Callaway Cars

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Callaway Cars Incorporated
Type Public
Founded 1977
Founder Reeves Callaway
Headquarters Old Lyme, Connecticut, United States
Key people Reeves Callaway
Industry Automobile tuning and parts manufacturer
Owner Reeves Callaway
Website www.callawaycars.com
Callaway C12 Corvette
Callaway C12 Corvette

Callaway Cars Inc. is an engine design company who is notable for their 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.

Contents

[edit] History

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 [1] drivers do- Callaway went to work as a driving instructor for Bob Bondurant's racing school.[1]

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.[1]

As a result, Callaway constructed and installed his first prototype turbocharger system and offer Car and Driver journalist Don Sherman to drive the car resulting in a one-page article, giving the modified car great acclaim.[1] 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.[1] As business began to arrive, Callaway formed Callaway Cars, Inc in 1977.[1]

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 kits for the Corvette. As they were dealer options, Callaway sold 500 of them over a period of five years.[2]

Callaway was also commissioned by Aston Martin to build the 5.3L V8 engine from the newly launched Virage for its AMR1 Group C racer.[1]

Callaway Cars headquarters is in Old Lyme, Connecticut with West Coast facilities in Orange County, California, and European facilities in Leingarten, Germany. Its current project is the C16, a supercharged C6 Corvette

[edit] Projects

Callaway tend to refer each projects with a C, followed by a number henceforth The 16 in its name does not refer to cylinders...but to the car's spot in Callaway history. This is the 16th project to come out of the supercar maker.

[edit] C1 (Callaway Turbo Systems)

The Callaway Turbo Systems is a development program and its subsequent sale of its aftermarket turbocharger systems for BMW, VW, Porsche, Audi and Mercedes-Benz applications. This was the first of the Callaway's projects, running from its company's foundation in 1977 to 1984.[1]

[edit] C2 (Callaway HH Indy Car Engine)

The Callaway HH Indy Car Engine is a project to build a racing engine for IndyCar specification from scratch as an eleven months long program between 1980 and '81, to show Callaway's capability to design and implement complex high performance engine program.[1]

This was effectively a stillborn project, as the engine never ran beyond some intitial bench testing

[edit] C3 (Alfa Romeo Callaway Twin Turbo GTV-6)

Following its success with their turbocharger kits, this led a commission by Alfa Romeo to produce a higher end version of its 2.5 liter GTV-6 coupé. Thirty examples were built between 1983 and 1986.[3] In addition to numerous small component upgrades, the Callaway GTVs included a much revised suspension, larger brakes and a twin-turbocharger system, boosting performance to near-exotic levels.

The car's performance caught the attention of Dave McLellan, Chief Engineer of the Corvette, and would lead to the Callaway-Corvette association it became famous for.[1]

[edit] C4 (Callaway Twin Turbo Corvette)

The special edition Callaway Twin Turbo Corvette was available from 1987-1991 as Regular Production Option (RPO) B2K and could be ordered from select dealers in the US. Corvette orders with the B2K option selected were shipped to Callaway Cars in Old Lyme, Connecticut, for the Twin Turbo conversion directly from the Bowling Green assembly plant.

Once converted and tested, the Callaway Corvettes were then shipped to their ordering dealers for final delivery to their respective owners. Dealer repairs of the Callaway Twin Turbo Corvettes were covered by the standard GM 12 mo./12,000 mile warranty, with Callaway Cars, Inc. reimbursing dealers for time and materials on repairs to the added components. This was the first and only time where GM has allowed a factory orderable non-GM performance enhancement on the Corvette.

The ultimate Callaway Twin Turbo Corvette is known as the Sledgehammer Corvette. Until 1999, the Callaway Sledgehammer Corvette held the World production car speed record of 254.76 MPH. It is an emissions compliant, street legal vehicle, with all the creature comforts like Air Conditioning, Radio, etc that you would find in any production street Corvette. Built using production chassis 1988-051, it achieved its World Record Title in November 1988 at the Ohio Transportation Research Center (TRC). In addition to the engine performance improvements, the Sledgehammer Corvette used modified body panels to reduce drag and improve stability.

This body modification, known as the Callaway Aerobody was designed by Automotive Designer Paul Deutschman. The Callaway Aerobody was later available as an appearance enhancement option for Callaway Corvettes.

