We've been through a lot of great car collections and museums over the years, but even we have to admit that we've never seen a private collection like this. Assembled by a shadowy figure known only as "The Sultan of Michigan," this cache has something for car enthusiasts of most every stripe, although the focus is clearly on vintage and present-day muscle and Eighties-and-up supercars. Truck enthusiasts, vintage foreign guys and brass car enthusiasts will largely have to look elsewhere, but it's a magnificent collection, with the most flabbergasting thing being that it appears to be up-to-the-minute current.

The whereabouts and ownership of the collection are two things that the owner prefers to keep private – we actually have confirmation on both, but prefer to respect privacies. What we can confirm is that this treasure trove is, in fact, located in Michigan, which is both heartening (to know that such wealth and mechanical beauty still exists in the state) and somewhat confounding (as the area lacks truly great winding roads on which to exploit much of the machinery). In either case, the collection is generally kept under wraps, although periodically we understand that the owner invites in selected parties to share in the gorgeousness. Some of the folks at MidwestSSC.com are obviously part of the 'inner circle' judging by the video and this photo gallery. Follow the jump to take the tour for yourself. Thanks to Andrew Weber for use of his video, and we appreciate the tips, Justin and Evan!

[Sources: Andrew Weber; MidwestSCC.com]

Click above for more pics of the Callaway Cyclone V16

Perhaps best known for his customized Corvettes, Reeves Callaway is also the brains behind a technical and engineering consulting company. A few years ago, he showed the world a V16 motor he built using four Yamaha 1,000 cc motorcycle engines mounted on a unique block. Dubbed the Cyclone, this 4.0L mill was good for 550 hp @ 10,000 rpm. While it is undeniably long at just over 36 inches, the aluminum block helps keep its dry weight down at just 334 lbs. Callaway used the Yamaha motors because his company helped develop their 5-valve heads and Reeves believes they are still among the best-built engines he has ever seen.

While the Cyclone project was started for little more than kicks and giggles, Reeves and his son Peter dragged it out to Cars & Coffee in Irvine, CA yesterday morning and hinted that we might be seeing this engine again soon, in the engine bay of a new Callaway show car. Alluding to such great automotive designs as the legendary Auto Union Type D, Callaway said we shouldn't be surprised to see this engine in something that marries that type of design ethos with a modern sensibility. No date was given for the car's debut, but Reeves said it will be completed eventually. Whatever it ends up looking like, we think we might like a ride in it. In current tune, the redline has been lifted to 11,500 rpm, allowing horsepower to swell to 640. it will certainly be entertaining.


Photos copyright ©2008 Frank Filipponio/Weblogs, Inc.

When the current GMT900 SUVs hit the market in 2006, gas prices were already near $3.00 per gallon, but the super-sized transports sold in prodigious numbers anyway. The reasoning from the General and its customers was that there were still people with big boats or trailers to tow, and unibody CUVs just aren't up to the task. In the two years that followed, gas prices have gone from pesky to pandemic, and buyers are leaving their body-on-frame SUVs by the thousands.

The General isn't blind to the trend, and a report from Bloomberg says that GM may be ready to take the drastic step of separating the platforms of its trucks and full-size SUVs by 2012. The move is extreme because SUVs and trucks have saved development time and money by sharing a platform for many decades, but with such a dramatic shift away from the handy but fuel-thirsty rigs, GM has little choice but to think of alternatives. A unibody Tahoe or Escalade wouldn't be able to tow quite like its predecessor, but they would be lighter and have better fuel economy.

Our first thought was that GM already has eight-passenger unibody CUVs like the Enclave, Acadia, Outlook and upcoming Traverse, but without more utilitarian SUVs like the Tahoe, there should be room for a more purpose-built CUV in the lineup. While this news isn't exactly earth-shattering, we're thinking it very accurately illustrates just how fast these times they are-a-changing, and how far automakers will go to stay viable. Thanks for the tip, Fro!

[Source: Bloomberg]

click above to view more high-res pics of the 2008 Callaway Corvette

Callaway, the Connecticut-based Corvette tuner par excellence, has just announced that its 2008 Callaway Corvette will come with a new supercharger package that bumps power in the C6 Corvette to 580 horsepower. Buyers need only hand over $18,500 for the additional 150 horsepower over a stock 430-hp 6.2L LS3 V8, but will also get a host of engine improvements, a 3-year/36,000 mile warranty and still be able to meet California's strict emissions standards.

Callaway has also announced a new, more powerful supercharger for its super-Vette, the C16. The new spool increases output of the hand-built LS3 engine from 616 to 650 hp. It's also fitted with new cylinder heads and valvetrain, a custom cold-air intake, special free-flowing exhaust system and remapped ECU, in addition to the carbon-ceramic brakes, suspension and wheels. Callaway offers the C16 with its custom bodywork and leather interior in coupe and convertible forms for about $150k, or double that for the stunning Speedster. The extra 34 harnessed horses should help the updated C16 break its already-impressive 3.3-second 0-60 time, 11-second ¼ mile and 210 mph top end.

[Source: Callaway]

click above image for many high-res shots of the Callaway C16 Speedster

Twenty years ago, GM asked Reeves Callaway to infuse the Corvette with his particular brand of genius. The result was the most powerful production car ever sold in America. Twenty years later, the results are still coming, and this is the latest: the Callaway C16 Speedster, third in the C16 family introduced this year, joining the coupe and the cabriolet. For a large automaker to launch a car with three variants, in one year, is an achievement. For Callaway to do so, as a specialist producer, is nothing short of spectacular. Fittingly, the Speedster could be the most spectacular version yet. Click Read to get the full story, and check out the gallery to see hi-res images of the new Callaway C16 Speedster as well as the first Callaway Speedster made in 1990. Do you remember it on the cover of Motor Trend like it was yesterday? We do. Warning, though: it's still very green.

When the Callaway C16 Speedster debuted Saturday night at Pebble, another company showed off some impressive new equipment as well. StopTech developed a new carbon-ceramic brake with Callaway to help the 700 HP, 210 MPH C16 Speedster stop as well as it goes. StopTech's new Carbon Ceramic Brake System (CCBS) will be the brake of choice for Callaway, with 15-inch rotors and six-piston calipers up front, and four-piston calipers and 14-inch rotors out back. Together with the lightweight carbon/magnesium Dymag wheels, these lightweight brakes will help the C16 shed an unbelievable 80 pounds of unsprung weight compared to a more typical aluminum wheel and iron rotor setup.

The new StopTech CCBS isn't like most other carbon-ceramics on the market either. Instead of using chopped fibers like most competitors, StopTech uses continuous fiber construction for its discs. This makes them stronger and less prone to oxidation. StopTech will now offer CCBS on all of their current 332mm, 355mm, and 380mm rotors, plus existing customers will be able to upgrade their iron rotor systems to CCBS as well. That should come as pleasant news to owners of sports cars like the Porsche 911 and Lamborghini Gallardo.

[Source: StopTech]