Mallett Performance – Custom Corvettes at their Finest

If you are familiar with Corvettes, then it is likely you are familiar with Mallett Performance.  Even if you’re new to the Corvette lifestyle, you likely saw images of a 2001 Mallett Hammer Corvette Z06 being lifted from a chasm after the car (along with seven others) had been swallowed whole by the infamous National Corvette Museum sinkhole that opened up in its rotunda in February 2014.  Sadly, that car was beyond repair (and recognition) when it was recovered.  Prior to that tragic event however, the car had been a healthy-and-powerful 597 horsepower beast.  The car had been donated to the Museum by Kevin and Linda Helmintoller with the intent that the car might serve as a fixture on the NCM track still under development at that time.

While the destruction of that car was a loss for the National Corvette Museum and the Corvette community at large, it led us to ponder the origins of the 2001 Mallett Hammer Z06, and to share the story-behind-the-story of the company that breathed life into that amazing machine.

Mallett Cars Ltd. was founded in 1997 by 27-year racing veterans Chuck and Lance Mallett, along with long time associate David Sarafian.  The company, which began in a shop located in Berea, Ohio, became a leading innovator of performance products intended to transform production Corvettes into the fastest, highest-quality signature-series C5 Corvettes available anywhere on the planet.

The Mallett brothers grew up in a family of race drivers.  Their father and uncles actively participated in Ford factory-sponsored racing events throughout the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s.  By the time the boys were in their early twenties, they decided to open their own body shop, one that specialized in custom paint work and high-end vehicle restorations.  Thanks to their commitment and the support of their family, Mallet Incorporated grew to become a massive success.