Auction Watch - '88 Callaway Sledgehammer

"505Turbeaux" (505turbeaux) 01/22/2014 at 09:13 • Filed to: None

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I grew up just a few towns away from Reeves' shop in Old Lyme, CT. In the Boy Scouts we used to take trips over there to Callaway and see how thoroughly well built his cars were. It was an amazing sight how much of these cars were de and re constructed and then sold through a select Chevrolet dealer network. I still stay in touch with the man from time to time and it is awesome to see one of his great achievements seeing an estimate of $750K-$1M. I mean a C4 with 898 HP that was driven from CT to Ohio then run to 254.76 MPH by John Lingenfelter? With factory a/c and stereo (yes a Delco lives in there). Going out on a limb here but for my million I would rather have this than a Bugatti even beyond the history of the thing. Reeves also used to make turbocharged GTI's, Sciroccos etc. A friend of mine back home has a one of one 1983 A1 Jetta diesel, in brown that was done by Callaway when new. Has something like 230K on it now. Watch the auction at 6:50 Fri night

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! : ESTIMATE: $750,000 - $1,000,000

Based on a 1988 Chevrolet Corvette, the famous Callaway Sledgehammer was built by Callaway to exceed all existing top speed records and as a showcase for Callaway's industry-leading engineering expertise. For years the Sledgehammer owned the record as the fastest street-driven car in the world, having set the mark on October 26, 1988 when John Lingenfelter drove it to an incredible 254.76 MPH at the Transportation Research Center (TRC) in Ohio, an enormous facility with a 7.5 mile oval track. The record run occurred after the Sledgehammer was driven from Callaway headquarters in Old Lyme, Connecticut to TRC.

Rated at 898 HP and 772 lb-ft of torque, the balanced and blueprinted engine was hand built by Callaway Cars using a 4-bolt main NASCAR-spec GM "Bowtie" engine block, Mahle pistons on forged connecting rods, a special cam to enable both a docile drive around town and voluminous breathing at high engine speeds and Brodix aluminum heads for maximum power and durability. Extensive research was required to efficiently package the engine within the Corvette's tight confines, which also were made to accept twin Turbonetics TO4B turbochargers, matching intercoolers and all the plumbing necessary to make it all work.

Carroll Smith tuned the Sledgehammer's suspension for high speed stability by relocating the lower control arms, reducing the car's ride height by one inch. Koni shock absorbers were used in conjunction with 17-inch Dymag aluminum wheels wearing specially made Goodyear tires developed for the high speed run.

Inside the Paul Deutschman-designed Callaway Aerobody is a mostly stock interior modified for the high speed run with a leather padded roll bar, 5-point harnesses and instruments for monitoring goings-on beneath the hood. And yes: it still has the factory air conditioning and sound systems!

In 2013 the Sledgehammer was inducted into the Bloomington Gold Great Hall, which "recognizes 50 people and 50 Corvettes that significantly influenced the Corvette Phenomenon" – a great honor for one of the world's great Corvettes.

area man > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2014 at 09:17

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I had no idea they're based in Old Lyme! Can't believe I grew up nearby and never went...

505Turbeaux > area man 01/22/2014 at 09:18

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yeah still there but Reeves isnt there like he used to be. Go in there, I think they still have a turbocharged aston engine in the waiting room, just chillin

area man > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2014 at 09:22

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Oh and you're absolutely right about this being a better use of $1 million than a Bugatti. There's just as much, if not more, meticulous care and attention to detail in this build.

CO-OCD > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2014 at 09:36

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Hah, look at the old Supertrapp mufflers! I might be wrong on the name but I remember these cause you could "tune" the exhaust by adding the plates on the outlets. Such an funny idea but apparently they did help with backpressure, so....

Man I loved this car when I was a young kid. This was just as neat as a Testarossa at the the time but more in a muscle way. I remember Callaway being something not to take lightly back then.

Thanks for sharing.

505Turbeaux > CO-OCD 01/22/2014 at 09:37

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yup, them be Supertrapps!

