BF Auction: 1978 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car

Bid to: $14,600View Result

  • Seller: Dennis B arrett
  • Location: Rochester, New York
  • Mileage: 10,336 Shown
  • Chassis #: 1Z87L82901424
  • Title Status: Clean

When it comes to low mileage claims, documentation is king. Well, the seller of this 1978 Corvette Pace Car believes the car has only covered 10,336 miles and they claim to have the documentation to back that up. It’s been parked in a barn, so it will need some work to look its best again, but the seller has done the work to make it a driver again. If you’d love to be its next owner, it’s being offered here as a Barn Finds Auction!

For its 25th anniversary, the Corvette was selected to be the Pace Car at the Indy 500. 6,000 Pace Car Replicas would be built and sold to commemorate the occasion. They ended up creating an additional 502 examples. All of the Pace Car replicas shipped with the same two-tone paint job, Pace Car stickers, front and rear spoilers, sport seats, and tinted roof panels. This one was optioned with the L48 engine and an automatic transmission, which reportedly could reach 123 mph and hit 60 in 7.8 seconds.

The seller has service records for the car showing the work done and the mileage at the time. They also have the dealership key tag from when it was sold, the original owner’s manual, and the service manuals. The car also retains its original T-top bags, tires, and exhaust system. Unfortunately, the car’s original paint shows some checking, and the antenna is inoperable. Since the body is fiberglass, a new coat of paint isn’t required to protect the body from rust. The checking is part of the car’s story, so preserving it as is is a reasonable choice.

Overall, the reviews of the Pace Car Corvettes were positive, with reviewers praising its performance and improved quality. The interior is well-appointed, with the sport seats offering support while still being comfortable. As you can see, this one presents well, although some of the plastics are starting to show their age. It even retains its original 8-Track player. There aren’t many signs of use but signs that the car sat in a barn.

The L48 was the base 350 V8 offered in the Corvette, but power increased to 185 horsepower for ’78.  This one could use some detailing to present better, but we would be inclined to leave it as is, just as long as everything is in good working order. The seller had the brakes rebuilt but retained all the original parts.

As cool as the Pace Car package is, what makes this car special is its history. Its condition isn’t perfect, so you could drive it without too much concern for rock chips and wear, but it’s nice enough to enjoy, and it would be a popular conversation piece at car shows. If you’d love to own this piece of automotive history, be sure to place your bid. And if you have any questions for the seller, please leave them in the comments section below.

Bid On This Auction

High Bid: $14,600 (Reserve Not Met)
Ended: Mar 19, 2024 5:00pm MDT
High Bidder: ACcars1
  • ACcars1 bid $14,600.00  2024-03-19 16:47:41
  • Kenny
    bid $13,000.00  2024-03-19 16:39:10
  • ACcars1 bid $12,500.00  2024-03-19 16:34:20
  • Kenny bid $11,500.00  2024-03-19 15:47:53
  • ACcars1
    bid $11,000.00  2024-03-19 15:46:24
  • Kenny bid $10,225.00  2024-03-19 15:42:23
  • ACcars1 bid $9,725.00  2024-03-19 15:36:33
  • Kenny
    bid $9,140.00  2024-03-19 15:31:28
  • ACcars1 bid $8,640.00  2024-03-19 15:28:26
  • Kenny bid $8,140.00  2024-03-19 06:28:33
  • ACcars1
    bid $7,640.00  2024-03-18 17:40:28
  • Kenny bid $7,100.00  2024-03-18 13:20:00
  • Alexander1 bid $6,600.00  2024-03-18 05:07:48
  • Dennjis
    bid $6,100.00  2024-03-14 07:28:16
  • Dio vettes bid $5,600.00  2024-03-13 16:04:01
  • Alexander1 bid $5,000.00  2024-03-13 13:50:52
  • Ken
    bid $4,000.00  2024-03-12 17:16:12

Auctions Ending Soon

Comments

  1. explodingpinto

    Amazing how a car parked indoors and with just 10k mi looks this bad.

