[rodneym]

I see it like this:

1. Cobras DOMINATED Corvettes.
2. Corvette built prototypes (the Grand Sports) that couldn't compete against the world's racers who (by the way) weren't attempting to run a car that resembled a model in the showroom floor, ie Corvette.

So why would Chevy go to all that trouble?

3. Corvette simply wanted to get across the/a finish line ahead of the Cobras, that's why. They knew the risk of not running the minimum production numbers. Its was happening left and right in the 60's. Sanctioned by GM or not, points race or not, Chevy wanted wins desperately.

We can't ignore the 'class' argument. So what if a proto beats a GT? To be expected.
If a GT or production car beats a proto (although likely due to a protos mechanical failure), then that's something to brag about, and I'm pretty sure Cobra's did that more than once.

rodneym