It’s nearly impossible now to talk about the Callaway Corvettes without remembering the man behind the iconic nameplate–the man who created these amazing machines! It’s hard to believe that nearly two years have passed since the Corvette community lost Reeves Callaway, when he succumbed to injuries sustained after a fall. If you’d like to read the tribute from Callaway Cars and watch Reeves talk about his legendary Sledghammer and the struggles of starting his business from his garage, you can check out CorvSport’s July 2023 feature here. [Author’s Note: This article is FREE and not behind a paywall. Yes, FREE! If/when any pop-ups appear, please click to dismiss them and continue enjoying the article. One may require two steps–first, the arrow on the left, then the x on the top right.]
Our favorite picture of Reeves Callaway.
In today’s edition of CorvSport Spotlights, we dig through our vast catalog of Corvette-dedicated goodies and rank the top 5 coolest and most impressive Callaway creations. We hope you enjoy the list we have compiled!
#5
2020 Callaway Corvette SC757 AeroWagon 25th Anniversary Edition
From CorvSport contributor Mark Leofe Capayas
“Callaway Competition is the German arm of Callaway Cars Inc., an American specialty vehicle manufacturer and engineering company headquartered in Connecticut. In 2020, Callaway Competition celebrated their 25th anniversary by introducing a special edition of the Callaway Corvette SC757 based on the C7 Chevrolet Corvette Z06.
Just 25 of these special 25th Anniversary Edition are reportedly going to be built and you have to be the one to provide your own Callaway Corvette SC757. The SC757 package is a performance kit that was launched in 2015. It boosts the power output of the C7 Corvette Z06’s 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 to 757 horsepower and 777 pound-feet of torque…” Continue Reading or Save For Later
#4
1987 – 1991 Callaway Corvette B2K Twin Turbo
Offered from 1987 to 1991, the RPO-B2K upgrade was available from any Chevrolet dealer and also Callaway’s first major Corvette tuning program. Together, GM and Callaway made the upgrade package a Regular Production Order (RPO) which was the first time GM had outsourced such an option to a specialist manufacturer. It even had a factory back warranty.
From the editorial team at CorvSport
“While the ‘C4’ Corvette was GM’s top performance model during the 1980s, its relatively low production volume failed to convince the corporate bean counters that it deserved the necessary financial investments for continued development. The 230hp, 350ci Tuned Port Injection engine was a solid start, while the much-anticipated 4-cam, 32-valve ZR-1 remained in developmental limbo. Enter turbocharging expert Reeves Callaway and his Callaway Cars “skunk works” operation in Old Lyme, Connecticut, which had been building high-performance turbocharger packages for a number of manufacturers since the late 1970s.
GM purchased one of Callaway’s twin-turbo Alfa Romeos and discovered that it ran rings around the General’s Corvette, so a meeting quickly ensued and just a few months later, Chevrolet announced a new Corvette option for 1987. Dubbed RPO (Regular Production Option) B2K, it specified a carefully massaged 350ci Corvette V8 that’s force-fed by a pair of turbochargers and intercoolers.
Notably, the Callaway B2K Corvette was the first externally supplied Corvette high-performance package made available through participating Chevrolet dealers and covered by a full GM warranty! Power output began in 1987 with 345hp, growing by 1989 to 382hp and 560 pounds-feet of torque. According to a Car and Driver road test published November 1986 with that year’s Indy 500 champion Bobby Rahal, an early Callaway Corvette laid down a 4.7-second 0-to-60 time, 13.2-second quarter-mile ET, and 161-mph top-end charge. Production continued until 1992 when the RPO B2K Callaway Twin-Turbo option was retired in favor of Chevrolet’s own ZR-1. Nonetheless, Callaway would continue to offer other tastily tuned Corvette variants, as well as the SuperNatural Impala SS…” Continue Reading or Save For Later
#3
NCM Retro Review: Carlisle Co-Founder Chip Miller’s 1991 Callaway Series 1 Speedster
Chip Miller’s legacy lives on through the foundation that bears his name and the #10 of 10 Callaway Speedster he was passionate about
From CorvSport contributor Douglas Barton
It’s now been over two decades since Chip Miller, co-founder of Carlisle Events, succumbed to the little-known disease called Amyloidosis. The legacy of the man who was “known worldwide for his resilient positive attitude and his passion for Corvettes” lives on with the Chip Miller Amyloidosis Foundation. Today, we’ll take a step back in time to visit one of the many Corvettes Chip was passionate about, his #10 of 10, 1991 Callaway Series 1 Speedster. [Author’s Note: This article is FREE and not behind a paywall. Yes, FREE! If/when any pop-ups occur, please click to make them disappear and continue enjoying the article. One may require two steps–first, the arrow on the left, then the x on the top right.]
