Those of you with a “significant other” know that anniversaries are an important thing to remember. Well, they’re just as important in the car world, too!  And one of our favorite engineers of powerfully engineered automobiles recently celebrated a big one. 25 years of turning good cars into great ones is quite a feat, and we were happy to oblige when Reeves Callaway invited us to the celebration. And to prove he’s not slowing down any time soon, he sent us a couple of amazing party favors!

Our first memento is no small one, this 2012 25th Anniversary Limited Edition Callaway Chevrolet Corvette. We’ve been waiting to get our behinds in the seat of this car since we got an early sneak peak from Reeves and the boys at the factory earlier this spring, and without giving too much away, it was worth the wait. 

The Callaway 25th Anniversary Corvette starts out as a special order Grand Sport that gets prepped for Callaway at the Bowling Green Corvette Factory, thanks to Regular Production Option Code B2K. From there it’s up to Old Lyme where the real magic takes place and the transformation is a lot more intense than just slapping some 25th Anniversary badges and calling it a day. This car was designed to represent Callaway’s 25 years in the high performance business; and with performance being the key word, this car had better bring it. 

Have no fear, as it packs the highest output LS3 V8 ever to roll out of the Callaway shop in a Corvette. 620-horsepower and 555 lb-ft. of torque with the help of the usual TVS2300 supercharger, high ratio rocker arms, and upgraded valve springs and pushrods. Fuel delivery is aided by a new fuel pump and injectors. So, we’re off to the track to really get this party started. 

Sitting at the line, hearing as well as feeling this Corvette’s lurking nastiness makes it hard to be patient, but patience is certainly required when it comes to throttle inputs and getting off the line with any traction. After a few warm up runs however, we were able to get hooked up and nailed a 3.4-second run to 60 and a quarter mile pass of 10.8-seconds and 128 miles-per-hour. That’s two-tenths quicker to 60 and a full half second faster in the quarter mile than the Callaway SC606 Corvette that we tested earlier. 

The 25 people lucky enough to get their hands on a 25th Anniversary Callaway will have to fork over $52,980 plus the Corvette Grand Sport’s base price of $56,975. So, it is a real prize.

Next we turn our attention from a Corvette that celebrates the past to one that’s fully in the “now”, the 2013 Callaway Chevrolet Corvette SC652 60TH Anniversary 427 Convertible Collector Edition. It also marks a special anniversary, 60 years of Corvette, as well as being the last C6 we will test. 

Though the 427 is already the most powerful Corvette convertible that GM has ever built 505-horsepower and 470 lb-ft. of torque from its 7.0-liter LS7 V8, that’s nowhere near enough for the Callaway folks. So, it’s through the awesome-a-nator, where it comes out the other side wearing a supercharger with intercooler, new injectors and fuel pump, and churning out 652-horsepower and 620 lb-ft. of torque. 

Starting with Z06-style carbon fiber fenders the 427 gets the full wide-body treatment. From there Callaway adds their Double-D stainless steel exhaust system, carbon fiber power bulge hood, and of course an authenticating dash plaque. Buyers can than add carbon-fiber front splitter, rocker extensions, and rear spoiler.

Inside, the 60th anniversary 427 Corvette comes with a two-tone interior with colored stitching, comfortable leather buckets with special embroidery on the headrests, and Alcantara leather throughout. 

So, how does this ‘Vette stack up at the track?  Well, despite the convertible’s extra weight we sprinted to 60 in just 3.6-seconds, with the quarter mile passing in a super-quick 11.1-seconds and 127 miles-per-hour. Awesome! Power comes on like a sledgehammer no matter what the tach. is saying and the 6-speed manual shifter’s throws are pleasantly short, but do require a firm hand. The mostly stock suspension proved adequate through the cones; though by no means painting a full picture of this cars full potential.  It doesn’t take much to realize full braking potential however, and stops from 60 in 108-feet are excellent. 

It will however, certainly put a dent in the kids’ college fund to put a 427 SC652 in your garage, though not as much as the 25th anniversary car, just $24,695 added to the 427’s price of $76,900.

Obviously we party a little differently than most here at MotorWeek. Our favorite shindigs take place behind the wheels of some amazing automotive hardware, and never have we partied harder than at the wheel of a Callaway Corvette!

Specifications

  • 2012 25th Anniversary Callaway Corvette:
  • Engine: 7.0 liter
  • Horsepower: 652
  • Torque: 620 lb-ft.
  • 0-60 mph: 3.6 seconds
  • 1/4 mile: 11.1 seconds @ 127 mph
  • 2013 Callaway Chevrolet Corvette SC652: