Indy Pace Car: 1968 Torino GT Convertible

Automakers were once big on creating all types of commemorative vehicles as a marketing ploy.  From anniversaries to pace cars, you could count on a local dealer having some limited-edition vehicle to sell you.  The most famous of all the collectibles were the Indianapolis 500 Pace Cars.  If you are looking for a rarely seen and quite nice example of this type of special edition automobile, then have a look at this 1968 Ford Torino GT convertible for sale on Craigslist in Arlington, Washington.  This shapely convertible has been refreshed and refurbished and is ready to draw attention yet again for its next owner.  This Marti Report verified automobile can be yours for $34,950.  Is that a fair price for this pace car, or is the seller too optimistic?  Thanks to Tony P. for the tip!

Every year the Indianapolis Motor Speedway selects an automobile to be the pace car for the Indianapolis 500.  For many years, this was a high honor for manufacturers, and it could be quite lucrative if marketed correctly.  As time has worn on, three factors have defined who manufactured the pace car.  First, increased minimum speeds of race cars have demanded that only cars fast enough and with sufficient handling abilities are eligible.  Second, the speedway seems to increasingly use this honor as a stream of income.  Third, General Motors has come to dominate the pace car market in recent years.  Mainly with the Corvette, which is perfectly capable of handling the job.

Rolling the clock back to 1968, Ford’s Torino GT was chosen as the pace car for the race.  It was a year where a turbine-powered car almost won, the last front-engine roadster competed, and Bobby Unser won the race in a Lotus powered by a turbocharged Offenhauser engine.  As the winner, tradition dictated that Unser would have taken home the pace car as part of his compensation for winning the race.  There were also many other “Official Pace Cars” and “Official Cars” made available to dignitaries and track officials on the days leading up to the race.  Pace car replicas would also be sold in dealerships most years, usually with each dealer getting at least one to help lure in floor traffic.

The car you see here is one of those commemorative cars sent to Bob Rice Ford in Boise, Idaho, and sold on May 20, 1968.  This was pretty timely, as the race was run on May 30 of that year.  Oddly, the race was run on a Thursday that year due to Memorial Day being one of those holidays that fell on a set day at that time.  While the ad has the words “Marti Report Verified 1 of 1 Car,” I cannot see exactly what it is 1 of 1 of.  I don’t think that this is the actual car that paced the Indy 500 in 1968, and I do not think the claim is being made.  What we do know is this car is reported to have 35,000 original miles.  Furthermore, it is a rust-free car with mostly original paint.  The rust-free part is huge for a late 1960s Ford, especially a convertible.  We have been told that some touch-ups and refurbishments have taken place, including a brand-new convertible top.

As for what was touched up and refurbished, the seller has been very detailed in their description, which is as follows:   “The passenger side was repainted but no damage to the body is evident. There was some paint flaking on the old, repaired section so the areas were stripped & repainted. The driver’s side is still all original down to the striping, which is showing some age but heck it’s original. We did add the reproduction pace car decals in between. The car does look amazing but there are imperfections from stone chips, small dings, etc. Keep in mind it is 55 years old. So, for a sunny day driver or weekend cruiser, it would be perfect.”

As for the interior, the seller tells us that Boise’s “dry desert heat” damaged the original convertible top, the seats, and the carpet.  These were replaced, and a panel in the back seat was also replaced.  The rest of the interior consists of what the car came from the factory with.  We are assured that the convertible top with its new canvas works as it should.  The instrumentation is said to be in good shape and functional, and the dash appears to be free from cracks despite showing light signs of aging.

Under the hood lies what we are told to be the original 390 cubic inch V-8.  The car is claimed to have just 38,000 original miles and the engine’s ease of start-up and smooth running reflect that.  Backing that engine is a C-6 automatic transmission with no problems to report either.  As you can see from the picture above, the engine compartment has been detailed, and reproduction decals have been added to the original parts.

The icing on the cake here is the Marti Report, which legitimizes the car and assures the purchaser that it is a legitimate pace car.  While some may feel that the price is a bit on the stiff end for a Torino GT convertible that isn’t fully restored, this is a very desirable car that will draw a lot of attention.  Hopefully, it finds a good home and is shown on occasion.

Have you ever owned an Indy Pace Car replica or another type of special edition vehicle?  In hindsight, was it worth the extra expense and attention?  Please share your thoughts in the comments.