Chevrolet Corvette GTP/Eagle 700

Prototype sportscar racing was all the rage in the United States during the 1980s, thanks to the introduction of the massively popular GTP regulations. Big manufacturers like Porsche, Nissan, Toyota, Jaguar and Mazda all jumped at the chance to be a part of the action and were eventually joined by the true giant of American motoring - General Motors. Built in partnership with renowned British constructor Lola, the Chevrolet Corvette GTP first debuted in the hands of NASCAR juggernauts Hendrick Motorsports for the 1985 season. Contrary to popular expectation, the majority of Corvette GTP’s did not compete with V8 engines, but were rather powered by turbocharged V6s, with the exception of just two cars.

Chassis HU8811-01, the last Corvette GTP built, was delivered to Peerless Racing ahead of a partial IMSA campaign in 1988. This chassis was one of the few to be powered by the 5.8-liter aluminium block V8 producing 650 horsepower. Coupled with a Hewland VGC five-speed transaxle gearbox, the car was easily capable of speeds of over 300 kilometres per hour. The car made its racing debut at the Columbus 500 km race in Ohio, which formed the penultimate round of that year’s IMSA championship. With Jack Baldwin and highly experienced British driver David Hobbs at the wheel, the car finished fourth behind the winning Nissan GTP-ZX and a pair of Porsche 962s, but still ahead of the sole finishing Hendrick-entered Corvette. The season finale at Del Mar was less fruitful, as Baldwin and Hobbs failed to finish. Hendrick Motorsports did not return in 1989 after GM cancelled funding for the project, meaning the Peerless Corvette was the marque’s sole representation on the IMSA grid for the partial program it ran that year. For its six-race program, Peerless relied on drivers Baldwin, Tom Pumpelly, Scott Goodyear, Ellliot Forbes-Robinson and Jacques Villeneuve. No, not the 1997 Formula One world champion, but rather Gilles Villeneuve’s brother. Fittingly, his nickname was Uncle Jacques. Sadly, the limited program was one filled with issues for Peerless. It failed to qualify for its two race appearances due to accidents in practice at Miami and Road Atlanta. For the next four races, it did qualify, but never reached the finish due to a variety of engine problems at several rounds and a puncture at Watkins Glen.

In 1990, the chassis changed hands as American driver Paul Canary set about achieving an entry into that year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. The car was renamed to ‘Eagle 700’ and Canary found a way to somehow fit an even bigger engine. Out went the already chunky 5.8-liter unit and in came a new, monstrous 10.2-liter Chevy-based Eagle V8 producing a staggering 956 horsepower. Sadly, the Eagle was never able to fully spread its wings over the Circuit de la Sarthe, as Canary and co-driver Dennis Kazmerowski failed to make the grid due to an electrical failure in night qualifying.

After that, chassis HU8811-01 never raced again but made its way into our collection in the spring of 2021. It was returned to the white and red Budweiser livery it sported when it debuted in IMSA in 1988. The bodywork was signed by Villeneuve, Baldwin and Hobbs. The car is available for purchase - please get in touch for more information and pricing.