Corvettes for Sale: James Cameron’s Callaway Speedster and the Real 2012 Indy 500 ZR1 Pace Car

Sep 25, 2025

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Corvettes for Sale: James Cameron's Callaway Speedster and the Real 2012 Indy 500 ZR1 Pace Car

It’s a good month to be someone who likes big-ticket items with celebrity ties and/or rare Corvettes, because there is an impressive pair of famous ‘Vettes up for grabs right now.

The James Cameron Speedster is Back!

The first is the return of the James Cameron Callaway Speedster that we featured in 2020, the last time it publicly changed hands.

The story of one of Hollywood’s most successful directors commissioning a used 1991 Corvette in 1997 as a wedding gift for his fourth wife – actress Linda Hamilton, whom he directed in the first two Terminator movies – makes our old write-up worth a look, but we’ll focus on the product itself this time around. Just 10 examples of the Series One Speedster were built using 1987-1991 L98 Corvettes as a starting point. Per Callaway’s press release, the Speedster was “inspired by American speedsters of the 1920s and 1930s from Auburn and Stutz, Callaway’s Speedster was the ultimate expression of style-over-practicality motoring. It combined Callaway’s legendary Twin-Turbo L98, exotic and functional Paul Deutschman-designed Aerobody, and a new low windscreen, topless design.”

Each of the bespoke Speedsters represented the pinnacle of the height of the Chevrolet/Callaway partnership that saw more than 400 early C4s turbocharged by the outfit from Connecticut through a special factory order (B2K), or through aftermarket channels. Using 10 psi of boost, Callaway elevated each Speedster from the base ‘Vette’s 245/350 HP/Torque rating into the stratosphere with 450 horses and an outrageous 613 lb-ft, enabling them to go toe-to-toe with the contemporary benchmark Ferrari F40’s 478/424 spec sheet.

The conversion would cost Cameron $186,625 in 1997 dollars (equal to $377,000 today!), which, along with the previously mentioned roofless Aerobody and boosted V8, elevated nearly every piece of the American icon. Tailored Ultra Black paint was draped over high-quality Goldenrod German leather, orange carbon fiber, and luxury wool carpeting, all featuring unique Callaway flourishes. Also present is the six-speed manual transmission, the Callaway Z5G equipment group, J-55 brakes, and the FX3 selective ride suspension. Since we last checked in on the Cameron/Sarah Connor car over half a decade ago, the odometer has only added around 100 miles and currently sits at a nice round 4,444 to go with a new asking price of $599,978 from GAS Motorcars of Georgia.

Cruising Flavortown at 205 MPH

Corvettes have paced the Indianapolis 500 more than any other vehicle in the 100+ year history of the American leg of the racing Triple Crown, and that has led to the creation of multiple commemorative Pace Car Special Editions produced to give the public their own slice of high-end racing. This car isn’t one of those; it is the genuine article, the actual Corvette that lapped the Brickyard to pace the 2012 edition of the Indy 500. That makes this car a one-of-one and, like the Callaway above, it also features celebrity prominence. The driver that year was celebrity chef, restaurateur, and host of Food Network staples like Guy’s Grocery Games, Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, and Tournament of Champions, Guy Fieri.

It is technically a 2012 ZR1, but GM modified it to look like and promote the then-upcoming 2013 60th Anniversary model with special badging in and out, blue leather with suede touchpoints on the interior, and unique stripes over an Arctic White exterior. Unlike production 2013s, the stripes on the pace car are painted on, as are the special Indy 500 door logos, roof Bowtie, and rear three-quarter insignias. Other unique touches include roof-mounted lights and racing harnesses. With the monster 638-horsepower LS9 onboard, it was the most powerful pace car in history up to that point. It has accumulated under 8,200 miles over 13 years, and its current home at Arizona Signature Motorsports is asking $129,999 to add it to your collection. The only hiccup is that, as a special manufacturer build, it is being sold with a scrap title like a test car that’s been saved from the crusher, so be warned that registration might not be easy.

So, there you have it: two versions of America’s Sports Car that have enjoyed the life of fame that so few people in history have achieved. Jay Leno always says that a car with a good story is worth its weight in gold. If that’s the case, both of these collectibles could actually be considered bargains.

Source:
GAS Motorcars and azsignaturemotorsports.com

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