Callaway is Now Converting C7 Corvettes Into Station Wagons
Callaway Cars has been tuning and tweaking Corvettes for decades and, in 2013 the company announced it might consider producing a “shooting-brake” C7 and cash in on the returning trend. Since then, it has been developing the design while evaluating market appeal.
On Friday, Callaway officially announced its Corvette C21 AeroWagen package and the vehicle’s debut at the Michelin NCM Bash at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. An interesting idea, perhaps, but I am not in love with the execution. Callaway’s close ties to General Motors makes you trust the fit and finish will be factory quality, but fifteen grand is still a lot of money for owners to spend on potentially ruining the back half of a Corvette.
Let’s talk about reward visibility first — does the AeroWagen have any? With a slab of carbon fiber stretching from behind the driver’s seat to a just few inches above the taillights, I would imagine the tiny porthole of glass to offer Lamborghini Countach levels of non-visibility. So, no, not really.
It also doesn’t seem to add much in terms of practicality, an unwelcome surprise on a “shooting-brake.” Callaway’s kit for the Corvette will not provide any additional seating in the rear — the chassis and running gear configuration won’t allow it. While it might require the substantially larger financial commitment, Ferrari’s GTC4Lusso T does offer the added practicality of four seats.
The kit uses OEM seals, hinges, and latch mechanisms and won’t interfere with your targa top. Calloway says the conversion can be easily undone too, handy for when you have it installed and begin immediately hating yourself.
If you are uncontrollably drawn to the vehicle in these photos or find yourself fetishizing old Greenwood Sportwagon Vettes, the package starts at $14,990 and painting the new body work to match your car costs an extra $1,500.
Callaway Cars is taking orders now and you can examine for yourself at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, from April 27th through the 29th.
[Images: Callaway Cars]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
More by Matt Posky
Comments
Join the conversation
Judging from the looks, it must be the famous Bowling Green Massacre. I seem to remember the prototype looked somehow better?
Callaway practically REINVENTS the sportscar, but someone with their knickers in a twist goes all Consumer Reports on them and imagines they might not be able to see out the back.