As most of you probably already know, the 1978 Indy Pace Car was the first Corvette to be produced with its own sequential VIN number.  There were 6,502 of these Pace Cars produced and were numbered through 6502.  Heres what the VIN looked like, 1Z87LS906502, the 90 in the VIN identified the 78 Corvette as a Pace Car and the 6502 was the production number. 

 

My love for the 78 Pace Car has sent me on a search for the original Pace Cars that were actually at Indy on May 28th, 1978.  I have always been told that there were four Pacers at Indy on that day.  Well my never ending search is coming closer to an ending

 

On October 1st of this year while traveling back from Dallas I had the opportunity to stop at the Unser Racing Museum in Albuquerdue, NM.  I was hoping to find Al Unser Sr's 1978 Pace Car and see the VIN # in the museum, but I was disappointed to find out it wasn't in the museum   Well after visiting awhile and getting ready to leave an older gentleman walked out of a backroom, it was Al Unser Sr himself

 

We talked for quit awhile but the conversation soon turned to his 78 Pace Car and the others that were at Indy that day in May.  Al told me that the Pacers at the track that day were numbered 00, 01, 02, 03.  The Pace Car that he was awarded for winning the 1978 Indy 500 was at his home in his garage and was number 01.

 

I had emailed the Indy Museum back in October requesting information on their 78 Pace Car but I never heard back from Them.  Tonight I recieved an email from Ellen Bireley at the Indy Museum and she said that my email had been bounced around the company and finally landed on the right desk, her's.  She stated that the Pace Car in their museum was numbered 02.  I returned her email and thanked her and asked her if she had any idea where Pace Car 00 and 03 were.  Ellen immediately replied and said to give her some time and she might be able to help me out

 

So I'm hoping within a few days to hear back from her and finally finish this crazy quest to find all the original 1978 Pace Cars.

You know I got about 40 miles down the highway and thought to myself, why didn't I get his autograph  I guess I was just so happy to have gotten to meet and talk to Al that it never entered my mind. 

 

Also I had always thought that the original Pace Cars were numbered 01-04 but now I know its actually 00-03. 

 

I never thought there'd be a VIN 0000 but maybe.

 

As for the first built, I've read where it went to the "Detroit Museum"(Detroit Historical Museum?. Founded by "Mr" Cadillac so probably heavily influenced by GM). I don't see it listed in their inventory so I sent an email asking if they know anything about it.

 

My BET is that it's at the General Motors Heritage Center. This is more store house than museum as it is not open to the public. I don't see it looking through their photo gallery, but they only have about 200 pics and about 800 cars. Many more impressive than a stock Corvette.

Also, on that same trip, I ran into Al Sr. in the pits.  I did get his autograph, but it doesn't mean that much to me.  I'd be glad to send you that as well.