From a forgotten sidebar of automotive history, today’s Rare Ride is perhaps a bit more obscure than normal. Just 10 total examples of the Speedster were produced, making it exceptionally rare. And while the front clip says, “I’m still a C4 Corvette,” the rest of the car underwent quite a transformation at the Callaway shop.
Slip on your stonewashed Jordache jeans and get ready for this rapid Rare Ride.
Listed right now on eBay is a fine example of the Chevrolet Corvette Callaway Speedster. This silver beauty is a creation of the Connecticut-based Callaway Cars company. While it’s known mostly for modification to Chevrolet vehicles, it also transforms Alfa Romeos, Range Rovers, and Aston Martins on occasion.
For this particular design, Callaway applied the body kit from the Corvette Sledgehammer (already in production) and chopped the C4’s roof.
The sides and rear of the passenger compartment have a wraparound glass area and a retro-inspired double bubble rear window arrangement.
Special OZ Racing wheels are found at all four corners; they’re original and unique to the vehicle.
Callaway did some work under hood as well, re-engineering the twin-turbo L98 V8 engine. The power figures now stand at 403 horsepower and a mighty 465 lb-ft of torque.
Aside from the bodywork, Callaway also reworked the interior on this timeless Rare Ride. Tell me, do you like teal? Teal leather (officially Wedgewood Blue) covers almost all surfaces, and there’s a custom steering wheel cover emblazoned with the Callaway name.
Customized seats bear the name of model you’ve chosen from the Callaway portfolio — Speedster. No word on top speed here, but without a roof and over 800 horsepower, it will likely not reach the 254 mile-per-hour mark of the Sledgehammer.
This particular vehicle has seen an auction block before, as in 2009 it sold (via Mecum) for $115,000. The current seller seems flexible on price. Last week, the Speedster was listed at $156,000, but has since been opened up to bidding at just $89,000. As of writing, the vehicle has two bids, sitting at $90,000. Naturally, there’s a reserve on this auction.
But how do you truly put a value on stepping out in full teal regalia?
[Images via eBay]
I actually drove one of these down a street for tire service in 2004 (purple with stripes IIRC). I had completely forgotten these were a thing, and I’m a tad shocked at 90K for one.
Seafoam green was where it was at in those roaring 90s.
Ha, wow. Not as memorable as they intended eh?
Nope, and that one had about 9,000 some odd miles at the time. I have more of a memory of the red Allante, white Reatta coupe, and the S10 frame custom welded to an 80s J Cavalier coupe (yes that really did happen and yes I really drove it down a city street, LORD strike me dead). Fun times.
Ken Lingenfelter’s collection includes a number Callaway Corvettes including a Speedster.
I would like the colors better if they were reversed between interior and exterior.
This didn’t have an LS engine, it had an L98 twin-turbo.
I remember the Motor Trend when these hit and I thought they were some of the most radical looking shapes this side of The Last Starfighter.
Thanks, fixed.
“I thought they were some of the most radical looking shapes this side of The Last Starfighter.”
Or the Autech Stelvio.
I still have that issue!
“That car isn’t teal”
*scrolls* Hmm…maybe the flash just fades the…….*scrolls*
OH MY GOD….What in the blue blazes?
hahah
Same course of events on my end.
It wasn’t that fugly in my memories.
I don’t think the bodywork detracts from the C4, although fwiw I have never liked C4s so that is a low bar. Having owned some Wedgewood I think the color name for the interior is not that far off-base unless you just want to hate. That being said I would own three to five C6s before I would consider dropping $100k on this.
There’s a special place in Hell for auto journalists who do a feature on a Callaway twin turbo, and don’t include a pic of the engine!
I can only show you what the seller throws out there. No engine pic!
Now, we don’t cover real estate here obviously, but if we did I’d be sharing this with you in a feature, to go along with this Speedster.
http://www.wxyz.com/news/news-photo-gallery/photos-michigan-mansion-listing-featuring-90s-interior-decor-goes-viral#
BEHOLD THE EXCELLENCE.
God that is a gauche home. It looks like the bad decor from the 80’s continued into the 90’s. Or Dirk Diggler moved up to nicer digs.
I love it. It just has -so much- to it. And it couldn’t be replicated today.