I know a lot of 1978 Indianapolis Pace Car Corvettes were put away when new but they always catch my eye. This one is for sale here on Craigslist in Lincoln, Nebraska for a very reasonable $15,500. I bought an Indy Pace Car out of a bankruptcy auction 20 years ago and just loved the car. It was a 4 speed but I sold it after our first child was born and bought a car that was more “practical!” I think I paid $13,000 for it back then and it had been in an accident at some point and repainted.
This fine example was equipped from the factory with the base L48 350 cubic inch V8 engine that produced 185 horsepower and an automatic transmission. A buyer could opt for the L82 350 cubic inch V8 engine as the performance option that produced 220 horsepower in 1978. The L82 had a special air induction system below the radiator that funneled air up through the radiator. I learned about this when I bought my current 1979 Corvette and had to replace the radiator shroud.
You don’t see too many 12,000 mile cars. This one is about to roll over to 13,000 but it appears to be in remarkable condition. The 1978 Corvette Indy Pace Cars came fully loaded with a special silver interior and front and rear spoilers that became an option in 1979. Each Pace Car came with door decals that could be added at the owner’s discretion. The factory decals and owner’s manual is included with the sale of this car. A total of 6,502 Indy Pace Cars were built in 1978.
There is really no bad angle when you look at this car. 1978 was the first year for the large back window (fastback) that continued through 1982. The original paint is said to be excellent on this car as is the running condition. Many thanks to Ikey Heyman for bringing this car to our attention. Let me know below if you are a fan of these cars and if you have ever owned one.
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