Toyota actually called this car the Camry Sleeper, and it takes clanking brass ones to roll into SEMA with a silver Toyota Camry into the show, call it a “sleeper”, and actually pull it off. This is the trade show where Summit and Jegs meets Ringling Brothers and P.T. Barnum…you have to bring something that will shut people up the second they see it, and the likelihood that a silver Camry is going to do that is about as high as your chances of winning six figures’ worth of chips at the blackjack tables later on in the evening. Yet, there it was, parked near the off-road trucks and the disco-van Scion, under a tarp. When it was unveiled, Rutledge Wood himself did the honors, and there it was: silver, black wheels. But look closer at the car. Specifically, start with the back tires.
Someone at Toyota has developed one sick sense of humor, because the Camry Sleeper has to be one of the best surprises out of Toyota in recent memory. This Camry is basically a modern funny car done right…under the lift-up shell of the Camry body is a tube-frame chassis that is holding a Tundra’s 5.7L V8, which is packing a TRD-sourced blower and a wet nitrous system, which combined give the Sleeper power figures that are somewhere in the neighborhood of 850hp. That power is routed through an automatic transmission and out to the rear axle, both Tundra pieces as well. The driver’s area of the car is all business, with one racing seat, the steering wheel, the Fast Ed’s seat and the Autometer dash being all of the creature comforts the driver gets to enjoy.
Does this Camry work as a sleeper? So long as nobody raised the body, and if you didn’t see the red roll cage through the tinted windows or notice the 335-series slicks on the rear, this thing could pass for typical factory fare showoff. All of the lights work and there’s even door panels set inside to assist with the look. While a snowball in Hell has a better chance than a V8 RWD Camry making it to production, this thing makes us smile. Toyota plans to race this Camry at NHRA events for the 2015 season. It’s a damn shame it can’t be registered…this thing would be a riot on Drag Week, wouldn’t it?
It pains me to admit it, but this Camry is cool.
Kind of like someone had taken the ’60s funny car formula and applied it to a modern car. This needs to be a new NHRA class – modern car body, maybe with minor mods, production engine block and transmission from the same make, some safety rules, and anything goes!
I’ll take one of those with a side of chili-fries!
I hope Chevy decides to build a “Modern Funny Car” (New NHRA class?) Malibu Sleeper SS so they can run against Toyota at the strip.;
I think a seed has been planted that will grow into a full trend. I hope this replaces autocross!
A 1 off custom flopper top straight line Camry replacing a form of affordable racing that involves going around corners?
The Japs out-American the Americans.
Just kill me now….
Yeah …. they did … in spades I’m afraid .
A bonafide Wednesday morning reason to drink perhaps ?
You know … if the NHRA were to reconfigure AA/FC more like the Camry Sleeper .. looking like a car rather than some mutant creation rejected by the Hot Wheels designers ..
Maybe … just maybe the NHRA might go a long ways towards rebuilding the fan base they’ve so expertly lost over the last decade or so
To put it bluntly … put cars like this back on the track [ as well as bringing Pro Stock back to its ‘ Stock ‘ origins along with separating Pro Mod by placing a 1959 limit on body styles ] … and I’ll once again be purchasing tickets .. watching it on the tube as well as buying the magazines after a now five year hiatus
Damn !!! Again ! Two genuine winners [ this and Fuller’s 32 ] out of … err … how many other dull as nails leftovers ! 😉
While FORD is dropping drag racing in favor of larger mgmt. bonuses, Toyota is stepping up their drag program.
Expect Toyota to expand their long awaited Pro Stock, funny car, and pro Mod programs soon.
Win on Sunday, sell on Monday has not been forgotten here.
Adios blue oval!
What do you think, John Force to run a Toyota body?
matt
“I hope this replaces autocross!”
Comments like this^ make me avoid this website at times.
Hat tip to Toyota. This is a very cool thing.
This cars chassis was supplied by BANGSHIFT supporter CHRIS ALSTONS CHASSISWORKS…its based on their Eliminator II chassis….cool car