Project SledgeHammer

The 1989 story of Project SledgeHammer.
Established a road car top speed benchmark of 254.76 mph that stood for more than 20 years.

[@CascadeFreak]

Reeves Callaway passed away today. The legend will live on, making sledgehammer successors in the afterlife. Thank you sir, for giving us all the wonderful cars you made and modified.

[@Beyond_Slots]

This is so sad to hear ,.... R.I.S.& P. rest in speed & peace brother your records will stand forever brother ty for sharing your dreams and technique w/us all

[@charliedee9276]

I started my design career on the original Viper in early 1989, Callaway was one of the consultants along with Shelby and a few other hot rod genius's. I was lucky to not only meet them, I also worked with them, listening intently to everything they said. At 26 years old I knew I was among hot rodding Royalty. When the video about this car came out he sent a few to the Viper team, I remember watching it in the conference room on VHS. Hennessey is getting 200 out of a new Vette now......Callaway did 254 over THIRTY years ago in a car that did a round trip of dam near 2000 miles to the track and back doing it. THAT is badass!!

[@mattwesty6966]

Badass sir! Thanks for your contribution to the community!

[@dustinontaiyabbi5608]

1300miles in one way so 2600 miles round trip not including all the speed runs

[@efstorms]

R.I.P Reeves Callaway, a true pioneer

[@CoastalAutoReactionCAR]

I miss this time! This company does not get the credit they deserve 20 years ahead of everyone! That “old” C4 will still hang with today’s “supercars”!

[@dustinontaiyabbi5608]

It's still faster than most supercars and even a few "hyper cars"

[@radimfiala635]

It took the rest of the automotive world 20 years to catch up, and even then it would cost you over 1 million dollars to purchase a sports car that could exceed this level of performance. What they achieved with this car was nothing short of astounding. Thank you Callaway Cars Inc. for this archived video. It was a treat to watch and I've quite literally seen every corvette video on youtube.

[@doublevanoz]

McLaren F1 was only a few years away, and was a true factory production car. Without turbos and the best engine ever made! BMW v12!

[@DrewLSsix]

@@doublevanoz the f1 was 14 mph slower and cost two and a half times as much. Nice car though.

[@andrewrcmadwilkinson6999]

YES SEE MY COMMENT ABOVE!

[@andrewrcmadwilkinson6999]

@@doublevanoz YES BUT BMW MADE THAT ENGINE SPECIFICALLY FOR THE F1 THESE GUYS USED A MODIFIED ENGINE WITH NONE OF THE RESOURCES OF BMW AND DID IT 1ST I LIKE THE FACT THAT HE DROVE THE CAR TO THE TRACK AND THEN DROVE IT HOME ASA CALLAWAY EMPLOYEE STATED THIS IS AN ORDINARY CORVETTE TO LOOK AT BUT DOES 254 MPH WELL DONE GUYS

[@7071t6]

Now just imagine if what they could achieve now days with the new tech, over 300 miles per hour easy, i wish they did and then made a new mid engine version twin turbo and with a small supercharger as well and beat bugatti's run. :) Have it do 320 miles per hour. :)

[@scottraymondsr3241]

Godspeed Reeves Callaway, RIP

[@sjf1981]

What a year 1989 rules . The cars the movies the music

[@DamienFalzon]

Thats my favorite year!

[@PHILMKD95]

And the girls of course.

[@ango7506]

Pontiac GTA as well 🔥🦅🥵💪🏽

[@varmastiko2908]

The 80s were the best years in so many respects

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

BATMAN!

[@andyharman3022]

Why doesn't this video have a million views? It is such a slice of what I loved in the automotive world of late '80's, maybe I'll just watch it a million times. My dream car back then was a C4 Corvette, and the B2K option on the order form would get you the Callaway twin-turbo 'vette. Then there is Sam Posey driving a B2K at Lime Rock, where I used to run EMRA time trials, and the AutoWeek magazine about Sam's drive, which I still have. Then the Car and Driver top-speed shootout, which I devoured whole when it was published. And John Lingenfelter driving his wicked big block Camaro to 216. And the Top Gun Corvette, which was kind of ragged about starting and idling, but dammit, it ran 230 mph.

[@cnance1972]

I was a tinkering 16 yr old you know I was reading every article

[@xSupra]

Didn't hear about the Callaway Corvette or anything Callaway until yesterday when someone posted a Callaway Corvette in this discord server I'm in.

