GRANATELLI MOTOR SPORTS REVIVES ITS WORLD-FAMOUS 278 MPH TWIN-TURBO CAMARO Z28 FOR THE 2026 SEMA SHOW

The Legendary Street-Driven Camaro That Shattered Land-Speed Records Returns to the Spotlight More Than Four Decades Later

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA — October 21, 2026 — Granatelli Motor Sports is proud to announce the return of one of the most extraordinary street-driven performance cars in automotive history: the world-famous 278 MPH Twin-Turbocharged Granatelli Camaro Z28. This legendary machine will be on display at the 2026 SEMA Show, November 3–6, in Booth #23213 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Born from an ordinary daily driver and an extraordinary determination to accomplish the impossible, the Granatelli Camaro remains one of the most remarkable examples of American automotive ingenuity, innovation, and raw horsepower ever unleashed on the pavement—or the Bonneville Salt Flats.

FROM DAILY DRIVER TO 278 MPH LEGEND

In 1983, J.R. Granatelli embarked on a mission that would ultimately rewrite the record books. Starting with his own daily-driven Chevrolet Camaro Z28, and working alongside his cousin and engineering mastermind, Vince "VJ" Granatelli, the two transformed an otherwise stock-appearing street machine into a twin-turbocharged land-speed missile.

Their objective was never simply to build another race car. They wanted to prove that a genuine street-driven automobile—one capable of cruising the boulevard, negotiating stop-and-go traffic, and making an ordinary trip to the grocery store—could also challenge the fastest machines on earth.

What followed was nothing short of extraordinary.

RECORD-SETTING PERFORMANCE

The Granatelli Camaro established an astonishing series of performance milestones:

• 0–200 MPH: An incredible 13.87 seconds
• El Mirage Dry Lake Bed: 203 MPH
• Mud Lake: 211 MPH
• Bonneville Salt Flats: 278 MPH through the timing lights
• Bonneville Salt Flats: 261.21 MPH official two-way average
• Land-Speed Record: Stood for an incredible nine years

These achievements established the Granatelli Camaro as one of the fastest street-driven automobiles of its era and cemented its place in the history of high-performance engineering.

MORE THAN 40 YEARS LATER, THE LEGEND LIVES ON

Perhaps the most remarkable part of this story isn't what the Camaro accomplished more than four decades ago.

It's what this very same car can still do today.

Unlike purpose-built race cars that surrender their street manners in pursuit of maximum speed, the Granatelli Camaro was engineered to live in both worlds.

It can idle through traffic, cruise comfortably down the boulevard, and behave like a civilized street machine. Yet beneath its deceptively familiar exterior lies a twin-turbocharged powerhouse engineered to deliver acceleration and top speeds that remain astonishing even by today's standards.

Think about that for a moment.

A street car conceived in 1983, capable of exceeding 270 MPH, at a time when modern engine management, sophisticated computer simulations, and today's advanced automotive electronics were still decades away.

It was a triumph of mechanical engineering, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of performance.

"This car was never about building something that could only go fast on a racetrack," said J.R. Granatelli. "We wanted to prove that a real street car could accomplish things people said were impossible. We drove it on the street, took it to Bonneville, and made history. More than 40 years later, we're bringing it back to SEMA to remind everyone what determination, innovation, and American horsepower can accomplish."

A LEGEND RETURNS TO SEMA

For the 2026 SEMA Show, Granatelli Motor Sports is bringing this iconic Camaro back into the spotlight, giving automotive enthusiasts, industry professionals, and a new generation of performance fans an opportunity to experience a genuine piece of land-speed racing history.

The Camaro represents far more than a collection of speed records. It embodies the Granatelli family's enduring commitment to challenging convention, advancing automotive technology, and proving that extraordinary achievements begin with the courage to ask, "Why not?"

For those who remember its record-setting runs, the car is a reminder of an unforgettable chapter in American performance history.

For those seeing it for the first time, it is proof that true automotive legends never grow old.

THE GRANATELLI CAMARO Z28

Driven on the Street. Proven on the Salt. Built to Make History.

SEE THE LEGEND IN PERSON

2026 SEMA SHOW
November 3–6, 2026
Las Vegas Convention Center
Las Vegas, Nevada
Granatelli Motor Sports — Booth #23213

ABOUT GRANATELLI MOTOR SPORTS

Granatelli Motor Sports carries forward one of the most recognized names in American motorsports and high-performance automotive engineering. Built upon generations of racing innovation, record-setting achievements, and pioneering performance technology, Granatelli Motor Sports continues the family tradition of pushing the boundaries of speed, horsepower, and automotive excellence.

Granatelli Motor Sports — A Legacy of Performance.