While I was visiting my girlfriend last weekend, we drove past a house with a pretty
clean looking pace car for sale. Since I saw it, I have been searching the internet, trying to
find out information.

Are there web sites which will help in determining a good price for the car? I have tried Edmunds,
Kelly's, Carpoint, and a few of the others, but they typically do not have information for model
years prior to 1980. I want to make sure I do not overpay, if I decide to buy. Basically, it is
a 78 Pace Car (and the VIN verifies it as such), L48, auto, interior is pretty good, exterior is
very good, 48k miles, and the owner is asking 14,500. I have not taken a mechanic along, but that
is the next step (along with a test drive).

Also, are there certain problems which are notorious on this era of vettes, or the pace car? From
experience, every car has a quirk or two, and any information that will help me take a better
look at the car would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

First off Dave I would like to welcome you to the C3VR and congratulate you on your choice of Vettes.

I'll try to answer some of your questions. When determining a price for a 78 Pace Car, you have to first off decide what kind of vette enthusiast you are. An all original Pace Car in excellent shape by NADA standards is worth in upwards of $27,000.00. But one that has been modified(parts changed out, not original, not the right color) will sale for under $7000.00. Don't get me wrong, there in nothing wrong with adding after market parts and chrome detailing a vette, but the Pace car will hold it's value in it's original state. So, if you are planning on driving this vette on a everyday basis versus on like a weekend or sunday afternoon you will have to determine how you can best keep your vette at original condition so it will appreciate.

As far a the common problems with C3 vettes, most will need new brake calipers. Find out if the carburetor is the original and if it is, has it been rebuilt or not. If not it will probably need to be rebuilt by now. 78's vettes seem to have bad radiators, the vacuum lines throughout the car will fail and the factory alarm system will probably not work. Check your AC to find out if it has been converted over to 134A refrigerant yet. The paint can be expensive too. I have seen people pay up to $5000.00 for a paint job.
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- Doug

|UPDATED|9/9/2002 3:47:31 PM|/UPDATED|

Check out e-bay the last month or so there have been soom pretty good deals on pace cars.(it seems to go in cycles with the prices paid),I would try to get a pace with the L-82 engine 220hp vs 185 for L-48.I got mine on e-bay 2277orig. documented miles mint cond L-82 19,051.

Hi. I don't know if you're still looking or not (I'm a new member), but if you go to http://www.nadaguides.com you'll see several tabs across the top. Click on Classic Cars and, on the next page, click on "What Is It Worth?" Then, click on Sports Cars, then Chevrolet followed by 1978 and you'll finally get to a page on which you can get a reasonable value for a Pace Car. The last message was right on the money - I bought a Pace Car with only 17,618 miles on it in October and I've found at least a couple of the problems mentioned. The L-82 with 4-speed IS worth at least a couple of thousand more, but even with only 185 horsepower, the L48 still goes if you want it to. Being an old guy, I try to drive responsibly and not attract the attention of our local officers in blue. I still love it though and am so glad I purchased it! Now if we can just get rid of the snow in New England! Franc

flemire said: ... (I'm a new member) ...

Welcome to C3VR Franc...!!! And congrats on the the purchase of your C3!

If you haven't already done so, please take a few minutes to register your "new" toy (click here) and then drop a note to Doug (aka vettelooker - vettelooker@yahoo.com) when you're done so he can add you to the list of PC owners at the beginning of this forum.

______________

Jim Olson 

"The Toys"...!!!  Save the Wave!

Where I've been in a Corvette...!!!