Wednesday 5th November 2014

Toyota 'Sleeper Camry'

Yet more SEMA goodness with a stock-looking Toyota Camry boasting sub-10 quarter-miles

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Doesn't look much, does it? This is a 2015 Toyota Camry, best selling car in America for the past 12 years. Toyota boasts of "a bold new exterior design, improved dynamic performance [and] a premium and upscale interior" for its latest mid-size sedan. Only this isn't really a mid-size sedan. It's not really a Camry if truth be told.

Hang on, those tyres look a bit wide...

This is the Sleeper Camry, a very special project commissioned by Toyota only for the SEMA show. Beneath the entirely innocuous body sits a full tube-frame chassis, drag tyres and a full race interior. Oh, and eight hundred and fifty damn horsepower. 850!

That huge power gain comes from a Tundra 5.7 3UR-FE V8, boosted not only by a TRD supercharger but also a nitrous system. With a transmission, rear axle and electronics from the pick-up too, Toyota is promising a combination of "brute force, rugged durability and raw speed." We don't doubt that.

The Sleeper Camry should dip under the magical 10-second mark for the quarter-mile with an estimated 9.8-second time. It's probably no longer much good for grabbing groceries or taking the kids to soccer practice.

850hp. In a Camry

This ultimate Q-car has been built by a man called Chuck (no, really) and his friends at Toyota's Motorsports Technical Centre. Mr C. Wade is Director at the other MTC and said of the car: "This Camry is the ultimate sleeper - it definitely has the element of surprise on its side and more than enough muscle to drop the hammer on any unsuspecting car that pulls up." We like Chuck.

Following SEMA the Camry Sleeper will tour the States at National Hot Rod Association races. Hopefully it can race a Camaro COPO at some point...

 

[foxhounduk]

There are no words...

[Jimmm]

I've always wanted to do this with a Picasso in that horrible pastel metallic green. Except with more power!

[Google [bot]]

Article said:

It's not really a Camry if truth be told.

Get away.

Does put my Camry sleeper ambitions to shame though.

[daytona365]

Doesn't look too family friendly to me. Do you have to lift the whole body up to get the kids in then ? Bloody ridiculous.

[Dan Trent]

daytona365 said:

Doesn't look too family friendly to me. Do you have to lift the whole body up to get the kids in then ? Bloody ridiculous.

Better for those tight parking spaces, see.

Dan

[daytona365]

Ah yes. I see now. Thanks.

[liner33]

Typical crappy basic Japanese interior

[Dan Trent]

daytona365 said:

Ah yes. I see now. Thanks.

HTH!

Dan

[thatguy11]

I still prefer this....

[matrignano]

What's up with the brakes?

[timmeh2k]

This is still the coolest school run car ever created

[pSyCoSiS]

Good effort!

[pits]

timmeh2k said:

This is still the coolest school run car ever created

I always wondered what happened to that, cool but it looked/looks like dog st

[soad]

thatguy11 said:

I still prefer this....

No rear seats though...

F1-spec V10 power-plant!

[MarJay]

Want.

[Frio3535]

If John Connor asked the Terminator to design a gear lever and gaiter that is what he would produce.

[AW111]

thatguy11 said:

I still prefer this....

Tell me more - I've seen that pic before, but can't place it.

[soad]

AW111 said:

Tell me more - I've seen that pic before, but can't place it.

164 Pro-Car.

[thatguy11]

soad said:

AW111 said:

Tell me more - I've seen that pic before, but can't place it.

164 Pro-Car.

It was conceived to be part of an F1 support race series, but it never came to anything. Only one chassis was ever built, by Motor Racing Developments (yep, the company behind Brabham), which was owned by Alfa at the time.

[Buff Mchugelarge]

Personly, I'd leave the body off and drive it like that!

This however, is my favourite sleep ever!


427 V8 Chevette Sleeper