This 1988 Chevy Beretta race car is a genuine slice of Chevy IMSA history, offered as one of three examples built by Peerless Engineering for Cars & Concepts to compete in the IMSA 3.0-liter GTU class, with drivers Tommy Kendall and Max Jones on the roster. Now, it’s up for grabs in a new online auction.
Cars & Concepts originally campaigned this car alongside two other examples built by Peerless Engineering for the under-3.0L GTU class in the 1988 IMSA season. This particular example was used for testing at Dana Test Center in Ottawa Lake, Michigan, as well as Sebring Raceway in Florida, and later used as a spare car by Tommy Kendall during his third consecutive championship-winning season.
In 1989, the car received a new livery to promote the next season, but ended up retired as a new car was already in development. After retirement, this Chevy Beretta race car was fitted with a Trans Am body and went on display at the GM Heritage Center. The current owner, racing driver Tommy Thompson, purchased it in 2009.
Outside is fiberglass bodywork with a red-and-white 1988 C&C Incorporated livery, as well as three-piece 16-inch center-lock wheels with white centers and March IndyCar-style nuts, plus Goodyear Eagle racing slicks. Under the skin is a carbon fiber tub and steel tube frame.
As for the greasy bits, this Chevy Beretta race car features a fuel-injected 3.0-liter V6 with a MoTeC engine management system. The ‘six connects to a Doug Nash five-speed manual transaxle and Posi-traction differential, plus a Frankland Quick Change rear axle.
Hauling it down is a set of AP Racing brakes, including inboard rears, while CCR1000 computer-controlled Delco shocks keep it shiny side up. The cockpit includes a Recaro racing seat, a MOMO Personal Fittipaldi steering wheel, a custom dash, and a full roll cage.
Now, this Chevy Beretta race car is up for sale on Bring A Trailer. The current highest bid of four placed is set at just $8,188, with four days left in the auction. It was previously offered on the same site back in 2019, but the final $50,000 failed to meet the reserve price. The vehicle is located in La Jolla, California.
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My introduction to performance 4-cylinder cars was thru a used Beretta GTZ with a HO Quad Four engine & 5 speed gearbox. I realize that this featured Beretta is a full race vehicle, but I was very impressed with the performance of my factory stock Beretta. I believe it was red lined at 7400 rpm, and you could feel the power building the higher the rpms got. It was an absolute nightmare at first, with severe oil leaks from the cam housings and the first trip to work blew a head gasket. After a head gasket job, helicoils in all the exhaust cam housing bolts and new timing chain & sprockets, it became a very dependable car. I don’t remember the specified HP output, but it ran great. The fellow that bought it from me was purchasing it for his 16 year old son. I thought so much of the car, I tried to talk the buyer out of the sale so his son wouldn’t get hurt in the car, being a novice driver. He bought it anyway. Never heard from him again. I loved the car!