In 1988, 16 years before the Veyron, Callaway built a road-legal Corvette C4 called the Sledgehammer that would do 254.76mph - whereas the original Veyron could 'only' do 253.8mph.
The Sledgehammer had 'just' a 5.7 litre twin-turbo V8 (with two valves per cylinder) making 898BHP which after numerous developmental tweaks and changes, proved reliable.
It still had a fully-trimmed interior (with a leather-cladded cage), factory cruise, climate, electric windows & mirrors, power sports seats, ABS and a full leather interior. It was reputedly also very docile to drive as it was intended to be used daily as a rolling test bed.
Callaway only ever built one Sledgehammer - because they stated that each car, if they put it into production, would cost $400,000, a staggering amount for the times.
It's also worth noting that the Sledgehammer pounded out it's record-breaking top speed on a banked circuit - who knows what it could have really wound out if they had the straight-line space required.
So, you're probably wondering what's prompted this. Here's your answer:
cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1987-Corvette-Callaway-barn-find-project-87-twin-turbo-/160543513911
How awesome is that.
That is a rare opportunity, right there. You will not see anything that comes anywhere close to that and with those parts you could build something very similar to the original Sledgehammer, without too much trouble.
It'd require considerable tuning and development, and a hell of a lot of work, to get near the original top speed of the genuine car - but you could do it. It's just oozing potential and I do hope someone makes a shot at turning it into what is effectively the genuine article.
Obviously the engine's not quite the same, and it's a 4+3 manual over drive and not a six-speed - but those are things that could be bought up to scratch in due course.
It's something I hope to do one day, but at the moment I'll just have to satisfy my urges by continuing to scavenge details about it and watch the auction with interest.
Here's some pictures of the original car:
The Sledgehammer had 'just' a 5.7 litre twin-turbo V8 (with two valves per cylinder) making 898BHP which after numerous developmental tweaks and changes, proved reliable.
It still had a fully-trimmed interior (with a leather-cladded cage), factory cruise, climate, electric windows & mirrors, power sports seats, ABS and a full leather interior. It was reputedly also very docile to drive as it was intended to be used daily as a rolling test bed.
Callaway only ever built one Sledgehammer - because they stated that each car, if they put it into production, would cost $400,000, a staggering amount for the times.
It's also worth noting that the Sledgehammer pounded out it's record-breaking top speed on a banked circuit - who knows what it could have really wound out if they had the straight-line space required.
So, you're probably wondering what's prompted this. Here's your answer:
cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1987-Corvette-Callaway-barn-find-project-87-twin-turbo-/160543513911
How awesome is that.
That is a rare opportunity, right there. You will not see anything that comes anywhere close to that and with those parts you could build something very similar to the original Sledgehammer, without too much trouble.
It'd require considerable tuning and development, and a hell of a lot of work, to get near the original top speed of the genuine car - but you could do it. It's just oozing potential and I do hope someone makes a shot at turning it into what is effectively the genuine article.
Obviously the engine's not quite the same, and it's a 4+3 manual over drive and not a six-speed - but those are things that could be bought up to scratch in due course.
It's something I hope to do one day, but at the moment I'll just have to satisfy my urges by continuing to scavenge details about it and watch the auction with interest.
Here's some pictures of the original car:
Ax GTi Turbo
