Many car collectors have a niche interest that they pursue. Professional cars, like funeral coaches or police cruisers, are one. Having anything and everything Hemi is another. Somewhere in this pantheon come pace cars, and more particularly, those that paced the Indy 500. Well, not the actual cars, but what are probably properly named “pace car replicas,” cars kitted up to look like the one holding thirty-three drivers back until the start of the race and the announcer’s call, “Green! Green! Green!” If you’re someone pursuing this angle of automotive adoration, here’s your chance to grab up a 1979 Mustang Indy 500 Pace Car replica seen here on craiglist. It’s brought to us thanks to Barn Find eagle-eyed Jack M, and if you want it, you’ll need to get to Westchester County, New York, with something around fifteen grand in your pocket. That is, unless you want to pay asking price, which is $16,000.
If you’re a racing fan, you probably would respond, “Corvette,” if asked to name the marque that has paced Indy’s Memorial Day weekend extravaganza the most times, and you’d be right. That number is 23. By contrast, the Mustang has had the honor but three times, all in significant years in Mustang history. The first was 1964, and as we all know, the car came out just a month before the May long weekend, on April 17, 1964. 1979 marked the second time. Significantly, the Mustang had undergone a complete rethink, redesign, and reengineering with the introduction of its “Fox body” variant, a 1979 offering. Next came the 1994 Mustang and pace car, again, a recentering of the essential qualities of the original Pony Car. In 2026, just for context, it was a Corvette ZR1 with 1250 horsepower driving all four wheels. Imagine Jackie Stewart, who drove the 1979 Pace Car, getting his greedy mitts on that bad boy! Perhaps the fact that he recently turned 87 suggests that’s not my best idea.
The 1979 Pace Car came in only one color combo: Pewter Metallic with black lower side cladding and orange, red, and black graphics. When new, the model came with a set of decals in the trunk. Either the dealer or the owner could put those on, and admirers would read, “Official Pace Car: 63rd Annual Indianapolis 500 Mile Race May 27, 1979.” In total, Ford produced a not-insignificant number of these cars, 10,487 to be precise. They had either a 2.3-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine or a 5.0-liter V8. I know which one I’d want. More cylinders, please. But the car in question here has the four-cylinder. Additional features of the model included a hood with a non-functional scoop, Marchal fog lights in a unique front air dam, and a rear spoiler. Two additional features were a TRX suspension and Recaro racing seats in the front.
So if you want one of these, you’re onto something. You’d be capturing a moment in Mustang history significant for both the Fox-body aspect and the Indy history. But look hard at this car and keep your wallet on its chain for a moment. Under the hood, there’s a very strange kind of surface rust, for example, on the shock towers. Has this car been in a damp environment for a long time? Sure, it’s got only 30,000 miles on it, but where’s it been? And when the ad says, “some patina,” what is the scale? And just out of curiosity, when the seller says it was “rescued from an estate collection,” does that reassure you? I’m more interested in the admission that there is surface rust underneath, though no images illustrate the extent of that. This Mustang is unrestored, and that’s how I like to buy them, but you’re going to have to do some spit-shining to raise it up a level. In the meantime, is this car going up, or has it flatlined as far as demand, and therefore price, is concerned?
Does it come with an air cleaner?
These were cool “Pace Car replicas.” Overall this one looks good. If it had had heavy use and/or poor storage conditions, the frail upholstery would be gone. The rust on the shock towers is normal, as they had little to no paint from the factory. To me, the turbine wheels detract from the original look; I’d prefer the original TRX wheels with the repro tires, or perhaps the replica 16″ wheels.
Lots of these were saved, so if you like them, find the best one for the money.
Good write-up Brian K.
If I recall corectly, the actual pace car had a very street dislegal 351 race prepped engine. Apparently the wimpy 140hp 302 would not get up to the speeds needed. I being a Ford man, actually loved the new Fox bodies when they came out, I just longed for a better engine. We all understood why it had to be, but still wished for the performance from a decade earlier. I had my zippy 68,, so I was in good shape, but again, I truly dd love that new design. Funny story, when the second oil shock came, may people questioned why I had that 68 Stang that got 12 MPG on a good day going down hill with a stiff tailwind. Many guys I knew ditched performance cars for for a song. Saying they were ditching them while they still could. Kind of made sense, no one knew how crazy the gas price would rise. We didn’t know what we mostly know today, that gas prices are at the whim of a very few crazy rich people who play the buying public like a cat being teased with a string. They almost strangle the buying public until they can take no more, but just when they start to cut back useage, surprise! The price suddenly falls! Then foolish Americans buy huge gas guzzlers, forgetting the past pain. Then soon enough it goes up again. Never is there ever a shortage of fuel like so many feared, never. Many a muscle car was let go and now so many lament poor sudden choices. I was lucky, my Stang was not my primary ride. I to, bought a small unenthusiastic car for commutes, but even at the horrible price of one dollar (!!!!) a gallon, I still was going to drive her now and then. I am so happy I didn’t do what so many of my friends did in haste. Same today I guess, esp. if you have a huge diesel pickup. I bet the big three now wish they dadn’t rushed to cancel almost all the car production. Honda and Toyota are laughing all the way to the bank.
“If I recall correctly, the actual pace car had a very street dislegal 351 race prepped engine. Apparently the wimpy 140hp 302 would not get up to the speeds needed.” That’s funny, but I believe it. I wonder what other brand new pace cars had to be modded just to make it on track.
For some reason, I was thinking Ford offered an oddball V8 for the 1979 edition, was thinking something like a 4.2 liter 255 cubic incher & not a 302. Think most of them were silver with the orange graphics, but I think they were also offered in silver with light blue graphics which were much more uncommon. I believe they also had Recaro seats, quite unheard of in a domestic make at the time & yes all of them had the TRX wheels with the corresponding Michelin radials, which are still available from a tire maker by the name of Coker.
The 255 came out in later years (1980-1982 I think). You are probably thinking of later year Cobras which were available with blue graphics. All of the Pace Cars were trimmed like this one. There were also 1979 Cobras which came in many colors.
Am not in a position to dispute your comment. All I know is remember a young lass in NC who had a Mustang with the blue graphics, could have sworn it had the progressive galloping ponies along both sides & thought it was a pace car edition, rather than Cobra package. The 255 v8 comment generated from other memories, didn’t think they offered 302 v8’s in 79, 80, or 81 editions. Thought 1982 was the return of the 302
1982 marked the return of the 302 between the shock towers of the Mustang GT. The 255 was a turd suitable for being melted down for scrap value.
Yesterday’s Fox body was much prettier.
Sigh, how many Mustangs and GM F-bodies were ruined by cheap, ugly often aftermarket sunroofs in those years. Kind of like the ‘Rusty Jones’ ripoff. I didn’t know Ford offered the four popper with the turbo back then. Unfortunately, it probably isn’t reliable, similar to the carbureted turbo TA’s of ’80 and ’81. The thing about especially early year Fox bodies is that they were really light weight compared to other cars of the era, and for that reason shouldn’t take much to move them.
The shame is that ford COULD have built a real performance 2.3. the bottom ends were strong enough. And Ford’s european divisions certainly knew how to build them .
Even a low powered car with the right suspension is a woot to drive especially in the curves.
My friend bought a ’79 new with 2.3. He worked at Roush in Livonia at the time. He opened the motor up, balanced it, changed a few pieces of hardware and opened the boost. I don’t remember anything contemporary that could even follow it. Although, the engine was not known for longevity, pistons were the weak spot I believe because we didn’t have intercoolers yet.