79 Pace car clone
 

I have a 79 Vette w/ low miles and in clean condition that needs a repaint and the interior redone. The car is original black w/ oyster. I want to clone it into a Pace car w/ all the graphics. As you can see a picture of my Vette on my post, the original owner wanted a Pace car but did not get one so he had the silver added to look like one. I have read that there is as many as 200 "Festival cars" that the dealers cloned. Does anyone have or know of any web sites that show a Pace car restoration or have any info?:thumbs:

I know a website, this one! Here is a link to what we did to my Pace Car a year and a half ago.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...-car-pics.html

There were 6502 Pace Car replicas made in 1978. One for every Chevrolet dealer at the time. Mine is #166o and is a L82 4spd which is the rarest combo on a pace car. WHile many sold for thousands over the sticker price. I have heard stories of double the window sticker. Those people would have been better off putting their $$$ somewhere else.

The Pace car is possibly the most sought after "collectible" rubber bumper cars made. I know every time I am at a show people talk to me about it or ask questions about it. Some have stories, I had one guy want to take pictures with it since the race date on the door was his actual birthday. Die hards will know the difference between a clone and a real one, obvious differences are the emblems and special vin #. But make it the way you want and enjoy it, the entire vehicle stripe and decal package can be bought from Phoenix Graphics.

If you have questions, I will be happy to try and answer them for you.:cheers:

The Pace car is a really nice car, I also had one. But the most "collectible" rubber car? There are 7 for sale on e-bay right now.

Just bot. #120, and they do look good. I think right now they are just another 'vette. I would like the L-82 tho...... :cheers:

Relatively speaking, the pace car is really the most collectible rubber bumper car.

Besides, I would consider myself lucky if I can buy a 4 speed L82.

A Pace Car restoration is no different from any other C3 restoration with the exception of the parts you use. Although the Pace Cars had a special model number, everything on them is off the shelf 78 Corvette or part of the PC option package. You will want the '78 assembly instruction manual (AIM).

There were several PCs at Indianapolis for the race and festival in '78. Two were actually outfitted as Pace Cars and used during the race. The remaining dozen or so were used for the parade, VIP tours and rides, media events, etc. Corvette News published a commemorative issue covering the PCs at Indy. You might want to shop around and find a copy. August/September '78.

Good luck.

:)

Thanks that is exactly what I meant. What other rubber bumper is more popular?

As a 79 owner, I like the idea. I have so say, since mine is black the thought has crossed my mind also. I would have to agree the the 78 PC is the most collectible rubber bumper C3, and the L-82 4 spd is the most collectible of the PC's.

And there are 4 63 split window coupes on ebay right now.

While we are counting there are 103 2007 Corvettes listed on ebay.

So what is your point?:rolleyes:

Time to buy!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

For the record, the L-82, M21 is the most collectible Pace Car but the most rarest combination is the L-48, 4-speed...the point being that L-82s were also built with M20s but what is sought is the L-82 M21.

::rofl:There a nice car, Like I said I had one

79 pace car "most collectible"?? Why? The decals? LOL

Cloning a pace car is like the BMW drivers putting M3 badges on their 3 series lol

ok play on words!:lol:

How do you tell if you have the m20 or m21?:bigears

Not really. The pace car package is all cosmetic.

Other than researching the numbers on the casting, I think that the M20 is cast iron while the M21 is cast aluminum. Not a 100% sure but recall reading or hearing this somewhere.
Got 2 '78's with the M21 and they are cast aluminum so I can't compare.

The Pace Car sure generated a lot of attention back in '78. A good part of it marketing by Chevy due to the fact that the C3 was getting a little old. Must have worked, the following year produced the most Vettes to date.

I looked at a 78 Corvette Pace car with 3600 miles at Volo. It took my breath away to see this Bloomington Gold Pace car. $33,000.