The Lingenfelter Collection has amassed a vast amount of rare and influential automobiles over the years. Around 40 precent of the collection being iconic and highly modified Chevrolet Corvettes. Ryan Cykiert introduces us to one of the collection’s more interesting entries, the 1995 Guldstrand Nassau Roadster.
Dick Guldstrand, widely know as “Mr. Corvette,” is a Corvette Hall of Fame inductee and founder of Guldstrand Speciality Automobiles (GSA). He was was made famous by winning the GT class at the Daytona 24 Hour race back-to-back in 1966 and 1967, and competed in the 12 Hours of Sebring behind the wheel of one of Roger Penske’s Corvette Grand Sports.
GSA released a radically redesigned C4 Corvette into the world in 1995 the GS-90 Nassau Roadster convertible, a spin-off of the GSA GS-90. The Roadster received its name as a dedication to the legendary Grand Sport Corvette’s stunning victory at Nassau back in 1963 over Shelby’s Cobras.
It’s predecessor the GS-90 started life as a ZR-1 powered by a four-cam Mercury Marine designed LT5. As the roadster, it received a unique composite body work, with special attention payed to the improvements in suspension, chassis and braking system. These upgrades culminated in a $134,500 price-tag on top of the ZR-1 base price.
The sticker shock of the GS-90 urged Dick to change his approach with the convertible opting to use a base model LT1 powered-Corvette, this was also a result of the ZL-1 only being offered as a coupe.
The Nassau Roadster’s factory LT1 received an impressive horsepower bump thanks to the addition of a Vortech Supercharger. The Roadster is pumping out 420 horsepower on 10-lbs of boost.
To complement the improved horsepower numbers, the roadster received a massive amount of external body modifications. A majority of the C4’s factory body panels were removed and replaced with the most aerodynamic composite carbon-fiber panels the mid 90s had to offer. This resulted in a radical design change from the standard C4 ‘Vette.
The overall length of the car was reduced 6-inches while the rear fenders and bumper got a 4-inch stretch on the sides, resulting in an eye-catching car that left the passersby pondering what they just drove by.
The carbon-fiber rear bumper received 12 rear taillights as a throw-back to the 12 holes cut into the rear of the historical Grand Sport Corvettes. This also mirrors the racing heritage that Guldstrand tried to bring to the GSA with its racing inspired aftermarket Corvettes.
GM executives ended up not moving forward with supplying GSA with a steady supply of Corvettes, deciding that efforts were better placed in the design of the C5.
What was the asking price back in 1995 you may ask? The unique carbon-fiber body that made this C4 Corvette standout also made the price tag of $85,00, and resulted in only 8 total Nassau Roadsters being produced until the end of the C4 in 1996.
Tell us what you think of this very rare convertible in the comments bellow.