    Like 28
    • Dennis

      The Pace car was not covered. The fellow I bought the car from I have known for 25 years is 69 mustang was not covered his fountain racing boat was not covered and his hemi charger was not covered

      Like 4
      • Frog

        I stopped putting a car cover on my cars. 1. Rodents love the dark environment.
        2. The car needs proper ventilation to prevent mold and dampness from occurring. Mold likes darkness also.
        3. The transfer of dust and abrasives have a high likelihood of transferring onto the paint and scratching it when taking it off and on.

        Like 9
      • vin

        can the car be seen, before bidding?

        Like 2
  2. doug

    How can KEN be bidding against himself?

    Like 8
    • Josh Joshua MortensenStaff

      He’s just hunting for the reserve. Our system doesn’t use proxy bidding like eBay so every bid placed is shown.

      Like 6
  3. explodingpinto

    I’m thinking it’s 110K miles, not 10K. My C5 is in about the same shape as this, but it sits outdoors and has 175k (granted C5’s did wear better than C3’s).

    Like 8
    • Dennis

      The gentleman I bought the car I had known 25 years when I first saw the car over 10 years ago
      The pace car had 9900 miles back then! I have most of the service documents to back that to the best of my knowledge is original 10,000 or so miles!

      Like 13
    • CCFisher

      The interior is consistent with 10,000 miles. The leather-wrapped steering wheels and silver leather seats in these cars did not wear well and would look far worse at 110,000 miles. The carpeting looks nearly new, also.

      Like 6
  4. Jim in FL

    Original exhaust system? Those are headers and side pipes.

    Like 12
    • Dennis

      We have the complete system except for the manifolds
      I understand you can buy them on eBay
      Original tires
      Extra alloy wheel
      Repair manuals etc
      Im in NYS you are most welcome to look at the car

      Like 6
      • Dennis

        I did not want to wax the car or clean the interior with cleaning products
        I was not sure what to use
        And didn’t want to damage anything
        Head lights
        Tail light directionals all work
        Radio sounds good too

        Like 5
    • rabadooMember

      Wow… the difference in tastes…… I guess a Shelby Cobra would be REEEEALY tacky, yes? IMHO……

      Like 7
    • rabadooMember

      @Kink Creole, And dipsticks are dangerous too….. You could put your eye out…. But I don’t know anyone that’s done that either….

      Like 6
  5. bobhess bobhessMember

    For a “low mileage” car that’s a lot of rust underneath.

    Like 3
    • Dennis

      Here in NYS you are most welcome to view the car
      Or I can go out to the storage building and take more pictures

      Like 2
    • Dennis

      I can take more pictures for you
      Or you are local in NYS please come look at the car

      Like 1
    • Frog

      Rust never sleeps.

      Like 2
  6. Tracy

    I remember when these were new, everybody snapped these up thinking they would be worth something. They just weren’t. So many of these to choose from.

    Like 7
  7. Al camino

    I had one with 1600 miles on it and didn’t look much better than this one poor paint jobs.they were worth money when they made around 200 of them,then they made 6000 of them and weren’t worth that much!

    Like 3
    • Dennis

      This is a 46 year old original car

      Like 6
      • Al Corelli

        Original? With headers and pipes?

        Like 1
  8. Frog

    I had one of these with the L48 motor. I don’t know how they figured the 0-60 time. Mine was so slow it couldn’t get out of its own way. I decided to sell it when a foxbody mustang handed my ass to me.

    Like 4
    • Josh Joshua MortensenStaff

      That time was measured and reported by several automotive publications when they were new. We keep an extensive collection of old car magazines so we can look up period reviews. Obviously, things like engine health, fuel quality, altitude, and weather will impact performance.

      Like 5
      • Frog

        Well that explains that. It was a California car burdened by smog equipment plus police didn’t like vehicles that could outrun them.

        Like 1
    • Roland Schoenke

      I also had an L48, after upgrading the intake, ignition system, exhaust, cam, and a shift kit. I was handing a few people there ass. Corvettes had good traction.

      Like 10
      • Dennis

        A corvette guy will make this a great car with a little work
        The t top are like new and all the seals are good too
        The silver grey leather
        Wheel and carpets are all good
        It runs good too

        Like 4
  9. Jameslane Lane

    Option 1978 L-52 or L-88, stringrayc-2, auto R-700 4auto-shiftrear modified ignition350 370horsee. Over-drive møde.ttan-slip. limited-torque-slip8.5 inch 3:02 to #1ratio.pace /black silver line overdrive model L-52copo Vette. Limited edition.!

