1988 Chevrolet Beretta Race Car
Chassis #: 0022

History: This 1988 Chevrolet Beretta race car was built by Peerless for General Motors to be campaigned in IMSA’s GTU class. One of the cars Tommy Kendall drove to win the 1988 GTU class championship, his third IMSA championship in as many years. Displayed in the GM Heritage Museum until 2009, when it was acquired by the seller, who kept this IMSA Beretta as part of his collection of significant race cars.

C&C Incorporated campaigned Peerless-built in the 1988 season of IMSA’s under-3.0L GTU class. The car wore #1 and was driven by Tommy Kendall. Kendall won six out of the 12 races to take his third sequential GTU Class championship. In 1989 the car then raced one time in IMSA GTO at the Miami Street Race with a 4.5-liter V-6, driven by Kendall to a 2nd place finish. received a new livery to promote the next season, but was retired to static display, as a new car was being developed for competition. General Motors added the “Raceshop #0022” tag when the car entered the GM Heritage Museum in 1989.

Description: The fiberglass body panels are finished in the 1988 C&C Incorporated red-and-white livery and cover a carbon-fiber tub and steel tube frame. The engine is built by Katech which also builds the bullet-proof racing Camaro IROC V-8s.

The engine incorporates the GM Gen-I electronic fuel management system, similar to the system that Jack Baldwin ran on his Levi-Garrett Chevrolet Camaro.

The engine is front-mounted and is used in a stress member. Transmission and axle are rear-mounted. The Beretta chassis is a carbon fiber composite structure – the first such use in IMSA GTU.

The Beretta GTU utilizes a double wish bone four-wheel independent suspension, unique to GTU racing. Most other cars rely on a live axle, but the four-wheel independent suspension provides better grip on a rough track.

The rear brakes are in-board mounted, providing a lighter rear wheel unsprung mass and allowing for optimum suspension geometry design.

The Delco CCR1000 driver adjusted electronically controlled shock valving on the track.

The transmission is a new Doug Nash syncromesh 5-speed manual.

The Beretta will run on Goodyear 16” racing radial tires. It is the first application of radial race tire technology in the GTU series. The production of Beretta GTU uses 16” Goodyear “Gatorback” Eagle radial tires.

Condition: The seller began a restoration three years ago, which included removing the fiberglass body panels from the carbon fiber tub and tubular steel front frame. Exterior was refinished in the original 1988 championship livery of red and white with the C&C logo on the hood and #1 on the doors.

This Beretta silhouette racer features wide bodywork and rear refueling port mounted beneath the transparent spoiler.

Three-piece 16″ center-lock wheels feature March Indycar-style nuts, repainted white and mounted with Goodyear Eagle racing slicks. Chassis features independent rear suspension and AP Racing disc brakes at all four corners.

Purpose-built interior was not restored and retains a single Recaro racing seat mounted to the carbon fiber floor. Padding lined steel cage, electrical kill switch affixed to center bar. Transaxle-driven alternator mounted to passenger-side floor next to the battery and electrical system.

Custom dashboard equipped with GM-branded instrumentation and a control panel for the computer-adjusted shocks made by Delco Products. Removable steering wheel wrapped in red upholstery features an adjustable-height steering column.

Fuel-injected 3.0-liter V6 was originally designed by Katech and rebuilt by Terri Smith of High Performer Enterprises in Phoenix. 320-horsepower pushrod engine was disassembled and rebuilt with a custom MoTeC engine management system. Rear-mounted Doug Nash five-speed transaxle equipped with a single-rail shift and rebuilt with a new Positraction differential, mounted to the Frankland Quick Change rear axle.

Of Note: The car was shown at the 2009 Wine Country Classic at Sonoma Raceway.

Price: Inquire:

Call Grand Prix Classics: 858-459-3500