has lifted the output from 460 horsepower to a whopping 800 horsepower.

To achieve these lofty power numbers, SVE installs an LT1 engine which has been bored and stroked from 6.2L to 6.8L. The bottom end is comprised of a forged steel crankshaft, forged steel h-beam connecting rods and forged aluminum pistons and the top end is fitted with a set of ported and polished LT1 cylinder heads, a unique 2.9L supercharger and all of the fuel system bits from the Corvette Z06’s LT4. The result of this build is 800 horsepower and 750lb-ft of torque – an increase of 340 horsepower and 285lb-ft of torque.

This engine is mated to the buyer’s choice of the Grand Sport’s 7-speed manual or 8-speed automatic transmission and this new Yenko Corvette comes with all of the handling features which make the C7 Grand Sport such a beast.

The Yenko Look
Classic Yenko cars are most easily identified by their unique exterior design, and since SVE is an authorized user of the Yenko name – this new Corvette Grand Sport package wears the familiar stripes and logos of the old school Yenko muscle cars.

In addition to the stripes running over the top and along the sides of the Corvette, SVE adds Yenko and SYC (Yenko Super Charged) badges all over the interior and exterior, so while there are no drastic physical changes – it is impossible to miss the fact that this is a very special C7 Corvette.

Limited Availability, Big Price
The only downsides to the 2017 Yenko Corvette Grand Sport are the production quantities and the pricing. SVE will only make 50 2017 Grand Sports (coupes and convertibles combined) and the package costs $46,000. The “normal” 2017 Corvette Grand Sport coupe has a base MSRP of $66,445 including destination, so when you add on the $46,000 upcharge of the Yenko package – this 800 horsepower Corvette will cost you at least $112,445.

So, while the modern Yenko Corvette Grand Sport is expensive and extremely limited, this 800 horsepower Chevrolet supercar package will most certainly draw the interest of some deep-pocketed GM performance fans.