Only two Grand Sport Roadsters were ever built and Roger Penske bought both of them. Chassis 001 was picked up from the GM factory and prepared for the 1966 Sebring 12 Hour event. Upgraded with a 427 ci "Daytona Mystery Motor" race-tuned by Traco and topped by a single Holley carburetor, the Roadster was rebuilt in the interest of durability and detuned to only 500 bhp!
Dick Guldstrand was charged with the task of overseeing preparation of the Grand Sport Roadster for Sebring -- quite a challenge given that the car had not seen the light of day in two years! To minimize time spent in the pits an air jack/oil/water system was added to the Penske Roadster. A set of three valves on the right fender allows compressed air, oil and water to be delivered quickly and easily.
The Grand Sport Roadster draws a crowd as it is rolled out for inspection. Race organizers would force Penske to cover the Roger Penske Chevrolet graphic.
At Sebring the team was housed at the Webster Garages which meant that the Roadster, in the hands of Dick Guldstrand and Dick Thompson, could join the circuit on the Warehouse Straight instead of the usual entrance during practice. Neither driver could resist the opportunity to join the track and immediately out-drag any competitor down the Straight in a furious display of power!
In 1966, advertising on race cars was in it's infancy and race organizers enforced advertising rules religiously. The appearance of "Roger Penske Chevrolet" in bright yellow letters was deemed to be an infraction of the rules. As a result, the Penske name was only seen during practice for the Sebring race.