On the performance side, the 1987 production version of the Callaway Twin Turbo, B2K option provided 345 HP /465 ft·lbf. of Torque, with a top speed of 178 MPH, at a price of just over $50K. In those days, this brought the Callaway Corvette into the performance category of Ferarri and Lamborghini which cost in the range of $100-$175K. According to the National Corvette Museum records, that year 184 Corvettes were ordered with the Callaway Twin Turbo (B2K) option.

For 1988, Callaway increased the stock performance of the Twin Turbo Corvette to yield 382 HP/ 562 ft·lbf. of Torque. That year, 124 Corvettes were ordered with the Callaway Twin Turbo (B2K) option.

The 1989 Callaway Twin Turbo option provided the same power output as the 1988. However, after the World Record run of the Callaway Sledgehammer, the Aerobody became an option for the Callaway Twin Turbo Corvette. A total of 69 (B2K) Callaway Twin Turbo Corvettes were ordered that year.

In 1990, GM finally introduced their ZR-1 Corvette which obtained similar performance characteristics as the 1989 Callaway Twin-Turbo option, at a similar price, and with a normally aspirated engine, beginning the demise of the Callaway Twin Turbo Corvette program. That year saw the lowest number of (B2K) Callaway Twin Turbo Corvettes ordered with 58.

To counter the ZR-1, for the 1991 model year, Callaway was able to bring up the output of the B2K option up to 403 HP/582 ft·lbf. of torque. 1991 would be the last year of the L98 engine which was the base engine of the Callaway Twin Turbo Corvette. The power output of the (B2K) Callaway Twin Turbo remained the same as the 1990 and there were 62 ordered. In total 497 (B2K) Callaway Twin Turbo Corvettes were ordered through the normal sales channels. However, before the Callaway Twin Turbo option went away, Callaway and Deutschman went to work to provide yet a more powerful and stunning car, the Callaway Speedster. Additional Twin Turbo Corvettes were also modified during this time through direct customer conversion projects and these cars are referred to as Series 500 Callaway Twin Turbo Corvettes.

[edit] C5 (Aston Martin Virage V-8 & AMR-1 Group C Engine)

[edit] C6 (Callaway SuperNatural Corvette)

[edit] C7 (Callaway C7)

The C7 is the ill-fated supercar built for GT1 category racing, developed between 1993 to 1996, it attempted to pre-qualify at the 1996 24 Hours of Le Mans which it failed to.

Covini Engineering was responsible with the consultant work for its carbon fiber body.[4]

[edit] C8 (SuperNatural Camaro)

[edit] C9 (Callaway Impala SS)

[edit] C10 (Limited Edition Corvette Ski Boat)

[edit] C11 (Limited Edition Range Rover 4.6 HSE)

[edit] C12 (Callaway C12)

[edit] C13 (Holden Special Vehicles GTS Coupe)

Only 300 made by Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) mostly hand built from 1999 to 2003 in Melbourne Australia There were 200, 4-door Commodore (G8 Pontiac)sedans VT, VX and 100, Monaro (GTO) coupes in VXII - Purchase price new approx AUD$95,500. (On road with 2-way sun-roof and GPS Navigator approx.AUD$105,000) The cars utilised the Callaway 13 or more commonly known as the C4B 5.7 litre Chevrolet V8 engine. Conservatively badged as 300 kw (405bhp)with a manual T56 6 speed transmission and four piston caliper disc brakes all round they were the flagship of HSV. Once ECU remapped, shift kitted and the exhaust modified produced in excess of 340kw (455 bhp)..Further cam mods (red line at 6700rpm) and utilising Shell 100 octane v-power gasoline, realised an increase in power to 375Kw or (503 bhp)at the flywheel and around 440 to 460 ft·lbf (620 N·m) of torque (640nm) -Approx. 295kw to 305kw (415 bhp)at the rear wheels. Zero to 62 mph in 4.55secs, standing Qtr. mile e.t. 12.5 seconds and an estimated top speed at 5000 rpm in 6th gear, approx 312kph (194 mph).

== GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS ==

2001 VX GTS MODEL. Flagship High Performance Model. Callaway HSV C4B 300KW V8 engine, 0-100 in 5.1 second. Premium brakes and performance suspension package. Hydratrak differential, 19 inch alloys, performance sports seats. Price auto: N/A Price man: $95,500 Body: SEDAN Made in: MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA No. of Seats: 5 Warranty: 3 Yr 100,000 km

TECHNICAL - STANDARD GTS 300: Type : sedan Amount of the Doors : 4 The Place Seatings : 4 The Place Seatings 5 Sizes and mass : Mass, kgs : 1780 Type of the engine : gasoline Preparation to air gas :13.0:1 Design of the engine : V-8 90 degree Amount cylinder : 8 Volume of the engine, sm3 : 5700 Maximum power: 300 kw / 405 bhp Frequency of the rotation under maximum power: 6000 rpm Maximum turning moment, Nm : 520 (420 ft·lbf) Gearbox : 6 speed manual T56 Brakes : 4 spot caliper drilled & slotted discs on all four wheels. Runaway before 100 km/ch, sec. : 5.1 Standing ¼ mile elapsed time: 13.1 seconds / 172 kp/h / 107 mph Maximum velocity, kmh : 280 kph (175 mph) Consumption fuel in town cycle, l/100 km : Consumption fuel in country cycle, l/100 km : Consumption fuel average, l/100 km : Volume of the tank, l. : 75 litres Type fuel : 95 octane

TECHNICAL - ENHANCED GTS 300: Type : sedan Amount of the Doors : 4 The Place Seatings : 5 Sizes and mass : Mass, kgs : 1780 Type of the engine : gasoline Preparation to air gas : 12.8:1 Design of the engine : V-8 90 degree / LS1 Callaway C4B re mapped ECU Amount cylinder : 8 Camshaft: Cam specs. 224 /230 Lift int. .581” exh. .588” o/lap 114 Volume of the engine, sm3 : 5700 Maximum power: 375 kw /503 bhp Frequency of the rotation under maximum power: 6700 rpm Maximum turning movement, Nm 640 (460 ft·lbf) Brakes : 4 spot caliper drilled & slotted discs on all four wheels. Gearbox : 6 speed manual T56 w/ Harrop quick short shift. Runaway before 100 kmh,4.5 seconds. Standing ¼ mile elapsed time:12.5 seconds /184 kp/h (115 mph) Maximum velocity, km/h : 312 (194 mph) Consumption fuel in town cycle, l/100 km : Consumption fuel in country cycle, l/100 km Consumption fuel average, l/100 km : Volume of the tank: 75 litres Type fuel : 100 octane

[edit] C14 (Mazdaspeed Protegé)

[edit] C15 (FIA Corvette GT3)

The Callaway Project C15, known as FIA Corvette GT3 Z06R is a competition version of the Corvette C6 Z06 built to compete in FIA GT3 category GT racing. The cars are built at the company's facility in Leingarten, Germany and raced in the European FIA GT Championship.

The first three Z06R were built for Callaway themselves, followed by the rest for privateers. As of 2007, ten have been built to compete in FIA GT3 Championship, the ADAC Masters and the Belcar series.

The three car works team consisting of Luca Pirri and Jurgen von Gartzen, Uli Berberich-Martini, Klaus Ludwig, Jiri Skula and Martin Matzke driven the cars in the FIA GT3 European Championship, with three victories and three second place finishes, the Martini-Callaway team took the Manufacturer’s Championship title. Its drivers Pirri and von Gartzen took the runners-up in the GT3 Driver’s Championship. [5] The knowledge and experience learned from the race program is used in the Callaway C16 series of road-going sports cars.

[edit] C16 (Callaway C16)

Callaway C16
Manufacturer Callaway Cars
Production 2007 
Assembly Irvine, California/Old Lyme, Connecticu/Leingarten, Germany
Predecessor Callaway C12
Class Sports car
Body style(s) Cabrio/Coupé/Speedster
Layout FR layout
Platform Fiberglass body on GM Y platform
Engine(s) Callaway modified LS3 6.2 liter (378 cu.in.) V8, powered by a Eaton Supercharger with air/liquid intercooler integral to intake manifold. 50" Hg manifold pressure, absolute. (10 psig), producing 650 bhp (SAE), 90°, cast aluminum block and heads; 6-bolt cross-bolted main caps;


Bore x Stroke: 4.060 x 3.622 inches
Compression ratio: 10.4:1
Torque (SAE) 585 ft·lbf @ 4,750 rpm
Redline: 6,500 rpm

Transmission(s) 6 speed manual/automatic paddle-shift transmission
Wheelbase 268.5 cm (105.7 in)
Length 410.0 cm (181.4 in)
Width 184.4 cm (72.6 in)
Height 122.2 cm (48.1")
Curb weight 1,530.9 kg (3,375 lb)
Fuel capacity 54 litres (18 imp gal)
Related Chevrolet Corvette C6
Designer Paul Deutschman

The Callaway C16 is a bespoke automobile based on the C6 Corvette. The C16 is marketed as an alternative to the Porsche 911 GT3, the Lamborghini Murciélago, the Ferrari F430 or the 599 GTB and is offered in three different body styles, Cabrio, Coupé and Speedster.[6]

It was unveiled at the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show in 2006. Production began in 2007.[7] The car is sold fully equipped with a set coordinated features such as the supercharged engine, full leather interior, proprietary Callaway/Eibach suspension system, the LeMans brakes and Carbon Magnesium wheels. Options are the selection of a comfort seat or a sportseat, carbon ceramic brakes, and fitted luggage. Cars are built to order where the owner chooses the interior leathers and the exterior color. All cars are sold by Callaway directly, and are supported by a 5 year/ 50,000 mile powertrain warranty.[6]

Like the Callaway C12, the only body panels the car retains from the C6 are the roof panel, the rear hatch, and the rear view mirrors.[6]

[edit] Un numbered projects

[edit] Ruger Stutz DV32 Turbo

====Speiss Twin Turbo V10

[edit] Kohler Turbocharged Generator Sets

[edit] Rivolta GT Prototype

[edit] Callaway Cyclone V16

[edit] Notable models

[edit] SledgeHammer Corvette

Callaway SledgeHammer Corvette
Class modified car
Body style(s) coupé
Layout FR layout
Engine(s) 5733 cc / 349.8 cu in V8 Twin Turbo
Dual Bosch fuel pumps feed the system
Transmission(s) 6 Speed Manual
Wheelbase 2443 mm / 96.2 in
Length 4483 mm / 176.5 in
Width 1803 mm / 70.9 in
Height 1186 mm / 46.7 in
Curb weight 1589 kg / 3503 lb
Designer Paul Deutschman

After the Car and Driver test event, which Callaway drove a specially modified Callaway Twin Turbo Corvette (C4), known as the "Top Gun" project to the best of 231 mph (372 km/h), winning the test run. A production Callaway managed a best of, 187.95 mph (302.48 km/h).[8]

As Callaway wanted to take the record further into 250 mph (402 km/h) with the car being docile during traffic, he developed the SledgeHammer Corvette, to allow airflow into the engine, he commissioned Paul Deutschman of Deutschman Design to develop the Callaway Aerobody for stability.[9] The engine was extensively hand built with its turbo intercoolers being relocated from either side of the intake manifold to the front, behind the bumper. Overall engine power was rated at 898 horsepower @ 6200 rpm with 772 lb·ft (1,047 N·m) of torque @ 5250 rpm.[8] The car retained its road car amenities such as power windows and locks, Bose radio, electronic air conditioning and, power sport seats with all necessary race car modifications such as roll cage.[8]

Driven by John Lingenfelter, the car reached 254.76 mph (410 km/h) mph at the Transportation Research Center, Ohio and was driven back to Old Lyme.[8]

The Aerobody would become commercially available this would become the first of the partnerships with Deutschman, in which he also designed its later models such as Speedster, SuperNatural, C7, C12 and C16.[9]

[edit] Performance Stats

  • Horsepower: 898 bhp / 669.6 kW @6200 rpm
  • Torque: 772.2 ft·lbf / 1047.0 Nm @6200 rpm
  • BHP/Liter: 157.54 bhp/Liter
  • Power to weight ratio: 0.565 bhp/kg
  • Top Speed: 254.8 mph / 409.9 km/h
  • 0 - 60 mph acceleration: 3.9 seconds
  • 1/4 Mile: 10.6 seconds

[edit] References

[edit] External links