SurfnSun

I never said it wasn't a genuine Callaway car. Its just not serial number 001 as stated in the auction.

89FX3

I wasn't implying that you did say that.

Sorry if it seemed otherwise.

As a Callaway owner you know something that allows you to say with certainty it isn't #001 and I don't doubt you.

I don't have any info to say one way or another if it is what the seller says it is.

I'm just saying the consequences of falsely representing a car that's going to sell for well over $50k in a widely viewed public auction along with the auction pictures and the seller's contentions all mitigate to the contrary that it may in fact be what he's claiming.

If you or some else feel fairly certain this is a fraud it would be helpful if you'd alert eBay so that a Forum member doesn't get burned big time.

Being a member of eBay Voices 31 I'm confident eBay will yank this auction pronto if it's not as described.

If you need a contact name at eBay security I can supply one.

BTW I've worked for the SEC for over 30 years looking for fraud.

After doing a little online research I got the impression that Callaway may have employed a new set of serial numbers for each "model" it offered during that year i.e. CR-1 #001 of 199_.

Also apparently confusion is created over the specific wording of the letter of authentication i.e. does the first (#001) refer to the first started or completed?

Finally we all know it's easy to forge a "letter of authenticity."

But it should be very easy for a potenial buyer to get enough info from Callaway to verify w/n this is indeed #001.

Trizney

Are Callaway's not numbered by the year model? This couldn't be 001 for 1991?

89FX3

Since the auction says "This car was featured in Road and Track..." you'd think he'd id the specific article.

Anyone ever see this R&T article?

89FX3

I see he's got a bid that didn't meet the reserve.

89FX3

I just noticed you said you spoke to the guy who had SNAT 001 ordered in 1988.

This auction's for SNAT/ CR-1 #001 and it's a 1991 ZR-1.

SurfnSun

Yes I was referring to the SNAT CR1.

89FX3

I'm a little confused:

you said the SNAT CR1 you're referring to was ordered in 1988 well before the ZR-1 was available; yet the eBay auction is for a Callaway SNAT CR1 modification of a 1991 ZR-1.

Why do you think the eBay seller is making a false claim re: CR-1 #001 in light of the 1988 vs. 1991 difference?

SurfnSun

Here is my understanding.....When the ZR1 was announced in 88 as an 89 model introduction, the order for CR-1 001 was placed with Callaway. The ZR-1 was delayed a year. In 1990 when the car was available the person who ordered the serial number 001 thru Callaway got his car and sent it up for the conversion. When the car was finished it came with a letter certifying it as the very first CR-1 Supernatural. Ironically the real #001 was not the first to be completed but the first to start production.

I see the seller has gone back and revised his listing to state that he has a letter from Callaway. Id be interested in seeing that letter as a certain known Callaway guru has seen the letter signed by Reeves for the car that we believe to be the first CR-1 serial #001.

I am not claiming the seller is falsifying his listing, he might truly believe that car is the first one produced. My conversations with people in the know and the guy who owned the first 1990 CR-1 tell me different.

It might be the first 1991 CR-1 produced by certainly not the first CR-1.

89FX3

Did Callaway actually identify the 1988 car you've been referring to as a CR-1?

WydGlydJim

Whatever # it is, I'd love to have it!

SomeGuy

When it comes to Callaways, someguys know their stuff and SurfnSun is no exception. Look at all his knowledge on the subject

Of course the (early) car would be called a CR-1. That was the name of the cars before they were called Supernaturals. The LT1 cars were called CL-1 cars.

Are you on a mission with SurfnSun to prove, or disprove the car? Really?

89FX3

...I'm not "on a mission" at all, just trying to learn about what may be one of the most historic C4's made.

I have nothing but respect for SurfnSun and am appreciative of his postings on the matter. I've learned a great deal from this thread and related postings on the Callaway forum.

And I bet other forum members can say the same.

I've already exchanged messages with the eBay seller, and alerted him to this thread; after which I noticed he modified his auction description to make more clear some details about the car.

That benefits everyone.

I have such great respect for Callaway Corvettes my 89FX3 stroker coupe has a crinkle black FIRST intake sitting on a set of AFR Eliminator heads.

Emulation is the greatest form of flattery.

dbriana

Looks to me it is the exact same description except for the brakes and that it was $120,000 in 1992.

89FX3

He also gave a little more info about the article the car was featured in; a Road & Track piece that I believe may have been published in early 1993.

However, I haven't been able to find a copy of that article to see if it's the one he's referring to.

Maybe you or someone else can.

kaijumax

Callaway didn't make SNAT until the introduction of the LT1 motor.
This was higher compression than the L98 it replaced, so the Twin Turbo
option(BK2) was dropped from Chevy. The SNAT only became available to the public in the spring of '92. So no one could have ordered a SNAT prior to 92'. The earliest cars I remember advertised were the run flat (Bridgestone tire) cars. Unfortunately Callaway did not add the build number to the dash plaques like the TT cars. The only way you can get any idea to the build date is through the original paper work build sheet.
Also SNAT 490's were only available in late 94-early 95.

89FX3

In the interest of full disclosure here's the conceptcarz.com car that is being referred to here as the 'real' "Cr-1 #001"...

http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z..._Corvette.aspx

Note that the web site states that it is the "serial #001 developmental car."

It further states that Callaway didn't decide to create the CR-1 platform until after 1990.

Therefore I'm still confused as to how a car that was ordered in 1988 could be identified as "CR-1 #001" if Callaway didn't consider naming it the CR-1 until after 1990.

Sorry if I'm missing something that's already been said but I just don't know what that might be.

Also here's a link to the Callaway forum "chirp" on this eBay auction:

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...d.php?t=106430

SurfnSun

I can unequivocally state that the 001 CR1 was absolutely ordered in 1988. I know this to be fact. I have no interest in further debating this issue.

Callaway is a very R&D based company. It is not out of the realm of possibility that a car was ordered years in advance due to an owner specifically wanting to have serial number 001, and it wasn't delievered until all the Research, development, and validation was done....b/c thats exactly what happened.

Have you seen any cars delivered with Callaway's package for the C6 Z06 yet? If you think one doesn't exist....

Aurora40

Well, you just said you've no more interest. All the same, though... Was this an order specifically of a SNAT CR-1? Or was it more an order for whatever package Callaway would do to the soon-to-be-released ZR-1?

Isn't it possible someone ordered a ZR-1 modified by Callaway in '88, and also that this eBay car in question was the development car Callaway used? I'm merely speculating, I don't know jack about either car.

Has Callaway offered any clarification on this?

SurfnSun

My money is on this post.

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...35&postcount=6

Im not sure where conceptcarz.com gets its info, but I know where I get mine. Me, for the win.