CO-OCD > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2014 at 09:40

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Now I feel vindicated in my youth and my 35-year-old brain for remembering. Damn I am cool, lol..

505Turbeaux > CO-OCD 01/22/2014 at 09:41

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lol yeah 35 yo here too. Now tell me you remember the Speedster. This was the hottest shit back then to me

DatASSun > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2014 at 09:58

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I remember finding about this thing when I was a kid.. I'm 24 now and want a C4 vette SO BAD .. one of the many possible cars I pick up after I finish the Datassun .. Just so I can put a 6.0 in it from a late model GM work truck and 2 turbos .. Have my budget Sledgehammer ..

505Turbeaux > DatASSun 01/22/2014 at 10:02

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sounds like a hell of a plan right there! c4's are cheap. Some dude up here in maine has one in primer black he drives in the snow. He said he bought it for $1000 running and driving!

DatASSun > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2014 at 10:24

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Nice ! I just want to get one paint it like the grand sport and twin turbo it to make over a 1000hp .. and then it will be done .. and I'll have 2 blue cars ..

CO-OCD > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2014 at 10:27

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Of course. That color was amazing back then too! I always wanted to know what they did to that structurally. Always looked funny like they took a Sawzall to it, lol.

505Turbeaux > DatASSun 01/22/2014 at 10:27

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2 fast blue cars...

505Turbeaux > CO-OCD 01/22/2014 at 10:29

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I think it was just enough windshield to cover you if you were 5' 10". this was my favorite angle for that car.

So late 80's

DatASSun > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2014 at 10:36

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Yes Yes ... then I'm sure my woman would force me to get her a El Camino ..

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2014 at 10:52

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Damn 1000?

stupid need for a backseat...

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2014 at 10:52

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I always loved this thing.

I'm a huge Corvette guy and I've always loved the crazy shit Callaway came up with.

505Turbeaux > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 01/22/2014 at 10:57

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all kinds of crazy shit coming out of his shop, even to this day!

505Turbeaux > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 01/22/2014 at 10:58

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man it is beat for sure though

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > 505Turbeaux 01/22/2014 at 11:02

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Hahaha, I suppose I'll stick to my crazy Montego.

Axial > DatASSun 01/22/2014 at 16:02

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Turbocharging a C4 is not something for the faint of heart. You have very, very little room under the hood to work with and to my knowledge there are no existing turbo kits to make it straight-forward. You're going to have to engineer your entire set-up from placement to heat management, and it's likely going to result in necessary exterior modifications. You can pick up a B2K-optioned C4 Corvette for between $24,000 and $30,000, and by the time you made up a vanilla C4 to your satisfaction that might actually be the better route to take.

But then again, there's some appeal in DIY. I'm not sure I'd want to stuff an LS-based mill in one, I think the C4 loses half of its proto-modern "refined but not so refined" appeal when you put a modern engine inside.

DatASSun > Axial 01/22/2014 at 16:05

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Did you wake up this morning and decide you'd shit on my dreams today ?

Fact is I can get a C4 or two for cheap enough not to care about cutting it up .. The C4 didnt have much room stock but who knows how much room is hiding in that engine bay when you take the LT1 out .. I think I can make it happen .

Axial > DatASSun 01/22/2014 at 16:14

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No, I just wanted you to know what you might be in for if you decide to pursue this. =þ

Also, an LS-series block doesn't free up an additional room. Compare this with the LT1/4 cars, and it's about the same.:

I was only mentioning the cutting it up in case you were hoping to go for the sleeper look (which has appeal since most think C4s are slow). That's something that won't happen with turbos. You will NEED extra ducts somewhere for the inter-cooler(s).

DatASSun > Axial 01/22/2014 at 16:16

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Im sorry I dont like your tone ..

Axial > DatASSun 01/22/2014 at 16:20

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What? Pragmatism? Psssh. Turbos have been done before, it's just a lot of work. It's why most of us go with superchargers instead. I'll probably stick a supercharger on mine sometime in the near-ish future.

DatASSun > Axial 01/22/2014 at 16:22

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your harshing my mellow man ..