In today’s retro review, we have a 2017 video from the National Corvette Museum that has garnered over 13,000 views and highlights Chip’s #10 of 10 Callaway Series 1 Speedster. This rare Corvette was part of a more extensive NCM exhibit celebrating 30 years of Callaway Corvettes, called “A Celebration of Speed.” CorvSport takes a look at what makes this Callaway Series 1 Speedster so special. And after we drool over this special Corvette, we’ll give you some resources from our archives so you can dig deeper, and also have a link to the NCM’s special coverage of Elliot “Chip” Miller.
1991 Callaway Series 1 Speedster Fast Facts:
- Number 10 in a series of only 10
- Ordered as a 50th birthday gift to Corvettes at Carlisle co-founder, Chip Miller, and the Millers sat down with Reeves Callaway to customize the Speedster.
- 1991 brought “further refinements to the B2K option with the inclusion of the Callaway Speedster…”
- Each of the 10 Callaway Speedsters is different, and the Dark Black Metallic Pearl with Power Red interior is unique to Chip’s.
- To counter the ZR-1, for the 1991 model year, Callaway was able to bring up the output of the twin-turbo B2K option to 402 hp (up 43 hp) and 582 lb-ft of torque.
Continue Reading or Save For Later
#2
1991 Callaway Corvette Speedster LM
From the editorial team at CorvSport
“This 1991 Chevrolet Corvette Callaway Super Speedster LM is the second of only two so-called Series II Super Speedsters based on the ZR1 model.
The offspring of collaboration between Corvette performance guru Reeves Callaway and designer Paul Deutschman, the Super Speedster LM is an astonishing step up on the original Speedster, taking full advantage of the ZR1’s Lotus-engineered, all-aluminum DOHC engine and 6-speed manual transmission. One of only three twin turbocharged and intercooled LT5 engines built by Callaway, it delivers a pavement-shredding 766 HP, making the car the most powerful of all the twelve Speedsters produced by the company.
More than “just” an incredibly well-engineered engine swap, the Callaway possesses engineering modifications to the suspension and driveline that fully complement its massive power output. The Le Mans body is the only one used on a Speedster. Designed by Paul Deutschman, the Super Speedster LM is a unique combination of his brilliant Callaway Speedster and the dramatic and aerodynamically efficient Le Mans GT2 pole-winning Callaway LM racer. Luxurious appointments abound in the LM’s interior, which features the consummate craftsmanship of Johann Merkhofer…” Continue Reading or Save For Later
#1
1988 Callaway Corvette “Sledgehammer”
The Sledgehammer Is a 250+ Miles Per Hour Super Car!
From CorvSport founder & contributor Scott Kolecki
“Recently, while researching and assembling a list of the fastest production Corvettes of all time, we re-encountered a whole subset of Corvettes that had been built over the years that pushed the envelopes of speed and acceleration in ways that no production Corvette ever has (at least not so far.) While many of these cars caught our attention (and will likely be showcased in future articles), there was one custom Corvette in particular that stood out from the rest – the Callaway Sledgehammer Corvette.
Based on a 1988 Chevrolet Corvette, the Sledgehammer was designed and manufactured by Corvette aficionado and legend Reeves Callaway. Callaway had already become known for developing turbocharged variants of several production Corvettes, and in so doing, building cars that could achieve speeds well over 200 miles per hour. Despite his many accomplishments – and many top speed records – Callaway wanted to push the limits of this car even further. He envisioned a car that would be far faster than anything that had come before it while simultaneously being a vehicle that could be comfortably (and reliably) driven on a congested city street. In short, he wanted a “super car with good street manners.”
Reeves Callaway also envisioned the Sledgehammer as a drivable science laboratory, one where he could work without restrictions to unlock the true power potential of his turbocharged engines…” Continue Reading or Save For Later
Which is your favorite Callaway Corvette? Are you CORVETTE OBSESSED like we are? The team of renowned authors and contributors at CorvSport hopes you sense our passion for the iconic Corvette, and our vast database of articles and guides should prove it–5000+ features since Scott Kolecki founded CorvSport over 15 years ago! Join the fastest-growing Corvette community on our Facebook page, with over 170,000 followers (51,000 since January 2023!). Meet other hardcore enthusiasts and say hello. This is Douglas B. signing off–click here if you would like to view more of my features.
