Most of the time, when a pace car or other sort of limited-production tribute vehicle comes up for sale, it’s purely one of a set number of vehicles that are otherwise identical to regular production line models. Throw some stickers on the door, mark up the price, and then find them sitting in the original owner’s garage years later with delivery miles. This 2002 Chevrolet Camaro SS convertible is a slightly more unique, as it’s one of just 57 examples made for the 2002 running of the Brickyard 400 with a special RPO code to ensure duplication was impossible. Find it here on craigslist for $23K.
So, let’s explain that last part: these Camaros left the factory with a special code on the window sticker and build tag in the driver’s door that ensured just 57 cars were the authentic Brickyard tribute vehicles. They came with the decal package you see here along with unique 17 inch aluminum wheels from the special Camaro SS 35th Anniversary models. Given how often pace car tribute numbers ballooned once dealers started either making their own “models” or applying the decal kits more liberally than they should have, the unique RPO code stands out as a big differentiator.
Other noteworthy aspects of the 2ZD Brickyard cars is that most were on the starting grid, paired to a specific driver and in the order of their starting position. This car was assigned to driver Sterling Martin, and is one of the 52 models fitted with an automatic. Just five of the batch of 57 came with manual transmissions, which were given to VIPs. With 23,000 original miles, this one remains in excellent condition (presumably, like all of them, given how fanatical collectors are about cars like these) and is an interesting alternative to the legions of pace cars available at any given time.
“Don’t miss this rare opportunity to own a piece of Indianapolis 500 history.”
Hmmm, more like owning a piece of Indianapolis Motor Speedway/Brickyard 400 history, but ok.
The price for this car seems reasonable to me for some reason, But interest will probably be limited to NASCAR fans, particularly followers of Sterling Marlin. The pace car versions which have power/handling upgrades over the standard cars are more appealing. Having a distinct RPO will serve to limit the copies, but I’m not really sure how many scammers in the future would find it advantageous to clone one of these anyway.
Is there a contest to make every Pace Car look worse than the previous year’s model?
These are great cars, but yeah, the tacky graphics festooning the later models of pace cars just look awful to me.
I’d rather have an SS or Z28 droptop.
Yawn…(crickets)
Look like a Chrysler Sebring convertible .
Ive seen these for sale for like $5,500..i passed the graphics are tacky..$23k..lol..
Terrible graphics. Could easily be mistaken for 1992 in design. Looks like something done by a designer who was past his prime and should have been retired. Such was the bane of GM…
Perhaps you blocked it out of your memory? Good move.
He won’t get $23k. One pic of the actual car (from a distance) and a small paragraph of text in the ad and he wants top dollar. Another lazy seller.
Those ugly graphics are a deterrent rather than a plus. I’m a graphic designer with over 43 years in the field so I know of what I speak. That Brickyard 400 logo is an eyesore.
This is a ugly car with the top up but with it down it looks like a upside down hot tub. This thing is a SS with no 5spd.? you would have to scrape those stupid stickers off it some how to even be seen driving it. Matthew is right 5k. is about right. Later………………………..JIMMY
Well, if the car is pristine and it is what he says it is, he’ll likely get north of $5k. With only 23k miles and immaculate he should maybe get somewhere around $12k. An M6 transmission would fetch a bit more…
My grandpa has 1 of the 5 manual that were made. The car has less than 5k miles and is still in mint condition. How much would that be worth? Ive heard that there are less than 20 of these left in original condition