In all, 10 Callaway Speedsters ultimately reached the end of the assembly line in the most famous of Corvette fantasy shops: Callaway Cars in Old Lyme, Connecticut. Nine of these high-speed machines that Callaway built in the early '90s (not including the two ZR-1-based Speedsters) had already found homes, many having changed owners several times during the ensuing 12 years. But one of the cars remained locked away at the factory: No. 9, the one owner Reeves Callaway had intended to build for himself.Distracted by other projects, his car-the final Speedster-lay hidden under a tarp in a back building awaiting its final assembly ... someday.
Sue Callaway, Reeves' wife, was a Callaway enthusiast long before she met her husband in 1997. In fact, the former general manager of Jaguar Cars U.S. is a performance-machine enthusiast in general, and owns a '67 XKE coupe. When she spotted the unfinished Speedster under wraps a few years ago at the factory, she was instantly drawn to its beauty. Quizzing her husband about the Olive Pearl Green car with Dove Gray leather interior, she discovered the car had been put on hold in favor of more pressing projects. Reeves explained that he hoped he would someday finish it.
Callaway Speedsters, for the uninformed, were the brainchild of Reeves Callaway and designer Paul Deutschman in the late '80s, who wanted to make a unique styling statement. The Speedsters retain the true Callaway Corvette high-performance DNA, and were based loosely on a C4 chassis with some deep-rooted modifications far beyond the dramatic body alterations. A limited-edition follow-up to the stunning first-generation Callaway Corvettes, the Speedster utilized many of the same performance components including the twin-turbocharged and intercooled small-block Chevrolet engine. With power topping 403 hp and 575 lb-ft of torque, the Speedsters retained all the performance Callaway Corvettes had become legendary for (top speed 177 mph, 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds).
The Speedster wasn't a car for everyone, however. For starters, its price tag of $131,000 set it apart. And few have found residence in Seattle, for example, because there is no top (with the exception of one ZR-1 model that was outfitted with one). The unique Speedster window glass distinguishes it from all other cars. The extreme cut-down windshield and side glass, along with sculpted glass around the extended headrests, create not only unusual styling, but an amazing cockpit shape. Other Callaway touches abound; an upgraded six-speed-transmission shifter knob, Callaway monogrammed leather seats and carpets, and the all-important boost gauge grace the sleek cockpit. Driver placement is also adapted for high-performance driving and overall reduction of wind buffeting.
So when Sue spotted No. 9 in the corner of the Callaway shop, she feared, given all of the company's current projects, this car might never see the light of day. And it might not have, except that Reeves, understanding his wife's strong car passion, secretly decided to finish it as a present for her. He covertly mandated the completion of the vehicle, which included adding an extra 100 hp. When Sue visited the shop a few months later, the car was in a thousand pieces. "We told her we were 'cannibalizing' the car for parts for customer cars," said Mike Vendetto, Callaway's marketing manager. "We had to throw her off the scent. We knew Reeves wanted it kept a secret. While it may have appeared the car was coming apart, in fact we were hard at work assembling it for her."
Sue believed the story and was devastated. "Here I was hoping to some day revive the car, and then I found it being dismantled. I was upset; I loved the car and wanted it to be finished, not destroyed, but it wasn't really my business."
After two years of work and a few missed deadlines, the No. 9 Speedster was finally completed-just in time for Sue's birthday in January. While attending the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction this year, Reeves broke the news to Sue by showing her a photo of her new car and telling her it had been delivered to their Southern California home. Needless to say, she was ready to go home.
When she laid eyes on it several days later, it was love. "I think the color really complements the lines of the car," said Sue. "The green blends with the Speedster glass and gives the car a cohesive look. Reeves showed impeccable taste when he picked these colors; it's a drop-dead gorgeous car, and I can't believe the whole shop kept such a secret from me for so long."
Sue, who was clearly unafraid to let those 500-plus horses strut their stuff during our photo shoot, drives the surprise Speedster often. While the car has hyper-speed capability ("It takes great courage just to get the throttle most of the way to the floor," said Sue), the Callaway engine is docile enough to be driven daily and has impeccable road manners. While hauling things home may not be its strong suit, Sue isn't reluctant to use the car for more than just showing off.
"I had a grocery store clerk help me out to the car one day and he couldn't believe I was going to put milk and eggs in this beast," Sue said. "But I really love driving this car as often as possible, and I'll take any excuse for a road romp, even if that means going to the store to get one egg at a time."
She's not the only one who loves No. 9. Recently, while cruising through town, a Harley rider coming the other way spotted the Speedster. As he slowed to a stop at a crosswalk, he twisted his head around to catch a good look, and promptly dumped his bike. Sometimes love hurts.