This coming Sunday, in addition to being a day of contemplation, is one of the most active days of the year for international motorsports, as race fans can look forward to Formula One’s Monaco Grand Prix, NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600, and perhaps the biggest of them all, the Indianapolis 500. For years, the Indy Pace Car was in itself an event, as almost any American brand was eligible for the honor of pacing “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Somehow, Buick got the call twice in a row in the mid-1970s: in 1975 and 1976. This ’76 Century is one of 1,290 Pace Car replicas that those men and women in Flint produced to commemorate the event (and drive buyers into showrooms). This one is being sold on eBay as an auction (with a current high bid of $11,100) with a “Buy It Now” option of $28,000. The seller, located in Marshall, Illinois, is unloading some cars to help fund a business venture.
The Century that actually paced the big race looked far different under the hood than the replicas. After finding the big 455 in the ’75 pace car a little asthmatic at the high speeds (90-120 miles per hour) necessary to keep ahead of the steaming pack of open-wheelers, Buick did something they would soon become known for: they stuck a turbocharger on their V6 and cranked up the boost to 22 lbs. With 306 horsepower, the boosted Buick easily got the job done.
Factory turbos were still a couple years off in 1976, so you could get the base V6 or this optional Buick 350 small block under the hood of your Pace Car Edition Century. The 350 was a nice street engine, even in mid-’70s tune, providing 145 or 165 horsepower depending on carburetion.
Our featured pace car may be producing a bit more than that, as the engine shots show an aluminum intake manifold and this undercarriage picture clearly indicates that a pair of long-tube headers and dual exhausts have been added to pep up the little 350. More importantly, this Century has obviously been well-maintained and has not succumbed to rust.
The interior is as sporty as you can expect from a ’70s Buick, with a nicely designed pair of high-back bucket seats, a sporty woodgrain console, and Buick’s basket-handle shifter operating the Turbo 350 that sits beneath the tunnel. We just don’t see enough whites and blues in interiors anymore, and that’s a shame.
Finally, pace cars came with a pair of Hurst T-tops, which, when combined with the factory 8-track AM radio, offer a ’70s experience that will be impossible to refuse for enthusiasts who appreciate that rousing decade. Country singer and sometimes NASCAR driver Marty Robbins even drove the actual pace car at the 500, which, for some reason that I can’t explain, makes me happy. If you’re a fan of Buicks, pace cars, or ’70s Americana, there is no more appropriate time than now to buy this clean example of how exciting the yearly pace car choice used to be.
Here’s your chance to show off your bad taste to your
neighbors,with those graphics.
Haha! “Unloading” is the right word for getting rid of this fright pig.
& that wake the dead exhaust system.
Needs A/C
Hey is that a Buick?
I’ll take one w the super-boosted V6 please Toth like the pace car 👍🏁
Here’s an interesting tidbit..
The 1976 Indy Pace Car was the first V6 to do so, and it used a turbo to offer 306 horsepower. It proved so potent that Parnelli Jones raced it up Pike’s Peak the same year.
Thanks for the write-up Aaron, what a beautiful clean Buick Coupe.
Pretty sure someone added the “V8” call outs on the hood as all of the other pace car replicas I have seen have had only the hood stripes. Suppose it is a nod to the actual pace car with the turbo V6 as that one had the “Buick V6” call outs on the hood.
Yeah, the graphics are loud and brash, but it is pure mid-70s styling in the era of strangled horsepower and smog equipment. The cars could not get up and go as quick, but the graphics at least made it look like it could.
Mike, it may have ben saddled w the economy 2.56 gear ⚙️ as well 😒
Back when pacecar replicas were cool..love this..topdog malaise bling.If you were seen driving this in 1976 you’d have been the king of your hood.
Would look good parked outside the disco.
I have some competition, Rob. The king in my neighborhood in 76 was a gentleman who purchased a Bi-Centennial edition white Pontiac Grand Am with red and blue pinstripes and accents, white swivel buckets, twin hood scoops and a 400 CU IN 4 barrel 4 speed. That car turned everyone’s head and carried the mayor and his wife on top of the backseat for the Bi-Centennial parade!
Garish and uninspiring.
I knew someone back in the 70’s in the Bronx. That brought one brand new with the 350 engine with AC. It looked cool parked outside the Riverdale Ice Skating Rink. And yes Saturday night we had disco night. Yeah it was so cool back then. Went for a ride in it. T-tops off and it was cool ride. It had the call outs on the side but don’t remember what was on the hood. These are rare like hens teeth. !! This Buick is worth whatever the price is Good luck to the next owner. 🐻🇺🇸
I bet you could bolt a 1986-87 (or 1989) 3.8l SFI Turbo into this to be within the spirit of the actual Pace Cars. It’s a bit heavier than the cars that those motors powered but I bet it’d still be pretty quick!
↩️🏁 Great 👍 idea 💡 Lexus
If it’s an actual Buick pace car replica from the factory with paperwork – name your price .
Good luck finding any in this type of condition. .
Can’t be too many around in this condition. Yes, it’s over the top, but you will never see another one on the same road.
I’m no expert, but if I were interested i would have to research it and make sure everything, including the decals and placement, are 100% correct.
a friend of mine has one parked in his garage just like this one but in better shape.never been messed with.it has been a while since I went for a visit and maybe it’s time I went and had an other look at it.
I have only seen one other in my lifetime. It was in 1978, or 1979. I don’t’ remember it having these many decals, (the Buick V/8 on the hood, front fenders, or the Hurst decals). Then you start looking at the photos. Fresh undercoating on the floor pans. Floors look to have been patched in several places. Bottoms of doors on the inside have been messed with where the outer door skin meets the door frame. I think she may be a rusty old girl but still cool in my book.
Pretty sure the real pace car reps had no lettering on the hood. Also no Hurst stickers either. 🤷🏽♂️
“This listing was ended by the seller on Fri, May 23 at 9:30 AM because there was an error in the listing.”