Home page
  Home Page   Contact Us   Our History   Advertise with Us   Sponsor List   Link to Us   Compare Levels   Member Agreement   Privacy Policy   About C3VR
  Community Forums   Active Threads   Forum Search   Top Posters List   Private Messenger   C3VR Email System   C3 Corvette Quiz
  Members Vettes & Pictures   Member Stories   Member Stats   Real Time Member Map   Member Search   Lifetime Member List   Member Calendar Entry Form   Who's Online
  C3 Registry Data   C3 Corvette Statistics   C3 Corvette Tips & Tricks   C3 Corvette How-Tos   Corvette Club Listing   Corvette Event Listing   Mechanic Directory   Corvette VIN Decoder   Save the Wave   Corvette Emblem History   C3 Corvette Birthday Calculator   C3 Corvette Build Dates   Corvette Parts Illustration Catalog   Shark Bytes - Online
  C3 Corvette Parts Auctions on eBay   Corvette Books   C3VR In-Stock Apparel & Accessories   C3VR Member Name Badges   C3VR Custom Apparel & Accessories @ Zazzle   C3VR Window Stickers   C3VR Member Deals & Discounts   C3VR Member Calendars   Shop Amazon.com
☰
SPONSOR AD SPONSOR AD

Topic: Actual 1978 Pace Car

in Forum: C3 Special Edition Vettes


Already a Member? Click Here to Login

Actual 1978 Pace Car

Posted: 5/29/07 5:52pm Message 1 of 34
Profile Pic
manget1
Lifetime MemberLifetime Member
Send PM
Indianapolis, IN - USA
Joined: 9/3/2006
Posts: 2431
Vette(s): Silver 1974 Convertible - L82 4 speed Low miles (was only 8,900 when I bought it in March 2006) - Now 54K miles. Original owner bought it as an investment for son's college expenses. 2008 Jetstream Blue Convertible
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. 
 
The things I found most interesting were the flags IN the rear of the car, the lock on the gas lid (not sure if the locking gas cap was an option in 78 and this is how they did it, or if this is special) and the sticker with the CB channels still on the console!
 
Hope everyone likes these!
 
manget12007-05-29 17:53:10


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


����� States Visited Map

target=_blank>Click for another pic!���� And yet another!
SPONSOR AD:: (Our Sponsors help support C3VR)

Actual 1978 Pace Car

Posted: 5/29/07 6:25pm Message 2 of 34
Profile Pic
cilrah
Lifetime MemberLifetime Member
Send PM
Fox Island, WA - USA
Joined: 6/20/2005
Posts: 4068
Vette(s): 1978 Indy Pace Car 4851 of 6502, Auto, L-48
Wow Marshall thanks for sharing the pictures Thumbs%20Up  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. 
 
I can't get anyone to tell me the last 4 digits of those two Pace Cars VIN#.  You didn't happen to see the VIN# did ya?
 
You did answer the question I had on how the two flags were mounted to the car.  And for the lock on the gas cap door, thats really unusual, something they added and I can't see why since thats a muesum car.
 
cilrah2007-05-29 18:25:44


MARK
LIFETIME MEMBER #117

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

Actual 1978 Pace Car

Posted: 5/29/07 6:30pm Message 3 of 34
Profile Pic
Adams' Apple
Lifetime MemberLifetime Member
Moderator
Send PM
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
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


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"

Actual 1978 Pace Car

Posted: 5/29/07 6:52pm Message 4 of 34
ranger3
Lifetime MemberLifetime Member
Send PM
North Charleston, SC - USA
Joined: 3/20/2004
Posts: 4176
Vette(s): 1975 L48 AT AC T-top
Thanks Marshall...great pictures!

Scott


Actual 1978 Pace Car

Posted: 5/29/07 7:00pm Message 5 of 34
Profile Pic
cilrah
Lifetime MemberLifetime Member
Send PM
Fox Island, WA - USA
Joined: 6/20/2005
Posts: 4068
Vette(s): 1978 Indy Pace Car 4851 of 6502, Auto, L-48
Actually the Pace Lap was conducted at 110mph, but who's counting Big%20smile  Another answer I can't get answered is which Pacer is the one that led the field on May 28th 1978.
 
I've heard several different stories.  I've heard the one Al |Unser got was the original, the one in the meusum is the original Wacko  Even the NCM can't tell me the correct answer, their 78 Pacer is Reggie Jackson's old Pacer.
 
 
 
The Pace Car you pictured has two yellow flags, the one Jim Rathmann drove has a Green and a yellow flag.
cilrah2007-05-29 19:09:31


MARK
LIFETIME MEMBER #117

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

Actual 1978 Pace Car

Posted: 5/29/07 7:12pm Message 6 of 34
Profile Pic
Dejablu
Lifetime MemberLifetime Member
Send PM
Wichita, KS - USA
Joined: 11/10/2003
Posts: 6859
Vette(s): 2005 Daytona Sunset Orange Metallic Coupe --------------------- Sold 1974 T-top, 4 spd to BillKS
Thanks for the great pictures, Marshall. 
 
Larry



   C3VR Lifetime Member #102                   
    My Link.........           
                     
The difference between men and boys is the cost of their toys!!              

Actual 1978 Pace Car

Posted: 5/29/07 8:18pm Message 7 of 34
mkapp7879
Former Member
Send PM
Joined: 10/21/2003
Posts: 1220
[QUOTE=cilrah]
 
I can't get anyone to tell me the last 4 digits of those two Pace Cars VIN#.  You didn't happen to see the VIN# did ya?
 

[/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!




Actual 1978 Pace Car

Posted: 5/29/07 9:12pm Message 8 of 34
Profile Pic
Adams' Apple
Lifetime MemberLifetime Member
Moderator
Send PM
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 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...


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"

Actual 1978 Pace Car

Posted: 5/29/07 9:21pm Message 9 of 34
Profile Pic
cilrah
Lifetime MemberLifetime Member
Send PM
Fox Island, WA - USA
Joined: 6/20/2005
Posts: 4068
Vette(s): 1978 Indy Pace Car 4851 of 6502, Auto, L-48
I agree with that Joel. 
 
[quote]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.[/quote]
I've talked to a PR person from GM and the NCM, they both told me there are no records kept on where the first 4 Pace Cars went.  Like I said the one in the NCM is Reggie Jackson's.
cilrah2007-05-29 21:22:03


MARK
LIFETIME MEMBER #117

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

Actual 1978 Pace Car

Posted: 5/29/07 9:26pm Message 10 of 34
Profile Pic
Adams' Apple
Lifetime MemberLifetime Member
Moderator
Send PM
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
Perhaps Unser got the "back-up" car?


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"

in Forum: C3 Special Edition Vettes


SPONSOR AD: (Our Sponsors help support C3VR)