[@trumpsson5094]

KZbin sensors the numbers we're talking fossil fuels and trying to cancel everything about it.

[@rubyred93chev]

_And all of this greatness from just a handshake and a promise from then Corvette Chief Engineer, Dave McLellan. Talk about integrity and the 'genuine article', long live the C4 Chevy Corvette!_

[@Ls__Camaro]

As a 25 year old young man, I still appreciate the engineering feat that is this car today. I remember doing a English report on this car back in 7th grade and even at that that young of an age, being absolutely impressed and drawn to the level of engineering that went into this vehicle. Every aspect of performance was taken into account, and especially for it's time, was a machine like no other. Purpose built, with no compromise, with nothing left on the table. This is one of the sole reasons that have driven me to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering. Thank you for publishing this video for the public eye. In todays world of electric vehicles (with no soul) and extreme engine efficiency standards this is still, by far, a greater milestone than most any other engineering project to this day. Rest in peace Reeves Callaway, and John Lingenfelter, your legacy on the automotive performance industry has most certainly not been forgotten. Today, I am grateful to be employed at Roush's prototype development division and only hope to be involved in a project of this magnitude one day.

[@TwentytenS4B8]

800 plus horsepower from a TPI 350. Nothing short of amazing.

[@Cola64]

imagine that from a 281cubic inch 4.6 liter

[@VegasRT500]

@@Cola64 Not back in 1980s you couldnt and there wasnt.

[@Cola64]

@@VegasRT500 this is true 🤙🏻

[@MF-Rell]

@@Cola64 You know Koenigsegg used a 4.6 engine when they started out. A Ford 4.6 dohc engine. There's more than one way to skin a cat. Ferrari does it with small turbo engines. You this was more about aerodynamics than power.

[@varmastiko2908]

@@MF-Rell You are not wrong but it's still amazing that they got almost 900 hp out of a small block Chevy. They modified it a lot of course, but to my knowledge it wasn't a fully custom design. Amazing they could get that power with those two valve heads and keep it streetable at the same time

[@7071t6]

30 years to the day when it made this speed world record run. :)

[@SSFormula-iz7wc]

I absolutely love my C4 Corvettes.

[@imhappyandyou.4003]

I had actually learned of the Sledgehammers exsistance thanks to a video game called Project Gotham Racing 3 and it is still one of my favorite cars in a game and in real life.. This car is truly a beast that deserves a Legendary status. Thanks to everyone who made this possible. 🙏🙏🍻

[@juddnielsen5949]

RIP Mr. Callaway. My mother knew and worked with the director of this film, Jim. I still have the VHS and still love cars.

[@iamfrickincool]

Someone who has a sweet Vette told me about this project man what an amazing thing to be doing back then!

[@toctuning]

One of my favorite doc's about small companies with big names... today seemed appropriate to watch it again. The Sledgehammer will always reside on a poster on the walls of my childhood bedroom in my mind, and maybe one day, my little shop will have a Sledgehammer of its own in memorial to this great project, and the minds behind the development. What an amazing part of tuned car history.

[@wrotenwasp]

The 80s were the shit. No doubt factory cars started to haul ass again. Especially the 86-87 Buick Grand National. '89 Turbo Trans Am. Project Sledgehammer was mind boggling at the time.

[@Tommyblueeyes]

Americans never think there is anything outside of america do they?

[@cIick_bait]

@@Tommyblueeyes nothing matters outside of america*

[@varmastiko2908]

@@Tommyblueeyes It's the governmental social engineering that does that. But despite the sometimes narrow views some might have, some Americans did make some impressive machines already back in the '80s

[@Tommyblueeyes]

@@varmastiko2908 They certainly did...I loved the 1999 TA WS6

[@sarahdell4042]

Being able to see this history is a treat. What a pioneer

[@StarChaser027]

One of the nicests looking and iconic cars ever made!

[@jamesshedd752]

As a young man in the 80s all my peers were just in awe of the Calloway corvette..it was as brutally fast as it was beautiful....

[@fryloc359]

Think about it, this was back in the days when 300 hp was a lot, Camaros and Mustangs were around 220 hp, turbos on cars didn't exist, and tuned port intakes were high tech. To pull almost 900 hp out of a 350, fit not just one but two turbos in an engine bay barely big enough for the engine, keep the car streetable with all comforts and still run 254 mph is amazing.

