Thanks to the rain, the 1986 Indianapolis 500 didn’t take place until the Saturday after Memorial Day: May 31st, 1986. I don’t remember what else I was doing that day, but I do remember watching Bobby Rahal cross the line first in his Budweiser/Red Roof Inn-sponsored March Cosworth. Even at nine-years-old, I didn’t miss the 500 on TV if I could help it, not only because I enjoyed the spectacle and the race cars, but also because of the pace car. The pace car used to be a big deal, and it was always exciting to see who would get the call-up for the most high-profile job a car could perform. In 1986, the new Corvette Convertible was the chosen one. These days, a ‘Vette paces Indy almost every year, but in 1986, the convertible was back in production for the first time since 1975, and while a droptop Corvette might seem like nothing special these days, the convertible was big news when it was released. The seller of this pace car replica says it has only 24,000 miles on it, and our car spotter T.J. found it on craigslist in Euclid, Ohio, for a very reasonable $13,999.
Only one engine was available in the Corvette for 1986, the 230-horsepower Tuned Port Injection 350. This Corvette has the standard four-speed automatic (the manual was a no-cost option), not a bad choice behind the torquey 350. Bosch anti-lock brakes were also standard equipment for 1986, in addition to VATS (Vehicle Anti Theft System). Judging by the condition of the engine compartment, the seller’s assertion that the undercarriage “is as clean as can be” is entirely plausible. Corvettes originally wore Good Year Gatorback unidirectional tires mounted on futuristic 16-inch alloy wheels, but they’ve been swapped out for a set of BFGoodrich rubber.
The Corvette’s interior was perhaps the most dazzling feature to nine-year-old me, with its futuristic digital dashboard. The seller says that the Corvette has “a good top, nice paint, and original leather interior,” which appears to be in exceptional condition for a 39-year-old car.
While the actual Corvette that Bobby Rahal took home as the race winner in 1986 was yellow, the replicas you could buy at the Chevy store were available in 12 colors, including the Bright Red worn by our featured car. If you remember with fondness the reintroduction of the “roadster” and the fanfare surrounding the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” this would be a nice way to make those dreams come true.
Very nice vette for the price!
Every 1986 Corvette convertible was considered a pace car replica. Decals were shipped with the cars for dealer installation.
I agree. While the actual 1986 Indy Pace Car, back ups and parade cars were yellow, all 86 convertibles came with a set of “Pace Car” labels thrown in the car. Introduced as a mid year addition to the Corvette line, the convertible amounted to about a third of all 86 Corvette production, with all 7300 86 convertibles being quasi Pace Cars.
This doesn’t appear to be a bad car at an okay price, but the 91-96 C4’s are far better cars for not much more money.
Left out of the description was the return of the convertible in 86 with the pace car also was the return of aluminum heads from the factory on a corvette.
Other than the manual tranny, interior color and mileage, very much like the 86 convertible I had. Very fun driving car but it’s storage challenged: little space to put anything other than under the toneau where the top folds.