At the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, every Corvette represents a piece of automotive history. Some stories span decades. That was the case last week when Corvette owner Larry Watkins returned to the Museum to take delivery of his new 2026 Yellow Corvette Z06 through the R8C Museum Delivery program.
Watkins previously donated his rare 1996 Corvette Grand Sport to the National Corvette Museum collection. His recent visit brought together two milestones: preserving Corvette history and beginning the story of a brand-new high-performance Corvette.
A Rare 1996 Corvette Grand Sport Preserved
The 1996 Corvette Grand Sport marked the final production year of the fourth-generation Corvette (C4). To commemorate the milestone, General Motors produced a limited run of just 1,000 Grand Sport models, including 810 coupes and 190 convertibles.
Inspired by the legendary 1963 Grand Sport racing Corvettes, the 1996 Grand Sport featured Admiral Blue paint with Arctic White striping and distinctive red hash marks above the left front fender. These visual elements paid tribute to the original race cars, which used colored stripes to help identify each car during competition.
Under the hood, the 1996 Grand Sport was equipped with the LT4 5.7-liter V8 engine, an advanced small-block design that helped influence the LS1 engine introduced in the fifth-generation Corvette.
The Watkins’ Grand Sport is number 931 of the 1,000 produced. It is one of only six built with its exact combination of Regular Production Options and one of just 217 Grand Sports with a red and black interior.
Larry and Carol Watkins donated the Corvette to the National Corvette Museum on June 25, 2020. After sharing the car with enthusiasts at events like Corvettes at Carlisle, they realized how much the Corvette community appreciated the vehicle and wanted more people to have the opportunity to experience it.
Visitors will soon be able to see the Watkins’ 1996 Corvette Grand Sport on display in the Museum’s new Collections Facility.
Taking Delivery of a 2026 Corvette Z06
Last week, Larry Watkins returned to the National Corvette Museum to begin the next chapter of his Corvette journey. Through the R8C Museum Delivery program, he took delivery of a new 2026 Yellow Corvette Z06 at the home of Corvette in Bowling Green.
The Corvette Z06 represents the next generation of Corvette performance, combining track-inspired engineering with advanced technology and distinctive design. Taking delivery through the R8C Museum Delivery program allows Corvette owners to experience their new vehicle at the place where Corvette history is preserved and celebrated.
For Watkins, the moment connected two different eras of Corvette. One Corvette now helps tell the story of the brand inside the Museum’s collection, while the other begins its story on the road.
Experience R8C Museum Delivery
The R8C Museum Delivery program gives Corvette owners the opportunity to take delivery of their new Corvette at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The experience includes a personalized delivery ceremony and a memorable start to a Corvette’s first miles.
Learn more about R8C Museum Delivery and how to begin your Corvette story at the National Corvette Museum:
https://www.corvettemuseum.org/r8c-delivery/
