1978 was the 25th anniversary of the Corvette, their Silver Anniversary. For any of you married folks, you know that’s a long time. That was also the year that the Indianapolis Motor Speedway invited Chevy to modify their Corvette for a run around the track at the Indianapolis 500. Reader Bob B has decided it’s time to part with this 1978 Chevrolet Corvette Indy 500 Pace Car replica. You can find this beautiful Corvette in beautiful Pensacola, Florida with an asking price of $16,000.
This particular C3 Corvette was made in St. Louis but that jet isn’t Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis. Somewhere there are 6,501 other Indy Pace Car replicas out there, or there were, I doubt if they’re all still around. Actually, Chevy intended on building 2,500 Indy 500 Pace Car replicas but they wanted to make sure that each of their 6,502 dealers had one so they ended up making a few more of them.
The third-generation C3 Corvette went through a few changes between 1968 and 1982 and for the model’s 25th anniversary in 1978, they all received a nose and gas door commemorative badge. The Pace Car replicas also received the distinctive black over silver paint with a red pinstripe and front and rear spoilers. The owner of this example has enjoyed it for the last five years and they have driven it to events around the southeast U.S. and it gets driven every week to keep it in good working order.
Another feature of the Indy Pace Car replicas would be silver leather seats (or, silver leather with gray fabric inserts) and gray carpeting. I have never owned a car with T-Tops but I would have to believe that it’s a unique way of keeping the structural rigidity intact while letting the sunshine in and the breezes blowing. They have spent $3,000 on maintenance over the last five years and they have also upgraded the exhaust system and the radio. The interior looks fantastic in this car but they say that the door panels and leather seats are showing some normal wear.
While a 220-hp L82 350 V8 was optional, this car has the L48 350 cubic-inch V8 with 185 hp. This car has been driven fewer than 2,200 miles per year on average since it was new and the seller says that it’s mechanically sound and the original paint is showing a bit of wear but this would be a great parade car.
- Asking Price: $16,000
- Location: Pensacola, Florida
- Mileage: 92000
- Title Status: Clean
- VIN: 1Z87L8S905079
List your car here on Barn Finds for only $50!
Very comfortable cars for a long drive.
I still like the time capsule silver leather seats. And that the owners actually drove the car.
(But I really doubt the center bar for the T-tops adds any significant structural rigidity, especially torsional.)
Almost didn’t open this because *yawn another pace car that got driven home from the dealership and parked. But this one’s been driven and taken care of. Nice.
Glad it has been used and enjoyed, but an L-48 auto with 92K miles is not bringing $16,000. $13,000 is a fair deal for seller and buyer in my opinion.
My gosh! This may very well be the highest mileage 1978 Corvette Pace Car in existence. I would say that even if we took a zero off of mileage figure by the way. Good to see one that has been driven actually.
You see a lot of these Pace Car Corvettes, most with low mileage. While 6,500 example were produced and that isn’t a big number, I’d bet the survival rate is pretty high. Given the mileage, I’m thinking the price is too high, too.
If I’m buying one, 92,000 miles ain’t the one, there’s a zillion of them out there w 10,000 or less miles on them for 25,000
I didn’t think the Pace cars came with the L-48 just the L-82, a friend of mine had one of these with the L-82 and 4 speed it was a nice car
L-48 was base. If you can find one with optional CB radio, now that is rare!
Looks like a well cared for corvette. I hate to admit it but I think I prefer the pace car stickers.
Given that amount of mileage, if it was an L-82, 4-speed, probably worth 16K.