Callaway Cars Incorporated
| Private | |
| Industry | Automobile tuning and parts manufacturer |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Founder | Reeves Callaway |
| Headquarters | Old Lyme, Connecticut, United States |
|
Key people
|
Reeves Callaway |
| Owner | Reeves Callaway |
| Website | www.callawaycars.com |
| Callaway C16 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Callaway Cars |
| Production | 2007 |
| Assembly | Irvine, California Old Lyme, Connecticut Leingarten, Germany |
| Designer | Paul Deutschman |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Sports car |
| Body style |
Cabrio Coupé Speedster |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Platform | Fiberglass body on GM Y platform |
| Related | Chevrolet Corvette C6 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 6.2 L (378 cu in) LS3 supercharged V8 |
| Transmission | 6 speed manual automatic paddle-shift transmission |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 268.5 cm (105.7 in) |
| Length | 410.0 cm (161.4 in) |
| Width | 184.4 cm (72.6 in) |
| Height | 122.2 cm (48.1 in) |
| Curb weight | 1,530.9 kg (3,375 lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Callaway C12 |
| Callaway SledgeHammer Corvette | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Callaway Cars Inc. |
| Also called | Project SledgeHammer |
| Assembly | Old Lyme, CT |
| Designer | Paul Deutschman |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | modified car |
| Body style | coupé |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 5733 cc / 349.8 cu in V8 Callaway Twin Turbo Dual Bosch fuel pumps feed the system |
| Transmission | 6-speed manual (updated from 5-speed manual installed at time of record run) |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,443 mm (96.2 in) |
| Length | 4,483 mm (176.5 in) |
| Width | 1,803 mm (71.0 in) |
| Height | 1,186 mm (46.7 in) |
| Curb weight | 1,589 kg (3,503 lb) |
Callaway Cars Inc. is an engine design company that is known for its modification of Chevrolet cars, the Corvette sport cars in particular, especially their twin-turbo kit that became a dealer option and their record breaking Corvette Sledgehammer car.
In 1973, Reeves Callaway, not in a financial position to be able to start his dream of embarking on a racing career, did what many aspiring drivers do- Callaway went to work as a driving instructor for Bob Bondurant's racing school.
While using the newly launched BMW 320i as a school car, he became familiar with its intricacies and deficiencies, he later took hold of one of its cars to his garage in Old Lyme with the intention of tuning for more power.
As a result, Callaway constructed and installed his first prototype turbocharger system and offered Car and Driver journalist Don Sherman to drive the car resulting in a one-page article, giving the modified car great acclaim. Realising its commercial potential, Sherman told Callaway that he could make turbocharger kits available to the BMW community but he didn't even have the equipment to manufacture the components including a drill press. As business began to arrive, Callaway formed Callaway Cars, Inc in 1977.
Over the years, Callaway developed turbocharger kits for BMW, Volkswagen, Porsche, Audi and Mercedes-Benz. He also developed the HH IndyCar V8 engine and later a twin turbo kit for the Alfa Romeo GTV6. The company would become famous in 1987 when they developed a twin turbo kit for the Corvette. Built under Regular Production Option (RPO) B2K, the Callaway Twin Turbo Corvette was available through Chevrolet dealers as a factory option. Callaway sold 510 of them over a period of five years.
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