While at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway recently, they had a display of the ACTUAL (not replicas) Pace Cars from 75 to 79.  I took some detailed pix of the 78 Vette, although the one picture I really wanted was of the odometer.  It read just at 2300 miles.  However, with the window up, I could not get a good shot.  Then I missed them driving it back to the museum.  manget12007-05-29 17:53:10

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I wanted a Corvette my whole life, but I never dreamed of all the wonderful people I would meet because of it!

Wow Marshall thanks for sharing the pictures   I would love to get to see that 78 Pacer someday, thats one of two I'd love to see one day.  That one, and Al Unser's 78 Pacer which he won for winning the Indy 500 that year.  cilrah2007-05-29 18:25:44

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MARK
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Great pics, Marshall!!
One of the members of our local club owns one of the parade cars...you can still see the marks on the top where they stuck the suction cups for the people riding on the top to hold on to. He also has a ton of documentation on it, and pics at the Brickyard while in use...it ain't THE car, but it's a close cousin!


btw...the lock on the fuel door would be to keep anyone from messing with it at the racetrack...you REALLY don't want your Pacer stopping in the middle of a lap while pacing 200mph cars! It's been done...Adams' Apple2007-05-29 18:34:18

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Joel Adams
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Thanks Marshall...great pictures!

Scott

Actually the Pace Lap was conducted at 110mph, but who's counting   Another answer I can't get answered is which Pacer is the one that led the field on May 28th 1978. cilrah2007-05-29 19:09:31

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MARK
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Thanks for the great pictures, Marshall. 

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[QUOTE=cilrah]

[/QUOTE] I've been also trying to find out this info. Seems that since all 6502 Pace Cars were built before the race possibly any of them could have been used. I always have people asking if mine was used at Indy, no. 0009. NO. I saw 0006 on ebay a while back, also not used at Indy. I did find this piece of information, compiled from published articles over the years. Would like to verify it, tho.

http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/vettehis/vett1978.htm

Great pics, gonna save em!

I don't believe the actual Pacer was the one given to Unser. Even tho there were no driveline modifications for this car, there were MANY safety related mods done on it, such as the strobes, the fire suppression system, and seat harnesses...I may be wrong, but I think Unser's car was one of the first Pacers made, and was definitely one of the festival/parade cars, but not the actual pacer. That's just my opinion...I have no facts to back that up...

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Joel Adams
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I agree with that Joel.  cilrah2007-05-29 21:22:03

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MARK
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Perhaps Unser got the "back-up" car?

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Joel Adams
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

cilrah2007-05-29 21:41:06

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MARK
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I also spoke to a guy that day who (take it with a grain of salt, but he seemed very knowledgeble, and I saw him the next day in the pits) says he owns one of the four Pace Cars that were used at the course.  He tells me he has spoken with Al Unser and Al's VIN ends in 32.  This guys ends in 34.  No, I feel dumb about it now, but I did not look at or snap a picture of the VIN of this car.  I'll see if I can find it around next time I go to the museum.

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I wanted a Corvette my whole life, but I never dreamed of all the wonderful people I would meet because of it!

Don't worry bout it Marshall, there a million things that I could have asked you about that car that you probably didn't look at   Thanks for sharing the info and pictures.

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MARK
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One really silly kwestion at this point...IF Al got to keep the REAL Pacer...what the heck is that on display at the Speedway?
I did notice a couple of differences in the car Marshall took pics of, and the Unser car in Al's garage...granted, there have been a few years pass, but...I think these are two different cars...

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Joel Adams
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

From what I understand, there are always at least two (if not more) actual cars set up to run pace laps.  I guess one year, the pace car crashed and they had to put in a back up pace car.  So, as I understand it, in 78, there were four actual track cars.  One is held by the museum, one went to Big Al, one is owned by the gentleman I met and who knows what happened to the other one.

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I wanted a Corvette my whole life, but I never dreamed of all the wonderful people I would meet because of it!

I heard the same thing Marshall, there were susposed to be 4 at the track that day.  cilrah2007-06-01 06:23:08

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MARK
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Heres the actual story 1971 Pace Car

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MARK
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Click here to see my new friend P-Racer
"Keep up the Pace"

Bit of 78 PC trivia:

• In Indianapolis, Indiana, the 62nd Indianapolis 500 race is held. A 1978 Corvette is the official pace car, driven by Jim Rathmann. This is the first Indianapolis 500 pace car with a stock drivetrain. Pace Car with VIN 1 is sent to the Detroit Museum. Pace Cars with VIN 2 and 3 are used at the Indy 500 race. The Pace Car that is driven is given to race winner Al Unser. [26] [61.22] [140.81] [197.65] [224.15] [453.105] [565.16,26] [774.112]

This site on chronology of Vettes is pretty interesting.

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Was the car a 4 speed or auto?

If you're asking about the one I saw, it was an auto.

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I wanted a Corvette my whole life, but I never dreamed of all the wonderful people I would meet because of it!

Heres another one of the Pace Cars I've always wondered about Last Pace Car  Look at what he wants for that thing.

cilrah2007-06-10 20:31:31

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MARK
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Click here to see my new friend P-Racer
"Keep up the Pace"

Well, it would have been worth it, had it not been for the fuzzy dice...

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Joel Adams
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Check out the last Pace Car, its now up to 65k

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MARK
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Click here to see my new friend P-Racer
"Keep up the Pace"

Uh...how come all da fotos are dated March, '07????

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Joel Adams
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My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

It's up to over $75K now!

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I wanted a Corvette my whole life, but I never dreamed of all the wonderful people I would meet because of it!

[QUOTE=manget1]It's up to over $75K now! [/QUOTE]

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MARK
LIFETIME MEMBER #117

Click here to see my new friend P-Racer
"Keep up the Pace"

And did you notice?  "Reserve Not Met!!"

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I wanted a Corvette my whole life, but I never dreamed of all the wonderful people I would meet because of it!

I think this would be a much better buy. 6% less miles. 

Bidding closed 6/3. no buyer.

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[QUOTE=rearn2go72]I think this would be a much better buy. 6% less miles.  [/QUOTE]

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MARK
LIFETIME MEMBER #117

Click here to see my new friend P-Racer
"Keep up the Pace"

[QUOTE=cilrah][QUOTE=rearn2go72]I think this would be a much better buy. 6% less miles.  [/QUOTE]

[/QUOTE] I remember that ebay auction, too. It didn't hit reserve. Ended up at Barret Jackson where it sold for LESS than the ebay bidding(don't remember what it sold for). Guy selling it now's trying to make a killing!!

edit: sold for $26250 at BJ. The earlier ebay bidding hit $31000.

mkapp78792007-06-13 21:22:57

The Last Pacers at $80k with 6 days left on the auction

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MARK
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"Keep up the Pace"

[QUOTE=cilrah]Heres the actual story 1971 Pace Car[/QUOTE] I don't remember seeing one.Did they make a few for the street like the Camaros were!!!

i've got an 82CE that runs great and my hatch works perficaly. I'm interseted in tradeing it for a 78 zgator2007-07-21 01:25:22