Callaway & Co. are known for pushing the envelope, so it was no surprise when they again teamed with Deutschman to create a design concept car, based on the Aerobody, sans top.Though not originally planned for production, the car generated enough interest-and purchase orders-at the '91 Los Angeles Auto Show to persuade Callaway to put it into production. At the same time, the Twin Turbo's run was about to end, as the next generation of Callaway creations would be powered by normally aspirated LT5s. We can call the 10 Twin Turbo Speedsters that were built the model's swan song, but the tune is more of a symphony. The Speedster, stated plainly, is a feast for the senses in every way.
Though it's based on the Aerobody and shares many of styling cues, the Speedster has a look that is absolutely unique. The most striking feature is the low-cut wraparound window system, featuring extensions that curve in to meet the faired-in headrests. A small backlight fits between the sloping headrest fairings, allowing nominal use of the rearview mirror, which is molded into the windshield frame. The rear fascia sports center-mounted dual exhaust outlets to go with Callaway's distinctive taillight treatment.
It's all sprayed in a gorgeous coat of Competition Yellow Pearl Paint, and rolls on 18-inch O.Z. Racing wheels sporting Bridgestone rubber.
There was no scrimping on the interior, either. All the factory leather and plastic was changed to top-grade Connelly leather, and the stock carpet was replaced with a genuine wool rug. The choice of "My Favorite Blue" leather and Competition Yellow Pearl is a combination found only on this Speedster (customers were able to specify their color choices). It's a sports car, all right, one that also manages to be luxurious and classy at the same time.
Nevertheless, we are talking about a yellow Callaway Corvette, which by definition means that there's a high level of aggression present as well. All the good looks and creature comforts are backed up by 403hp and a pavement-shredding 600 lb-ft of torque, good for quarter-miles in the high 12s and top speeds in the neighborhood of 190 mph. And it handles. The Speedster body is structurally more akin to a C4 coupe than to a convertible, ensuring that the former retains the latter's sweet handling characteristics. In a nutshell, it's the proverbial velvet hammer, made real in four-wheeled form.
This Speedster is owned now, as it was eight years ago, by Corvette Mike Vietro. In our Jan '93 feature, Mike admitted that "Every car he owns is always for sale," but conceded that "he'd like to keep this one." He wasn't kidding, and we don't blame him. He's felt the same call we did, that voice saying, "Here I am, bad-ass hp and jet-set style, all in one package and here for the taking." Ten years after the end of Twin Turbo era, it's still a seductive and persuasive argument.