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Actual 1978 Pace Car

Posted: 5/29/07 5:52pmMessage 1 of 34

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manget1

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Indianapolis, IN - USA

Joined: 9/3/2006

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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!

http://www.VetteRegistry.net/member_pages/9201_9300/9258/78%20Pace%20Car%201%20Comp.JPG

http://www.VetteRegistry.net/member_pages/9201_9300/9258/78%20Pace%20Car%202%20Comp.JPG

http://www.VetteRegistry.net/member_pages/9201_9300/9258/78%20Pace%20Car%203%20Comp.JPG

http://www.VetteRegistry.net/member_pages/9201_9300/9258/78%20Pace%20Car%204%20Comp.JPG

http://www.VetteRegistry.net/member_pages/9201_9300/9258/78%20Pace%20Car%205%20Comp.JPG

http://www.VetteRegistry.net/member_pages/9201_9300/9258/78%20Pace%20Car%206%20Comp.JPG

http://www.VetteRegistry.net/member_pages/9201_9300/9258/78%20Pace%20Car%207%20Comp.JPG

http://www.VetteRegistry.net/member_pages/9201_9300/9258/78%20Pace%20Car%208%20Comp.JPG

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!

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target=_blank>Click for another pic!�� And yet another!

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Actual 1978 Pace Car

Posted: 5/29/07 6:25pmMessage 2 of 34

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cilrah

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Fox Island, WA - USA

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Vette(s): 1978 Indy Pace Car 4851 of 6502, Auto, L-48

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.

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"

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Actual 1978 Pace Car

Posted: 5/29/07 6:30pmMessage 3 of 34

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Adams' Apple

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Duncanville, TX - USA

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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
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Actual 1978 Pace Car

Posted: 5/29/07 6:52pmMessage 4 of 34

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ranger3

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North Charleston, SC - USA

Joined: 3/20/2004

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Vette(s): 1975 L48 AT AC T-top

Thanks Marshall...great pictures!

Scott

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Actual 1978 Pace Car

Posted: 5/29/07 7:00pmMessage 5 of 34

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cilrah

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Fox Island, WA - USA

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Vette(s): 1978 Indy Pace Car 4851 of 6502, Auto, L-48

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.

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

Even the NCM can't tell me the correct answer, their 78 Pacer is Reggie Jackson's old Pacer.

Pace Lap

Wheres this 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"

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Actual 1978 Pace Car

Posted: 5/29/07 7:12pmMessage 6 of 34

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Dejablu

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Wichita, KS - USA

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Vette(s): 2005 Daytona Sunset Orange Metallic Coupe --------------------- Sold 1974 T-top, 4 spd to BillKS

Thanks for the great pictures, Marshall.

Larry

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Actual 1978 Pace Car

Posted: 5/29/07 8:18pmMessage 7 of 34

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mkapp7879

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[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!

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Actual 1978 Pace Car

Posted: 5/29/07 9:12pmMessage 8 of 34

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Adams' Apple

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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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Actual 1978 Pace Car

Posted: 5/29/07 9:21pmMessage 9 of 34

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cilrah

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Fox Island, WA - USA

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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"

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