    Like 1
  10. Dennis K FreyMember

    Hi Dennis, I m the hi bidder now. Others have commented on rust. Can you please post some more pictures of the rust areas. Thanks in advance. Dennis.

    Like 1
  11. Dennis

    The rust is surface rust from moisture in the air in the north east
    My lotus never used winter and Porsches
    And my triumphs all look the same
    The car is really low in the barn 60 miles from the house I will try to get out there today
    To my knowdge never used in the winter

    Like 2
  12. Dennis K FreyMember

    Thanks Dennis. If I flew up to Rochester, could I drive it back to Tenn? You can use my E mail account if you like.

    Like 1
    • Dennis

      You could yes
      But don’t forget you have 4 extra tires
      An exhaust system and extra wheel
      In reality I would suggest shipping just in case you have snow storm, bouncing deer
      Etc

      Like 3
      • Dennis

        Send email and I will send them to you !!

        Like 1
      • PRA4SNW PRA4SNWMember

        I agree with the seller (I’m a Dennis too, LOL!) on this one. Driving a car that is not a daily driver for any amount of distance is just asking for trouble. Better, and ultimately cheaper, to just have it shipped. Then take it to a mechanic for a once-over, then drive it and enjoy it for many years to come!

        Like 1
    • Dennis

      Send me your email and I will send pictures back
      The mechanic just went out and took pictures for me of the underside

      Like 1
    • Dennis

      Send email

      Like 0
  13. Jim Elder

    Has this Corvette been mechanically checked out? How would I ship it to Alberta, Canada?

    Like 0
  14. SteveMember

    Does this car run Ok and move? Will the seller assist a shipper in getting it in position to drive on a transport?

    Like 1
    • Dennis

      Hi there!
      I had the car sent to my mechanic when I bought the car last year .I had bought new brakes for it saving the original parts
      The car comes with the set of the original tires and exhaust minus the manifolds
      I can assist the buyer get it driven up on a transport sure!
      Don’t forget the exhaust and 4 tires and extra wheel!
      Dennis

      Like 1
  15. Jim Elder

    Is it possible to drive car to Alberta?

    Like 1
    • Dennis

      I’m not sure I would
      How would you get threw customs!!
      The extra exhaust brake pads and tires might be difficult to fit in the car

      Like 0
  16. Joe Haska

    It is funny when we find a low mileage documented car, we all have an idea of what we expect it to look like. I recently bought a 73 Ford F-100, with a fairly accurate history of its life. Some things were as I suspected they would be, others were not even close. I was sure I had been scammed or are at the very least taken advantage of. Now I believe the history of the car was mostly true, I think the fact is cars like people all age at a different rate. Some do it very well others not so much and every combination in between.

    Like 4
  17. John M. Stecz

    If you don’t like the car or can’t afford it just shut the he’ll up.FOR GODS SAKE, let the man advertise the car

    Like 7
    • rabadooMember

      Amen.

      Like 4
  18. John

    The Lambrecht one had 4 miles on it and was untitled, it went for $80k in 2013. These cars have become collectors given you can find one in great shape with low miles.

    Like 1
  19. Dennis

    Hi everyone just to be clear
    The car needs cleaning but I didn’t want to use carpet shampoos or leather or vinal cleaners
    It might damage the silver colors
    I was going to use windex to clean the gauges but I didn’t what if I scratched the plastic faces of the gauges So left it as is by choice
    I’m not a mechanic at all
    I’m hopefull some one will give it a good home spend some time detailing the engine
    Put the original exhaust back on
    And cleaning the car
    A corvette that’s affordable for now
    Hope this helps
    Dennis

    Like 6
  20. Tim Sullivan

    Why does the left side valve cover show flaking paint? Were rodents under the air cleaner on top of the intake manifold?

    Like 2
    • Dennis

      I wish I had a good answer I’m not a mechanic but I do know painted metal
      My Mercedes’ air cleaner is painted metal and is flacking like that
      It’s the heating and contracting of metal here in the north east temperatures

      Like 2

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