'78 Pace Car Value
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
'78 Pace Car Value
New to the forum. I've been searching for a low mileage '78 pace car and found one with 2,000 miles on it. Grew up around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and have always wanted one. L82, automatic, 100% original, appears to have been very well maintained and stored correctly. NCRS Top Flight award. I'm interested to hear your opinions on the value of the car.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 24,484
Likes: 311
From: Scottsdale AZ
It sounds wonderful - - -I would think low $20's would be a deal . . . high $20's too much but $30 if you're in love and can't live without it and don't plan on getting your money back! Helpful to know about storage and documentation...nice if it were a dry southwest car.
Good luck !
Good luck !
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,236
Likes: 898
From: Myrtle Beach SC
New to the forum. I've been searching for a low mileage '78 pace car and found one with 2,000 miles on it. Grew up around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and have always wanted one. L82, automatic, 100% original, appears to have been very well maintained and stored correctly. NCRS Top Flight award. I'm interested to hear your opinions on the value of the car.
. Desired options include low-mileage, documentation including buildsheet (documents desirable options), L82 M21, clean less leaks in the chassis.
I can drop you a few articles that describe Pace Car values, options, stuff. drop me a note at hunt4cleanair@earthlink.net.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,100
Likes: 800
From: Massapequa Park NY
Take a look at Hemmings and you'll get a good idea of prices. There's a bunch of them on there right now, many in the 20ks, some in the teens, some in the 30+ range. There is a dealer on there that has one for $36k that has 55 miles on it. That should give you an idea.
There were lots of these cars made and many original owners stuck them in the garage thinking they would be worth millions. There are plenty of low milage examples out there which keeps the prices down. Don't overpay unless you don't care about saving money.
There were lots of these cars made and many original owners stuck them in the garage thinking they would be worth millions. There are plenty of low milage examples out there which keeps the prices down. Don't overpay unless you don't care about saving money.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,919
Likes: 3,333
From: NYC NY
Just a thought. If you want to drive your Pace Car on occasion it may not be the best financial decision to pay top dollar for an extremely low mileage car. I would think you can find some very well cared for automatic L82 Pace Cars with 15K - 20K miles below $25000. It's a lot more fun to drive these cars without worrying about devaluing them by putting mileage on them.
Good luck in your search.
Good luck in your search.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 13,238
Likes: 1,092
From: YANKEES UNIVERSE 70 454-LS5 500 ft-lbs Torque
2k miles is not what you can consider low miles on the 78 PC,as Ed and others have said there are a lot of them with 100 miles and lower.There are probably more ultra low mileage PC's than there are ones with mileage on them.I have seen two of them one with 5 miles and the other with 7 miles.I would agree that low 20k would be a good buy on the one you describe. I have been trying to buy one with 35k miles for over a year now,BUT the owner drank the PC kool aid and we are very far apart.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,236
Likes: 898
From: Myrtle Beach SC
Two-k miles is not what can be considered low miles on a 78 PC, as Ed and others have said there are a lot of them with 100 miles and lower. There are probably more ultra low mileage PC's than there are ones with mileage on them. I have seen two of them one with 5 miles and the other with 7 miles. I would agree that low 20k would be a good buy on the one you describe. I have been trying to buy one with 35k miles for over a year now, BUT the owner drank the PC kool aid and we are very far apart.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Interesting...I would have to see them (100 mile PC for $20k) but tell us about the one you describe and seek. I'm curious, what is being asked and what range have you offered if you don't mind sharing. A 35k Pace Car is high mileage and I'm sure there are not that many out there of that mileage range.
The original motor departed the world in 2000 due to a history of neglect (frequently driven by previous owner with low oil), but even then the car had somewhere in the 60k range of mileage.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 13,238
Likes: 1,092
From: YANKEES UNIVERSE 70 454-LS5 500 ft-lbs Torque
Interesting...I would have to see them (100 mile PC for $20k) but tell us about the one you describe and seek. I'm curious, what is being asked and what range have you offered if you don't mind sharing. A 35k Pace Car is high mileage and I'm sure there are not that many out there of that mileage range.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,104
Likes: 701
From: Southern Illinois
The car sounds nice and I would think it'd be a good purchase at 20-23k. I think the biggest issue with the Pace Car, is know what you want it for...Don't buy a low miles car for higher money and drive it a lot, when there are lots of higher miles cars out there, in really good shape, for much lower $$...
I bought mine in the mid-teens with 31k on it (but it's a L48 Auto)...It's in great shape, but I bought it as a driver that I plan to put a LOT of miles on! I love the looks you get when tooling down the highway - people look at you like you're flying the space shuttle!!
I loved these cars when I was a kid, and even though I have a couple of other really nice cars, the PC definitely makes me feel like a teenager!!
Have fun with whatever you get!!
I bought mine in the mid-teens with 31k on it (but it's a L48 Auto)...It's in great shape, but I bought it as a driver that I plan to put a LOT of miles on! I love the looks you get when tooling down the highway - people look at you like you're flying the space shuttle!!
I loved these cars when I was a kid, and even though I have a couple of other really nice cars, the PC definitely makes me feel like a teenager!!
Have fun with whatever you get!!
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
I bought mine in the mid-teens with 31k on it (but it's a L48 Auto)...It's in great shape, but I bought it as a driver that I plan to put a LOT of miles on! I love the looks you get when tooling down the highway - people look at you like you're flying the space shuttle!!
...
I loved these cars when I was a kid, and even though I have a couple of other really nice cars, the PC definitely makes me feel like a teenager!!
Have fun with whatever you get!!
...
I loved these cars when I was a kid, and even though I have a couple of other really nice cars, the PC definitely makes me feel like a teenager!!
Have fun with whatever you get!!
