Topic: 78 Indy 500 Pace Production #s
in Forum: C3 Special Edition Vettes
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Hello forum. I think I posted this in the wrong place so I will try it again here. I was hoping someone would be a production # guru. My unlce has a 78 Indy 500 Pace Car that he is currently selling on Ebay. It was originally purchased in Castle Rock, Colorado and he now lives in the Pueblo , CO area. His car is a 4 speed with the L-48 engine. I was talking with a corvette specialist who said that there were fewer 4 speed L-48 Pace cars than the 4 speed L-82 Pace cars. I have a total production number of 6502 for all Pace cars and was told that only about 400 were 4 speeds. Do you have any data on this? I have also contacted other clubs and registrys. The current ebay number is 160185464317. Thank you for any info you can provide. Darrin
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20225
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight"
#2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto
Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
Mark(cilrah) is doing research on the Pacers, as has Mike(mkapp7879) so they might have a little insight, but there's not much chance of confirming how many were equipped exactly alike. The best you're gonna do is a swag, unless someone finally finds the holy grail of production numbers from St. Louis.
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"
[QUOTE=69dtvette]...His car is a 4 speed with the L-48 engine. I was talking with a corvette specialist who said that there were fewer 4 speed L-48 Pace cars than the 4 speed L-82 Pace cars. I have a total production number of 6502 for all Pace cars and was told that only about 400 were 4 speeds....[/QUOTE]
6880Mike 2007-12-03 07:31:54
There are no production records from GM to confirm how the Pace Cars were equipped beyond the equipment which came with the Pace Car options package. Some were automatics, some were four speed cars. Some were L-48s, some were L-82s. It would be reasonable to say there were less L-48 four speed cars than there were L-82 four speed cars if one assumes there were more L-82 PCs than L-48s.
There have been several figures kicked around for four speed Pace Cars; I've seen 600 posted and as few as 400. Quite honestly, no one knows for certain.
You can be certain the car is one of 6502 and it was assembled between the middle of March 1978 and the middle of May. All the PCs were completed and delivered to dealers before the Memorial Day race.
Lifetime MemberModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20225
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight"
#2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto
Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
The build date is on the Trim tag, located on the driver side hinge pillar, just to the outside of the dash, when the door is open. It will be coded something like "G23", for the 23rd day of May, for example.
The tag will look something like this one, except this pic has been turned sideways...
Earlier cars had tag that looked like this one...
The tag will look something like this one, except this pic has been turned sideways...
Earlier cars had tag that looked like this one...
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
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"
Here's a Pace Car tag, from my 0009. The G(March)18 in the upper right is the date. March 18 is first day production.
mkapp7879 2007-12-03 20:54:19
I found a build sheet tucked into the rear strut rod bracket held in place by the differential heat shield.
Lifetime MemberModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20225
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight"
#2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto
Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
I've heard of several Pacers that had the build sheet located there! I wonder if it was just a Pace car deal that they did that, or if they stuck one there on the "other" '78 cars? 
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
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"
[QUOTE=Adams' Apple]......
[/quote]
6880Mike 2007-12-04 06:21:09
[/quote]
Bowling Green cars only.
[quote]...
...[/QUOTE]
[quote]...
...[/QUOTE] All St. Louis cars.
The tank stickers for the Pace Cars would have been taped/glued to the front of the fuel tank. May or may not be there after nearly thirty years. Your best bet for documentation will be the owner/seller or previous owners.
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MYRTLE BEACH, SC - USA
Joined: 10/16/2002
Posts: 82
Vette(s): 1978 Silver Anniversary
NCRS Five-Star Bowtie
50th Corvette Anniversary Display, Nashville, TN
1978 Pace Car VIN 2324 L82/M21
Here's link to an article on Build Sheets posted at the Corvette Action Center and was originally published in the NCRS Corvette Restorer. Shows a build sheets folded and tucked between strut and frame.
I've written an article for the Corvette Enthusiast slated for May 08 publication on the 30th anniversary of the Pace Car frenzy. I believe it will first appear on news stands in March. Interviewed both Jim Prather of Vette Vues who scooped the original Pace Car story and talked to Gary Bennett of BJ. I describe the L82 or L48 four-speed combos and agree with what's been written here...no one really knows because GM did not keep up with such numbers.
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