[@Tommyblueeyes]

Turbos on cars didn't exist? Nissan 300zx turbo, Porsche 911 turbo, Isuzu Turbo, Mx-6 Turbo, along with PLENTY of others, even before 1989

[@scottw.thaggard-ul6rw]

We did LOTS of turbo, supercharger, nitrous.... U name it. I remember when that car came out. We did some Calloway turbo installations on other cars, but the Calloway Corvette was an option only, you didn't receive a box from UPS for this job, Mr Calloway changed the entire vehicle and dialed everything in before shipping it to the Chevrolet dealership to be passed over to the customer. It would be like sending your riding lawn mower to NASA and it would still be called a lawnmower. In case you didn't notice Calloway didn't splatter tacky stickers & emblems all over the car reviling what's underneath . The only thing you see from the outside are functional vents, scoops other parts for GO & not SHOW

[@Shamphere]

In my imaginary collection of roughly 200 cars, this is one of my top 3. I was always impressed with the achievements of this endeavor before 1990. Awesome work. Thanks for sharing this.

[@OCDRex11]

The calmness and maturity that Reeves and his team exuded back then is such a statement in itself. There is not an ounce of pride or cockiness to establish the Callaway name. Rather, they built machines that could do what they wanted. We need to see these (types of) pioneers of automotive ingenuity return.

[@aleemmohammed-sc5sh]

Rest In Automotive Heaven Mr. Callaway. I still remember your C4 Corvettes in car magazines as a kid. I'm still in shock what happened to you.

[@davidstephens4639]

The real story is that you beat the Veyron by many years, at a fraction of the cost, in a car that's now affordable, and any fool with any 5.3L LS and any Chinese eBay GT45 can make the 880 HP that John Lingenfelter built and drove for you. Now we can all be awesome John.

[@justdoinit2378]

I would love to see a callaway C8!! But for now I shall dream, imagine and hope.

[@chrispompano]

I wanted so badly to convert my 87'C4 to a Sledgehammer body, or even the Callaway LM.....loved both designs. Maybe in the next life if I can't take my Vette & tools with me.....

[@AJsSpeedShop]

Awesome video! Callaway was WAY ahead of their time...

[@doublevanoz]

McLaren F1 was only a few years away, and didn't have turbos! N/A BMW v12!

[@Aliyah_666]

@@doublevanoz Also cost a *lot* more money and *WAY* more class prohibited so to speak.

[@tomster7574]

@@doublevanoz The McLaren F1 will never be a daily driver for the common person. The Corvette can fit in almost anybody budget. Where the common McLaren cannot at all ever. You really want to push the McLaren F1 agenda don’t you? It’s a nice car, there’s no arguing that. But it spent 100 times more to get where it was done Callaway did with the Corvette

[@qwerty975]

​@@tomster7574dude what are you even talking about. Sledgehammer will never be a daily driver, you're just crazy. And ain't no way a common folk can afford it. You guys are on some serious copium in this comment section, americans are only good in either going into straight line or just driving in ovals so stick with that. I can't fathom how someone can compare the masterpiece of McLaren F1 to a Sledgehammer

[@hollandhewson1832]

I still have a 83 GTI with a callaway turbo kit on it.

[@daviddntait]

Automotive history at it's finest! Incredible achievement for the time period...even by today's standards actually!

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

254mph street legal car........ In 1989!

[@transam2002ws6]

Simply astonishing even by today's standards.

[@JoseRodriguez-tq4rz]

This car was my poster car.

[@klonidier]

Legend! It’s just a legend. What an amazing piece of engineering.

[@sidefx996]

This would still be mighty impressive 30 years later. It's a shame all the fast & furious/cars & coffee/top gear crowds don't know about these sorts of amazing cars and people. Same goes for the Morrison Motorsports team and the ZR-1 from 1990.

[@Gardner0871public]

Thanks for bringing this up. Tommy Morrison doesn’t get enough recognition for his shops contributions. In addition to the road racing efforts, they did a lot of the development and testing for the ZR-1

[@davidbarnsley8486]

What you did all that time ago was really quite amazing, you were probably having fueling issues as well but didn’t know it Doing turbos and high horsepower today is so easy as all the research has been done It would be so much easier today than back then I am truly amazed with what you did achieve but you had a very good group of people there which is what you need for success 👍👍

[@jonathangonzalez9711]

I´m Spaniard, this car i knowed on a sticker album was released on late 80`s or early 90`s " Callaway Corvette Sledgehammer, 408 km/h", then i see a Corvette with a futuristic stiling but a bit rare. Today is one of the best and beautiest C4 Vette versions ever made, especially in red, RIP Reeves Callaway

[@dockengymrat8771]

This is compared to the Moon landing of the American car industry, nothing comparable

[@HyperRidemx]

that was awesome, i learned quite a lot! keep these videos coming!

