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1988 Chevy Corvette Callaway Sledgehammer

This Sledgehammer reached 254.76 mph at the Transportation Research Center (TRC) in Ohio and became the world’s fastest street-legal car for some time. Reeves Callaway built it up in Connecticut as an example of what was possible with the new ZR1 and turbocharging its LT5 engine.


The result was an 898 bhp coupe that still retained luxuries such as air conditioning and a radio. Callaway achieved this power using a NASCAR-spec block with Mahle pistons and forged connecting rods. The top-end included a Brodix aluminum head fed by twin Turbonetics T04B turbochargers. The suspension was addressed by Carroll Smith, who lowered the entire car one inch and fit 17-inch Dymag aluminum wheels with specially-made Goodyear tires.


On October 26, 1988, at 3:45 PM, John Lingenfelter drove the Sledgehammer to its record speed of 254.76 mph on the 7.5-mile oval track at the Transportation Research Center (TRC) in Ohio.


Source: supercars.net (Richard Michael Owen)



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