Hello Callaway Forum, I have been gone for a few months, personal issues. But I have been checking in lately to keep the pulse. I thought I might shed some light on this mystery to the best of my knowledge. I am very familiar with the Italian-Callaway connection. I know the one time Italian Callaway distributor and I have studied the Callaway race history extensively over the last 12 years. I have spent a lot of time researching and in Leingarten picking Ernst’s brain on these topics.
First of all, there was a blue Callaway LM produced by GrandTurismo in Italy around the mid 90’s and appeared in many European mags. The blue car was the first one produced for the road in Italy by GrandTurismo. The photo of the backside of the car looks like it was taken in Italy based on the structures in the background. Here is a mag clipping of that car. I have pictures of the car in Leingarten at Callaway Competition being serviced. I do not know anything about its sale. I am sure I could find out. But, depending on whom you ask, the car was a Callaway. I think it was the only one from Italy that was authorized by Callaway. The remaining “fake Callaway’s” were just bodies with no chassis or engine modifications and are not considered Callaway’s. The problem of the lights on the rear fascia can be attributed to the picture of a wide-angle lens picture if you ask me. The Agusta LM and the blue LM have significant differences only the hood came from the same molds that I know of.
The racing LM’s were fabricated from a mold that incorporated the right and left rear quarter panels and the right or left 1/3 of the rear fascia in the same mold. The center section was separate. Yes, this accommodated the wing struts and the easy removal of the body panels for racing. The street LM was from a completely different mold and the rear fascia was one unit.. Yes, GrandTurismo had their own molds for the LM, but they were virtually identical. There is debate that the quality of the molds was not up to Callaway standards. I do not know. But the dimensions should have been the same. The racing LM did not have the Callaway embossing on the rear of the car. That is fact.
The racing LM started as a stock width C4 and the body was modified from there. I even know where the C4 Callaway is in Germany that was the 1:1 styling mold and buck for the LM. After several years of racing the LM, Rocky Agusta returned with a widened version of the LM due to modifications at Callaway Competition such as single nut spindles and rules allowing larger tires. The modified body parts came from Italy and if you have noticed the black painted “ not primer, I have seen the car many times personally” has the vented hood that is characteristic of the Italian molding. In 1998 the black LM was sold to Belgium located RTM Racing were it was raced until at least 2000 with some success.
Before you fire a reply that disputes the information here, I am giving my best information. I cannot guarantee that it is 100%…..It is the best I have.
