The legendary Callaway 'Aerobody' Sledgehammer

SuperBEAST As the world's fast car fans, we will be very enthusiastic when discussing about the fastest car in the world. Well until now, there're many fast cars ever had been recorded as 'The fastest car in the world.' And we all know that the title is now carried by an American-made hypercar named the SSC Tuatarra which was able to record a top speed of 533 kph at the 7-miles length road in Nevada back in October 2020.

The Callaway Sledgehammer was built by Reeves Callaway in his Connecticut-based workshop in 1988 as a testbed for reliable and dependable power with a turbocharged V8 engine. (Picture from: Supercars)

Although the SSC Tuatarra currently holds that title, but it is not the first American hypercar to surpass the fantastic 250 mph benchmark, there're several other American cars such as the Hennessey Venom F5 and Venom GT. And then back to the end of 1980s, have you heard of another American car called the Callaway Sledgehammer which once held the title as the fastest in 1988 with a top speed notch that surpassed those 250 mph benchmark?

The Callaway Sledgehammer is fitted with a low-drag C4 shell known simply as the AeroBody of Paul Deutschman. (Picture from: BringaTrailer)

The car was built by Reeves Callaway in his Connecticut-based workshop in 1988 as a testbed for reliable and dependable power with a turbocharged V8. In addition, he also wanted to set new performance benchmarks, then commissioned by a Canadian named Paul Deutschman to build with a low-drag C4 shell known simply as the AeroBody.

The Callaway Sledgehammer still maintains the luxury in its cabin including power windows and locks, audio system, electronic air conditioning, and power sports seats. (Picture from: BringaTrailer)

The car based of the new 1988 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 powered by an upgraded V8 turbocharging engine using a NASCAR specification block with Mahle pistons and forged connecting rods. Besides embedding racing devices on the drivetrain, it turns out that the Sledgehammer is also installed with a roll cage like a racing car that functions as a cabin protector.

Then at the top end is installed Brodix aluminum heads fed by twin Turbonetics T04B turbochargers, so that with all the racing equipment it is able to make the Callaway Sledgehammer run with an optimal power boost of 898 hp and 772 lb-ft of torque.

The Callaway Sledgehammer is powered by an upgraded V8 turbocharging engine using a NASCAR specification block with Mahle pistons and coupled with a six-speed manual gearbox to ensure a high top speed. (Picture from: Supercars)

Although it has the ability to run like a racing car, the Callaway's sportscar still maintains the luxury in its cabin including power windows and locks, audio system, electronic air conditioning, and power sports seats as supporting factors for driving comfort.

The Callaway Sledgehammer had set the fastest speed of 254.76 mph (409.99 kph) while tested in October 1988 at the Transportation Research Center (TRC) proving ground in Ohio with John Lingenfelter behind the wheel. (Picture from: BringaTrailer)

When it tested in October 1988 at the Transportation Research Center (TRC) proving ground in Ohio with John Lingenfelter behind the wheel, this car was able to record a record of 254.76 mph (409.99 kph) and had made it the fastest street-legal car for some time before the record was surpassed by the Bugatti Veyron. After that, Deutschman continued to work for Callaway for years to come, so the Sledgehammer AeroBody was produced in limited numbers (though it is not known how many were ever made).

But some time ago as quoted of the Road and Track, this is the only Sledgehammer in existence and is currently listed for sale at Bring a Trailer which has currently recorded the highest bid of $500,000 (23 May 2021). We wouldn't be surprised to see that, as devoted Corvette collectors would be willing to pay big bucks to own it. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | SUPERCARS | TWITTER | ROADANDTRACK | TOPGEAR | BRINGATRAILER ]

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