The most desirable project ever, to me.

[Lashout_UK]

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:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1987-Corvette-Callaway-barn-find-project-87-twin-turbo-/160543513911

How awesome is that.

That is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, right there. You will not see anything that comes anywhere close to that and with those parts you could build a clone of 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.

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:

 

[Lashout_UK]

.......and some articles:

 

[Lashout_UK]

I just love it. Such a feat of engineering for the times and it just shows what you can do with some time and dedication.

 

[DM]

Get it bought and shipped, you know you want to

 

[Lashout_UK]

Is that an offer to buy it for me? How generous

 

[sigma]

*Fap fap fap fap fap fap fap*

Slight F40-esque looks going on there from the front/wheels.

 

[Joshy]

Correct me if I'm not following, but the only thing 'Sledehammer' related to the car on eBay is the bodykit that comes with it? That just appears to be a 'Normal' turbocharged Callaway Corvette?

Anyway, you do have to admire the sort. From everything I've read and heard about the 'Hammer, it was designed to be a car that you could use every day (figuratively speaking). They engineered things to last, rather than just slapping on two massive blowers and hoping for the best

 

[Lashout_UK]

Yea - as mentioned Callaway only ever built one Sledgehammer, which was based on the factory-option RPO B2K Callaway setup, which is what the car in the auction also is - so you'd be starting from the same point that they did.

You can still buy some body parts - but to have the whole lot, just like that, along with all the detail Callaway parts and that rolling assembly that is genuine Callaway, is quite a rare thing.

 

[Joshy]

But how much of the base car was actually still left after they finished making the sledehammer? Not much I bet!

 

[Lashout_UK]

The chassis is standard, barring cutouts for intake and intercooler piping.

Brakes are standard.

Steering is standard, inclusive of the original PAS cooler.

Suspension is only lowered 1" and stiffened.

Driveline features uprated parts to handle the power but retains the factory layout - it's really only the UJs and axles that are changed.

Interior is effectively standard barring a few odds and sods (i.e. gauges, harnesses, cage).

Bodywork, barring the Callaway kit, is standard. All the standard body fittings are retained, the kit just bolts up to the existing mounts.

Gearbox was the 'standard' ZF 6-speed from the later cars (was being fitted to the ZR-1 at the time), initially it was a 5 speed with overdrive, though.

Intake manifold is standard, albeit ported.

Engine is just a conventional smallblock, although heavily developed, with a stronger block, decent alloy heads, forged crank and pistons, stronger rods, aftermarket fuelling and so on. All off-the-shelf stuff these days

So quite a bit, really! Basically the real complexity was the fitment and specification of the turbos, plumbing, fuelling and all that additional cooling that was required - for both the coolant and oil, the intake system, the differential and the fuel. A packaging nightmare

Oh yea - it has different wheels

 

[Puzzled]

That looks amazing! You've gotta do it!

OcUK could sponsor it

 

[Maxeh]

Is it just me or are Corvettes of that era massively overlooked over in the UK?

Considering the power that can be had and from what I gather, the relatively cheap parts they seem like a bargain for straight line fun.

 

[Aod]

Is it just me or are Corvettes of that era massively overlooked over in the UK?

Considering the power that can be had and from what I gather, the relatively cheap parts they seem like a bargain for straight line fun.

as far as i'm aware, few were imported into the UK at the time so you'd have to import it yourself which would end up rather costly

 

[Lashout_UK]

There are quite a few in the UK, remarkably, and they're suprisingly good fun in the twisties as well! They are starting to appreciate quite quickly though, so won't remain available at the 4-5k mark for much longer (and already you have to dig, or wait, for them at that price). They have a much bigger following in Europe and that's where a lot of them go, from the UK.

It can take a while to find a car that's the right colour, or spec, for you, though

I think being LHD-only (barring a handful of converted ones) and the typical stereotypes (usually wildly inaccurate) put off most casual buyers

I saw a grey one last week - one of those genuine "now there's something you don't see every day" moments Ace cars to own though, such a phenomenal amount of presence - and you get very quickly used to things like attractive young girls coming over and saying hello

This still strikes me as a smart buy, with a little haggling, if you wanted some real punch:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1989-Corvette-383-6-2L-6-sp-Manual-Coupe-/370384452544

 

[Deleted member 66701]

Bid entered!

Currently trying to find out shipping costs.

Only want it for the engine+drivetrain though - the Cobra currently doesn't have an engine.

 

[Fr0dders]

isn't callaway that company that got into all that trouble on one of the american forums recently for taking years with a customers car, taking shed loads of money and not actually doing anything ?

 

[Firestar_3x]

Drool, always been a huge fan of that car.

 

[Lashout_UK]

Bid entered!

Currently trying to find out shipping costs.

Only want it for the engine+drivetrain though - the Cobra currently doesn't have an engine.

I assume that's not a serious suggestion? You'd be paying through the nose for effectively just an engine and gearbox and the 4+3 box is not a great transmission, plus it's very large - not ideal for a Cobra. You may find the IC and turbos don't fit, either.

It'll cost about £2,000 to ship that lot, I reckon, if he'd oblige. Then you'd have to pay an extra 31% of the total sale price and shipping once it's landed in the UK. I reckon it's going to finish over $10,000 - around £6,200. So you'd be paying £10,742 for effectively the engine and box. The rest of it doesn't really have much in the way of value over here.

You can buy a new 480BHP LS3 V8 for £5,300 from a parts supplier in the UK, if you wanted to do it the expensive way - or around £2-3k for a cutout with a 6-speed box from a wrecked Camaro/Corvette/Holden/Pontiac.

Much cheaper, much more reliable, much simpler and probably more powerful as standard.

 

[JRS]

isn't callaway that company that got into all that trouble on one of the american forums recently for taking years with a customers car, taking shed loads of money and not actually doing anything ?

That would be Hennessey IIRC.

 

[Deleted member 66701]

I assume that's not a serious suggestion?

Deadly serious - have a shipping quote for £650, wouldn't bother shipping the chassis and body work. Already spoken to them and they have agreed to split the gearbox/engine/prop/diff/shafts and pallet them up. Oh, and it wont get stopped at customs

It'll prob go for higher than my max bid anyhow so it'll all probably be a mute point anyhow.

You can buy a new 480BHP LS3 V8

Like nearly every other Cobra owner? No thanks.