[@PHILMKD95]

I want to be, your Sledgehammer...

[@bendavid84]

Reeves Callaway passed away on July 11, 2023, at the age of 75.

[@CallawayCarsInc]

July 11th*

[@bendavid84]

@@CallawayCarsInc Corrected

[@lutherjackson_]

This is Car Enthusiasts Gold. I remember being 13 when reading about The Sledgehammer. Now for all you Millenials. Did you see the easter egg at the end? John Lingenfelter of LPE.

[@jonathanlemieux7030]

Back when Car and Driver was cool...I miss those days. I don't think they even test top speed anymore. Amazing, inspiring, feat of engineering.

[@Tommyblueeyes]

They test top speed on EVERY hypercar/Supercar

[@ericschmidt242]

One of the most iconic players of the century, talking about how he made history, and still remains with the feeling of shame for pursuing his dream. Watch his discomfort as he explains the progress of his company "Calloway". in 2022 this is a household name. As though he was in the wrong for going down this road. Truly mesmerizing, engaging, and trying to watch. Everything a documentary should be.

[@fryloc359]

I wish I could send my 89 to them for the twin turbo treatment.

[@deloreanfan81]

Loved this car ever since I read about it in a book of super cars,wish I could remember the title

[@thorzyan]

I have the same book in storage. “This book is full of fast cars, but none, not one, is faster” Had the vector in it as well

[@atomicorang]

I am so sorry about Mr. Calloway passing. He was a real American patriot.

[@doublevanoz]

Great video. I would love to see the test with all the other 80s supercars! What a lineup

[@FirebirdDude]

The full video is available on Callaway's channel.

[@richardjohn5219]

I’m speechless……amazing!

[@Brad772006]

It was and still is an underrated marvel of engineering and design. I knew of this back in the day from reading magazines and talking with my circle of gearhead friends. Although going to the tracks and it seemed very few had heard of this project. I am still fascinated by it even all these years later.

[@Jystify]

An Absolute beauty 🔥 Thank you sir for your contribution to the world

[@87ferrarif40]

Awesome video!

[@butterfliesandtape]

love the styling, love the company's attitude! 1980s. American hypercars before the word. They were faster than the Europeans by a country mile back then! GMC Syclone would have to be the daily driver if you had this for the weekend, no?

[@OGDemonburn]

If I could drive a car once in my life, this would be it. I love my vipers and corvettes, twin turbos on a v8-10 platforms are absolute powerhouses but the way this car puts power down and transfers to top speed is nothing short of amazing.

[@richardendress4494]

What a remarkable car! The concept of a GT car, drive to and from the race, right on.

[@Tommyblueeyes]

The Corvette was never a GT....t'was a sportscar hence the 2 seats

[@VFORCEJOHN]

Assuming I was the only nut to Dynotune at 3 am. Thanks for the video.

[@twotwocold]

30 years later and nobody is mentioning the 650HP N/A carburetor camaro that went 216MPH! Even the fbody was a super car back in the 80's 😳🤯

[@varmastiko2908]

It had a Nascar engine or something did it not? Do you remember who built it?

[@SixShooting]

R.I.P. Ely Reeves Callaway III

[@bigjimWA77]

Brilliant & inspiring.

[@cvvv6166]

Finally an official upload of that Callaway Videotape i have ! 😎👍

[@nista67]

Legend. 👌👍

[@holyworrier]

Great fun! Thanks.

[@Indaback1]

This video makes me feel proud all over again to be a Callaway vehicle owner.

[@woodey028]

What an unbelievably cool video

[@constantinelheman]

The car looks so good.

[@jaymorgan8017]

Nice small boat collection !

[@MW-nOttawa]

My Dad just gave me his 1984 C4. Thanks Callaway for being so cool. Feel free to send me some stickers!

[@derekgray1633]

34:34 i love how you see the guy in the backround walk to the end of his driveway to get a look at the spaceship that just went down his street! could you imagine seeing that thing back then?

