One-Owner 2,700-Mile 1999 Callaway C12 Speedster 6-Speed

Description

OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE

Saying the Callaway C12 is merely a Corvette is like saying a Rembrandt is merely canvas. “GM builds the Corvette to a cost, we built the Callaway C12 to a standard,” said the late Reeves Callaway, founder of Callaway Cars. Simply put, no compromise.

Callaway had already proven its ability to build a true ground‑up supercar with the C7. For the C12, however, Reeves Callaway chose to start with the exceptional engineering of the fifth‑generation Chevrolet Corvette, using it as a foundation for something far more exotic. The resulting Callaway C12 drew heavily from the race‑proven C12.R—an endurance contender that stunned the field by taking the GT2 pole at the 2001 24 Hours of Le Mans, outpacing factory‑backed efforts from Porsche, Ferrari, and other top‑tier manufacturers. Much of the C12.R’s track‑honed development later filtered directly into the road‑going C12, giving it the rare blend of high performance and everyday drivability.

Developed jointly with Germany’s IVM Engineering Group, the C12 merged the strengths of Callaway Cars in the United States with Callaway Competition in Europe. Designer Paul Deutschman created an entirely new body, widened to a full two meters to take maximum advantage of Le Mans regulations. The only exterior components carried over from the Corvette C5 are the A‑pillars, roof panel, rear hatch, and rear‑view mirrors. While the C12 Cabriolet maintains the traditional Corvette convertible layout, the exceptionally rare Speedster incorporates a distinctive rear deck lid with integrated headrests. To match the dramatic new shape, Callaway engineers designed a bespoke coil‑over suspension featuring custom control‑arm forgings and adjustable dampers.

The production C12 received Callaway’s SuperNatural version of the then‑new Corvette LS1 V8, tuned to 440 hp, with the six-speed transaxle standard. Combined with a lightweight carbon‑composite exterior, stout 4‑piston brakes, and individualized interior and exterior treatments, the C12 firmly entered genuine supercar territory. Only 20 examples—Coupes, Cabriolets, and Speedsters—were built, finding homes with notable owners including Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Sony Music president Tommy Mottola, who was married to Mariah Carey at the time.

True to Callaway tradition, Reeves personally road‑tested each completed C12 for a full weekend, recording even the smallest imperfections in a notebook so they could be corrected and verified before delivery.

This Callaway C12 Speedster was custom-specified by the seller after he saw the C12 prototype at the 1999 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. As the correspondence included with the sale indicates, the owner of this C12 Speedster ordered it with an extensive list of Callaway options, including a paint‑to‑order “Bright Red” finish and a custom leather interior trimmed in bespoke “My Favorite Blue” and White. By the end of production, only two C12 Speedsters are believed to have been built—making this masterpiece an exceptionally rare part of Callaway history. After 27 years, this C12 Speedster has travelled less than 2,700 miles.

This one-owner 1999 Callaway C12 Speedster is now offered with documentation and correspondence from Reeves Callaway, a Callaway Certificate of Authenticity, a Callaway window sticker, a clean CARFAX vehicle history report, and a clean North Carolina title in the current owner's name.

Highlights

• One of two Callaway C12 Speedsters built

• Just 20 Callaway C12 produced

• Single-owner example showing less than 2,700 miles

• Rare American supercar with GT2 competition heritage

• Finished in color-to-sample “Bright Red”

• Leather-to-sample interior in “My Favorite Blue” and White

• In-period correspondence and documentation with Reeves Callaway

• Callaway Certificate of Authenticity

• Callaway Window Sticker

Factory Equipment

• Callaway C12 options include:

  • 440 hp SuperNatural Engine LS1 V8 engine

  • LeMans brake package

  • Dual coil-over suspension

  • Color-to-sample paint

  • Leather-to-sample

  • Carbon Cockpit package

  • Custom carpet

  • Chrome wheels

Servicing & Documentation

• Correspondence documenting the build process and current status

• Freshly serviced with Mobil 1 oil and filter

• Clean CARFAX vehicle history report

Known Imperfections

• Slight depression in the driver’s seat leather

• Pirelli tires, believed original, remain fitted

Ownership History

The accompanying CARFAX vehicle history report places this one-owner Callaway C12 Speedster in North Carolina from new.

Included Items

The following items can be viewed in in the "Additional documents" section below:

• Callaway Certificate of Authenticity

• Letter from Reeves Callaway

• Correspondence between the car's original owner and Callaway Cars during the production process

• Callaway “SuperNatural” dyno sheet from 2000

• Callaway window sticker

Additional Information

The seller notes," My son Brett and I were in Detroit for a hockey tournament in early 1999. The Detroit auto show was in full swing. We attended the show and went to look at the specialty cars in the basement of the show. We came across a beautiful silver convertible with a red and black interior in a roped off area. We started talking to the representative about the car. He disclosed it was the prototype vehicle for a new product from Callaway Cars. It had been developed for racing. He invited us into the area to sit in the car. We continued talking and he invited me to drive the car in Old Lyme, Connecticut.

As we continued our discussions he told me the car would be shown at the NY auto show. I arranged for my wife and I to visit NYC and attend the NY auto show at the Javits Center. There was bright yellow Callaway C 12 with a blue interior displayed at the show. They called it the Cub Scout Car. She saw the yellow car and immediately fell in love with it.

We arranged to visit Old Lyme, Connecticut, to drive the car. Everyone drove the prototype and enjoyed it. We discussed a variety of options including the carbon fiber interior. After I placed the order in the summer, I added the chrome wheels and the blue top. This was one of only two Speedsters manufactured.

After some delays the car was finally delivered to our home on Valentine’s Day 2000. I drove to our Spartanburg office several times and my wife would drive it to the grocery store on occasion. Every time she drove it to the grocery store people were standing around the car when she came out. It would take 20 to 30 minutes to answer all their questions. When driving it on the weekend and stopping at traffic signals people on both sides would ask 'What is it?'

The car was parked in our private North Carolina garage. The blue and white leather interior was custom designed, and the Blue Carbon fiber interior panels were an option. Trim screens are painted blue. The blue canvas top was suggested by Callaway as the white vinyl Corvette top did not look good. The chrome wheels were an option suggested by Ernst at IVF. They were chromed using a new process. The silver lettering on the rear bumper was personally suggested by Reeves Callaway."

A Broad Arrow Specialist is working as an agent on behalf of the seller of this listing. As such, the purchase transaction will be facilitated by Broad Arrow, including vehicle payment, applicable taxes required to be collected by the seller or Broad Arrow, and title/ownership reassignment. Broad Arrow is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hagerty.

Contact: Marvin Waters Phone: 910.315.2918 Email: mwaters@hagerty.com