Callaway?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,017
Likes: 634
St. Jude Donor '10
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 811
Likes: 816
From: Chicago, IL
Ok, stupid question but, was there more than one Sledgehammer? Wasn't a Callaway Sledgehammer one of the cars destroyed beyond repair in the Museum sink-hole collapse?
EDIT: Nevermind, I just googled it, and it was a 2001 "Mallet" Hammer Z06, not Sledgehammer.
EDIT: Nevermind, I just googled it, and it was a 2001 "Mallet" Hammer Z06, not Sledgehammer.
Last edited by Rob97rr; Jan 22, 2021 at 12:51 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 9,434
Likes: 285
From: Somewhere Out There
I am digging through my posts to try and find it.
Here is a very cool thread on the Sledgehammer’s paperwork/documentation.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-criswell.html
Yes. Regarding the photo I mentioned earlier, I do remember that the alleged Sledgehammer was silver.
It is a 1 of 1. To me, it is as significant as the McLaren F1.
Here is a very cool thread on the Sledgehammer’s paperwork/documentation.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-criswell.html
Yes. Regarding the photo I mentioned earlier, I do remember that the alleged Sledgehammer was silver.
It is a 1 of 1. To me, it is as significant as the McLaren F1.
Last edited by Patriot10; Jan 22, 2021 at 03:49 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 9,434
Likes: 285
From: Somewhere Out There
Heh-heh, I am going through Callaway posts and see you actually drove The Sledgehammer a few times!
Found the thread and my memory was wrong. This is embarrassing.
*89x2* you were right, it was an Aerobody. Getting old sucks.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ay-zr-1-a.html
Last edited by Patriot10; Jan 22, 2021 at 04:36 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,077
Likes: 2,510
From: ...tearing up the highways, one state at a time™®©
Meh, no loss there. Insurance company probably wayyyyyy overpaid for that natural disaster for that particular car.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,077
Likes: 2,510
From: ...tearing up the highways, one state at a time™®©
Heh-heh, I am going through Callaway posts and see you actually drove The Sledgehammer a few times!
Found the thread and my memory was wrong. This is embarrassing.
*89x2* you were right, it was an Aerobody. Getting old sucks.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ay-zr-1-a.html
Found the thread and my memory was wrong. This is embarrassing.
*89x2* you were right, it was an Aerobody. Getting old sucks.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ay-zr-1-a.html
Thanks for sifting through threads. No worries, and yeah, driving the Callaway Sledgehammer has been a delight.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 9,434
Likes: 285
From: Somewhere Out There
Can you share some thoughts on what it is like to sit inside, how is it when you turn the key? The sound.
Can it break traction in third gear? How is the sound level at idle. At full throttle?
What modern car could you compare it to, if any?
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,077
Likes: 2,510
From: ...tearing up the highways, one state at a time™®©
A turn of the key, the small starter motor fires the small block 355 cubic inch engine to life. The car has four SuperTrapp mufflers which barely silence the thunder. But the car is smooth, albeit a bit loud compared to any other twin turbo Callaway of the era.
The sport seats from the C4 generation are better than the flat seats in late C4 Corvettes, right through C5, 6, 7, and 8. They are the best.
What modern car? Maybe the explosiveness of a Hellcat Challenger? I know they each fight for traction like a housecat slipping off a dining room tablecloth.
Third gear? It can break traction there, and fourth... It's a wonderful machine.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 9,434
Likes: 285
From: Somewhere Out There
A turn of the key, the small starter motor fires the small block 355 cubic inch engine to life. The car has four SuperTrapp mufflers which barely silence the thunder. But the car is smooth, albeit a bit loud compared to any other twin turbo Callaway of the era.
The sport seats from the C4 generation are better than the flat seats in late C4 Corvettes, right through C5, 6, 7, and 8. They are the best.
What modern car? Maybe the explosiveness of a Hellcat Challenger? I know they each fight for traction like a housecat slipping off a dining room tablecloth.
Third gear? It can break traction there, and fourth... It's a wonderful machine.
The sport seats from the C4 generation are better than the flat seats in late C4 Corvettes, right through C5, 6, 7, and 8. They are the best.
What modern car? Maybe the explosiveness of a Hellcat Challenger? I know they each fight for traction like a housecat slipping off a dining room tablecloth.
Third gear? It can break traction there, and fourth... It's a wonderful machine.
AWESOME. When cars were built without nannies.
Thank you, Sir!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 2,172
Likes: 2,479
A turn of the key, the small starter motor fires the small block 355 cubic inch engine to life. The car has four SuperTrapp mufflers which barely silence the thunder. But the car is smooth, albeit a bit loud compared to any other twin turbo Callaway of the era.
The sport seats from the C4 generation are better than the flat seats in late C4 Corvettes, right through C5, 6, 7, and 8. They are the best.
What modern car? Maybe the explosiveness of a Hellcat Challenger? I know they each fight for traction like a housecat slipping off a dining room tablecloth.
Third gear? It can break traction there, and fourth... It's a wonderful machine.
The sport seats from the C4 generation are better than the flat seats in late C4 Corvettes, right through C5, 6, 7, and 8. They are the best.
What modern car? Maybe the explosiveness of a Hellcat Challenger? I know they each fight for traction like a housecat slipping off a dining room tablecloth.
Third gear? It can break traction there, and fourth... It's a wonderful machine.
Nice description. I remember reading about that in the car magazines on the 90’s. What a beast. Callaway is first rate engineering all the way. I really hope they make a package for the c8 z. I would like to send it to them. Maybe after a year. I loved my sc757. Car was a beast and solid as a rock.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,077
Likes: 2,510
From: ...tearing up the highways, one state at a time™®©
Nice description. I remember reading about that in the car magazines on the 90’s. What a beast. Callaway is first rate engineering all the way. I really hope they make a package for the c8 z. I would like to send it to them. Maybe after a year. I loved my sc757. Car was a beast and solid as a rock.
One thing to point out after give it further consideration to my analogy to the hellcat, is it while the hellcat is a brutal car and it’s own right, it doesn’t handle as good as the Corvette, even when that’s over 30 years old. Of course the sledgehammer had many tweaks to it suspension, but even regular Corvettes from that era handled amazingly. The Dodge is just a heavy large car with gobs of horsepower and torque
Last edited by *89x2*; Jan 23, 2021 at 10:34 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 811
Likes: 816
From: Chicago, IL
i’ve owned four Callaway vehicles and driven many more. ...each of them has been an amazing vehicle in their own way, I bet your SC757 was no different!
One thing to point out after give it further consideration to my analogy to the hellcat, is it while the hellcat is a brutal car and it’s own right, it doesn’t handle as good as the Corvette, even when that’s over 30 years old. Of course the sledgehammer had many tweaks to it suspension, but even regular Corvettes from that era handled amazingly. The Dodge is just a heavy large car with gobs of horsepower and torque
One thing to point out after give it further consideration to my analogy to the hellcat, is it while the hellcat is a brutal car and it’s own right, it doesn’t handle as good as the Corvette, even when that’s over 30 years old. Of course the sledgehammer had many tweaks to it suspension, but even regular Corvettes from that era handled amazingly. The Dodge is just a heavy large car with gobs of horsepower and torque
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,077
Likes: 2,510
From: ...tearing up the highways, one state at a time™®©
I love your descriptions by the way, and I'm curious, how would you compare the original Sledgehammer to something like the C7 ZR1? As far as brutal acceleration, sound, and good handling goes, I would guess that the most recent ZR1 would be the closest "stock" Corvette you could get that could even come close to that kind of sensory experience, but I'm curious about your thoughts on how well they would actually compare.
I've driven many thousands of miles in Callaway SC757 Z06 Corvette (757 horsepower/777 lb-ft torque) with just slightly more power than a 2019 Z, so valid comparison. BUT... it's no comparison to the Callaway Sledgehammer.
Sure, the new C7 models are refined, and their cooled seats, blue tooth apple car play and heads-up displays are nice, and so are the nannys which try to keep the car in-line, but the Callaway Sledgehammer is a visceral experience. Raw. Powerful. Undoubtedly American, take-no-prisoners POWER
898 horsepower and 772 lb-ft of the Sledgehammer made, in a slippery, lightweight car, and the aid of carefully placed duct tape over seams, etc., allowed the car to hit 254.76 MPH. This, back in 1988, when it was all the rage to go flat-out in Top Speed challenges.
The car to drive every day would be your choice of the ZR1 (mine, the Callaway SC757 Z06 though), and on savored drives, the Callaway Sledgehammer. Somewhere out West, perhaps on a desolate Montana road, heading towards a sunset might be perfect. Of course, back when Montana had no speed limits...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 811
Likes: 816
From: Chicago, IL
I can only imagine.. Thank you for your thoughts!