[@capobilotti]

In 1989, PC game Vette was made. And best Vette you could pick was ... Sledgehammer.

[@RA-uj3nm]

Beautiful understated, uncluttered car....

[@rapid13]

Watching this makes me need a C4 Callaway. Gotta find one on the cheap lol!

[@TheJagjr4450]

I love the Callaway vettes... Looking at a 87 Callaway triple black roadster with 15k miles on it right now.

[@chrisegnatz3668]

I had a 2008 car and driver where they test drove an '08 Callaway Corvette with a body kit and looked like a custom car.

[@TrailsToro]

Beast!

[@froey198033]

Some pretty good engineering back then to get those turbos under the hood of the Vette. That Top Gun Vette was pretty badass too. I liked the aerowagon they built in 2016 that was on Jay Leno's garage.

[@brianjennings8538]

I saw the Callaway Corvette as a kid and instantly loved it! Anyone else see the Bill Murray resemblance?

[@84jamesp]

This was my dream car as a kid

[@KLNYC]

My fave

[@pascalmorel2069]

Elle est superbe 👍👍👍

[@michaellorenson2997]

The C4 Corvette was arguably the best all-around sports car of the 1980s. It didn't have the rock-solid coachwork of a Porsche, or that car's technical sophistication, but it was faster, handled as well or better, had even better brakes. The C4 is finally getting some recognition these days. Callaways and ZR-1s are currently under-valued, IMO. If I could afford buy one of each, I'd do that right now.

[@Tommyblueeyes]

The european cars out performed it in every other way on track....

[@michaellorenson2997]

@@Tommyblueeyes Oh no they didn't. Check your facts. There was no other sports car in production, at any price during the 80s, that was quicker around a road course.

[@varmastiko2908]

Michael is correct. The C4 corvette beat all the Europeans of the '80s in terms of all around performance. The problem was the cheap build quality but that's to be expected seeing what the end product did cost at the showroom. Europeans had to pick up their game in a big way towards the '90s so as to not be embarrassed by the Corvette and also by the Honda NSX. The C4 Vette and the NSX did us all a big favor because all sports cars eventually became better because of those two pioneers.

[@ekim000]

Class act.

[@anthonyogata3828]

Blows me away that they could hit 250 miles an hour without any type of downforce wing. I guess because they were on a banked track they didn't worry about it so much

[@rolandkovacs9343]

Rip Reeves!!😭😭

[@codkiller8206]

I got a 1984 C4 but this I would take any day

[@Tommyblueeyes]

No shit....That's like saying ummm I have a Miata but i would take an aventador

[@codkiller8206]

@@Tommyblueeyes I would rather have a Miata then an lambo

[@kitvexed8229]

I live in CT.. is callaway still here? Is he alive? Where is this car now? this old footage is so dope. much respect to our independent automotive enthusiast forefathers.. this is the beginning of all the shops on KZbin today!

[@eljefe3993]

My dad had one of these but sold it when he found out he was having a child… I appreciate that but I never met the dude… he was Killed in action when I was an infant 🫡 Ps… he had the base model corvette not the Calloway but I have a picture of him and my mom with a crop top and bell bottoms with a huge belly with him helping her in his vette… but I am sure he would have loved the C8😢

[@dman8585]

250+mph in late 80s early 90s...McLaren who?f1 ...what..? America fuck yaaa!

[@pushatsinfrared]

I only found out about this car because of PGR4, but my god is this thing insane

[@rawmeat9004]

I miss this America

[@aab350z]

@3:17, that poor kid is like "what the hell am I even doing here?" Lmao.

[@marcot.8250]

RIP Reeves Callaway.

[@jonathangonzalezankai1845]

The Standard C4 Corvette is beautiful but the Callaway that drives Reeves at th end of video in red, is the more beautifulness C4 can to be. Callaway not only improves this Corvette in terms of performance, improves it for whole. Never forget the Lingenfelter versions, also impressives, and amazing designs.

[@chadkeith2694]

Godspeed Reeves

[@alkey7266]

Sounds like a fighter jet❤

[@masonwilmot5006]

Who else is here after the Ted guys drive review on this corvette?😅

[@jamesbarber8308]

People where smarter back then I feel like a lot better spoken

[@godofawsome03]

And from a slightly modified TPI 383 , no less ! LS that !!!! 254mph

[@InTheVaultss]

I was thinking about a Ferrari until I remembered the aero coupe