Corvette C5 fans, take a look at this! An example of the “Value ‘Vette” has a strong chance of trading hands for more than $100k before January is out. We were recently alerted to a very interesting auction over on the PCar Market, which, unfortunately for those of us with little kids, isn’t an auction site where you can unload vehicles that may or may not have been urinated in. It turns out that it is a Bring a Trailer-style site geared specifically for current and hopeful Porsche owners. Presently, in PCM’s eclectic “non-Porsche” section, you’ll find a 1998 Callaway C12 Cabriolet.
When the fifth-generation Corvette hit the scene, Crossed Flag tuning legend Reeves Callaway got straight to work, partnering with Germany’s IVM Engineering Group with the intention of using the new ‘Vette as a starting point for a Le Mans GT2 winner. The C12 seen here is one of just 25 examples of the roadgoing version of the culmination of Callaway and IVM’s early C5 work ever assembled. While it didn’t complete its goal, the C12.R proved its worth by earning the pole position at the world’s premier endurance racing event in 2001 and providing the two-dozen (plus one) road cars with some impressive trickle-down race tech.
Measuring in at a full two-meters wide, the unique and lightweight carbon-Kevlar body was penned by famed Callaway designer Paul Deutschman. All four corners received an adjustable, coil-over suspension setup and upgraded brakes. Under the hood was a continuation of Callaway’s mythical C4 SuperNatural V8s, based on the budding LS1 legend. Callaway was able to achieve 440 naturally aspirated horses, a gain of 95 compared to the stock ‘Vette, by implementing CNC-machined aluminum heads, upgraded crank and cams, and forged pistons and conrods. In Callaway’s independent testing, the C12 reached 60 in 4.2 seconds and went on to a top speed of 200 mph.
This specific example was the twelfth of the 25 C5s that were converted and the first drop-top. It was used as Callaway’s promotional vehicle at the Detroit and New York Auto Shows before going on to its original owner, Tommy Mottola, former chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment, who joined publishing icon Otis Chandler, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the prestigious C12 owners list. Number 12 wears an $8,400 coat of silver paint and a red leather interior that set Mr. Mottola back an additional $12,500, on his way to an original MSRP of $178,700. Since new, C12 012 has covered 4,579 miles and, as of writing, has reached an early top bid of $85,000 with almost precisely six days remaining until the title hopefully adds another name below Mottola and the current owner of nearly twenty years.
Source:
pcarmarket.com
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Never seen the cabrio version before.
I’ve never cared for Callaway’s designs. Performance was okay I guess, but they just don’t look good IMHO.
I agree with Jeff, looks wise, they just take away from the beauty of the original design and make it look like a bad aftermarket kit some company 2nd class company put out, don’ get me wrong, I do respect the performance Callaway has given them, but the looks, blah.
I’ve always thought that all of the older Callaway Corvettes with their Aerobody kits were ugly. I only liked the 87 C4 Callaway Corvettes that only had the hood NACA ducts but no body kit.
In my opinion, the Callaway product has never looked as good as the stock option. In fact, I find them pretty ugly. Some of their performance packages were pretty good back in the day, but with so many top notch performance companies out there who do clean, reliable builds at very reasonable prices I would not be inclined to go the Callaway route. And resale on them is awful.
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