The C3 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car is not a hard limited-edition to find. These cars were the proverbial comic book or baseball card that every kid saved, convinced the other one’s mom would throw their collection out first. The sad thing is, as the demographics of the market change, the values will likely begin to flatline. This 1978 Chevrolet Corvette pace car is equipped with the preferred four-speed manual and is listed here on eBay for $25,000 or best offer.
I don’t claim to have a crystal ball, but I do remember when values for these Pace Cars were fairly strong in the late 80s and early 90s. At that time, they were still recognizable as desirable by numerous collectors, and there was a strong contingent of car fanatics who always wanted to own a pace car. That group is moving on, and I wonder if some of those dreams of pace car ownership have moved on to vacation homes or wine collections. It’s a shame, because this four-speed example has just 39,000 miles and looks quite tidy.
Chevrolet must have made a killing with these special editions when new, as I’m sure they were heavily marked up as enthusiasts aren’t always known for being sensible when it comes to a model they have to have. This Corvette looks quite clean with nicely preserved leather seats and matching carpeting. The color-coordinated steering wheel is also in good shape, with no signs of soiling. The seller claims it is one of just 202 cars to be equipped with the L82/four-speed combo, and that the engine is numbers-matching.
The seller also mentions that the previous owner was Andre B. Lacy, who was the chairman of the Indy 500 for many years. That doesn’t add a ton of value, but it does make sense that he is someone who would know what the most desirable pace car variant would be to buy. The seller notes the only non-original items are the exhaust and what sounds like replacement A/C equipment. Has the sun set on these C3 pace car tributes, or are they still sensible investments?
Not original rims. No red stripe! I have one with 16k original miles with proof of mileage.
Interior sure has a lot of wear for 40K miles…
Agree. Luggage area looks as if a family of feral cats lived in it. Also agree that this car’s time has come and gone.
Frank, re: your latter comment, sadly, it’s true. Those of us old enough to remember their zenith days are aging out of the market. A clean, low mileage one is a thing of beauty to me but my grandson thinks it’s just an old car.
Looking at the pace car Corvette as investment was always a fools errand. Most products designed as “collectibles” aren’t, they have limited appeal beyond the initial buyers. Transferring their diminishing appeal into the larger market is also foolish, people with an agenda have been pushing that narrative for a long time. They like to equate the drop of one segment of the market as a sign of impending doom when it’s actually how the market has always operated. Segments go up as others go down, that’s how it works and always will.
Steve R
Most things that sound like collectables when new are going to be collected to the point of no longer being collectable. If everyone is special, no one is.
Not all of the 78’s were 25th anniversary editions, and not all pace cars were either. This one doesn’t have that distinction? I didn’t see any evidence. That would add a couple dollars but it’s a really nice ride.
Incorrect. All 1978 Corvettes had the front emblem/badge indicating 25th anniversary.
Frank, you are 100% correct. They all carried the 25th Anniversary badge on the nose but only the two-tone silver/gray paint were the “Silver Anniversary” cars in my view. The pace cars were obviously the “pace cars.” It still gets me that any paint job was a 25th Anniversary car.
They were all 25th anniversary cars but only that paint combination earned the “25th Anniversary Edition” status. Only 15,200 or so had that distinction. Maybe I should have been more clear there.
@George- 6502 Pace Cars.
Ok… approximately 15,000 had the paint scheme but were NOT pace cars. Those with that paint scheme, even the non pace cars, were officially 25th anniversary editions. But all had the plaque.
Can I just borrow it, along with a Members only jacket, for a weekend?
(Always hated the stickers, always loved those silver leather seats)
Seen a lot of these along with Buick GN’s that were squirreled away and not driven in hopes of that big sale in the future. Most did not live up to the sellers expectations from what I’ve seen. IMO the side stickers actually take away from the car but that my opinion.
Sorry but I don’t think it’s worth the asking price.
I had one with 1700 miles on it ,I could not get rid of it for 2500 ,I finally traded it for a 69 Camaro convertible in pieces .in case anyone interested
Note to self- Don’t ask Al Camino for any stock tips.
Al, if you still have a 1978 Corvette Pace Car to sell for $2,500 please let me know. I’ll be the guy in the very back of the long line waving $2,600! LoL
I put a billboard size picture of one of these on the back wall of my garage. If the doors were open you would swear I had one sitting there. LOL
The Pace Car serial numbers were 1Z87L8S900001-906502.
It’s not a Pace Car.
I professionally detail cars and am a Corvette owner. Ironically, today I detailed a 15,000 mile L48 auto Pace Car. While shiny when done, the factory original paint is terrible. Cheap plastic junk interior. The pockets on the door panels is cardboard. I do like the silver seats. This car was properly stored since 78 and is perfect and soft. Still on original Goodyear tires. The car I cleaned is supposedly sold for $30,000. I told the seller to take the 30K and run to the bank. I am 65 years old. I hated these cars new and still do. Gaudy cheap made and boring. Yes, that rear compartment looks like 20 cats took a dump. I will keep my 67.
This model had about enough power to pull a wet noodle out of a cats butt.
Lots of questions here:
1) How did the noodle get where it is?
2) How was it discovered and by whom?
3) Who determined removal was required?
4) Was a trial extraction done to determine more power was required?
5) Who held the cat in place during the procedure?
Hahaha that was great, Ike. Lol.
I got a Pace car with a L-82 four-speed and I replaced the stock two with the summit 476 hp for engine now it surprises the hell out of people and plus My car is the only one that has a black interior which I think looks a hell of a lot better than that silver from lost in space crap interior