Rare Rides: The 1994 Callaway C8 SuperNatural - a Fast Camaro

This series featured a Callaway creation once before — the incredible and Teal Time upholstered Speedster from 1991. While the Speedster showed what Callaway could do with a Nineties Corvette, the company dabbled in similar era Camaros as well.

Let’s see what they created.

The Callaway company was initially a turbocharging enterprise, one which worked for BMW in the late Seventies. Owner Reeves Callaway developed a new turbocharger for the 320i that helped the model’s 2.0-liter engine provide 160 horsepower (instead of the standard version’s 110). A few years later, Callaway was hired by Alfa Romeo to work on the GTV-6. The angular liftback gained two turbos in that application.

Exposure to the GTV put Callaway on GM’s radar, and the automaker soon inked a deal with Callaway to create a twin-turbo Corvette engine. In a first for Callaway, its engine design was offered as factory option by a manufacturer, and covered under warranty. Turbo development continued through late 1988, with the pinnacle Sledgehammer. It was still a Corvette, but one transformed into a 900-horsepower monster.

Once the Nineties brought along a new LT1 engine (Gen II), Callaway pivoted from turbo and went to more traditional power enhancement methods. The most important change Callaway made was an increase in displacement. The 5.7-liter became a 6.3, and a new intake (along with other changes) resulted in 404 horsepower. During the new engine’s development, Callaway kept the upcoming Camaro in mind. Sports car customers everywhere were excited for a modern Camaro to succeed the ancient Eighties block. Engine work complete, the new SuperNatural LT1 V8 was born.

Callaway also needed aero enhancements. The company reached out to the designer of the prior twin-turbo Corvettes and asked for a Camaro design; what resulted was the “CamAerobody.” The nose was longer and lower, with stabilizing fins to cut through the air. The lower part of the Camaro was also reworked, fiberglass covered the door skins and rocker panels. The rear end was reworked as well; smoothed edges assisted with drag. Behind each wheel, gills appeared like on those fancy European Ferraris. But everything was functional, and the power and aero changes meant a new top speed of 170.

The cost of all this work circa 1994 was around $56,000. Some customers bought a regular Camaro and had it converted to a “C8 SuperNatural” with the revised body and SuperNatural engine. Others swapped only the engine, or only the aero body. A select few ordered a C8 direct, which was only available via Mystic Chevrolet in Mystic, Connecticut (now Valenti Chevrolet). Today’s Rare Ride is one of those direct order cars, an early example of the 55 total cars completed. It’s listed for sale presently on eBay.

[Images: seller]