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I have always loved the 78 pace cars.I have owned 2 Pace cars many years ago.I have a 2012 Grandsport convertible automatic fully loaded with I have owned for 5years with 22k miles.I love everything about the C6 Grandsport.I found a 78 Pace Car that is a L48 automatic with 400 miles on the clock.Beautiful untouched car.The owner bought it new and put it up.He hit me up with a price of $32000.I have thought about selling my car and buying it.I wonder what I would have to do to the car if I wanted to just have it to maybe take it out to cruise around once in a while and take it to shows.Also I think the price of the is a little pricey.What are your thoughts
The price seems a little high but then again it matters on the pedigree of the car and it's real condition. Was the Car taken care of since it has been stored? For example hoses replaced, batteries replaced , belts replaced and most of all fluids replaced periodically. Are you buying it from the original owner or has it been passed around from owner to owner? Also service records are a big factor in the price. Also get up real close and check the paint. If the body of the car has not been taken care of the stickers are notorious to bubble end the paint to spider crack. Pictures would help if you're able to post them.
We have two in my family which we have owned since brand new.
I don't stay up with PC values but price seems high for an L48/auto. If it's been fully maintained and in "hop in and drive" condition, maybe okay. Sitting for 45 years? No. A lot of time, effort & money to get it in driving condition and seller should figure that into his price.
Hope it was stored better than the PC that was just released on Youtube.
I have always loved the 78 pace cars.I have owned 2 Pace cars many years ago.I have a 2012 Grandsport convertible automatic fully loaded with I have owned for 5years with 22k miles.I love everything about the C6 Grandsport.I found a 78 Pace Car that is a L48 automatic with 400 miles on the clock.Beautiful untouched car.The owner bought it new and put it up.He hit me up with a price of $32000.I have thought about selling my car and buying it.I wonder what I would have to do to the car if I wanted to just have it to maybe take it out to cruise around once in a while and take it to shows.Also I think the price of the is a little pricey.What are your thoughts
If you are thinking the PC would be an equal replacement to the C6, then I believe that's a mistake. A 400 mile 1978 is a far cry from a 22,000 mile 2012. The '78 is in no way like a new car. It has so many unknowns that reliability will likely be a huge issue for some time. Perhaps a better option would be to find a restored PC that has been driven and has all the bugs pretty well worked out.
You will also need to become your own mechanic for much of the car because that knowledge is disappearing from every-day shops. You can take your 2012 to any Chevy dealer for service, but they'd be hard pressed to do much on a C3.
A friend of mine sold a 78 L-48 automatic Pace Car with 7000 miles on it at Fall Carlisle last October. He was asking $31,000 for it, a dealer offered $25,500 for it and he ended up selling it for $28,000 on the last day of the show. Based on that I don't think $32,000 is out of line for a car with 400 miles?
.Know nothing about the car but look at this L82 for $24K, appears it would be a good driver that has been taken care of.. There are some parts missing or changed if that matters : https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...21k-miles.html
If you intend to just hop in and drive the car, this one probably isn't the car for you. The price seems a bit steep to me. With that low milage there will be a bunch of maintenance to do after you start running it, you will have leaks in places you didn't know existed.
If you can do better on price, and can fix bushings and gaskets and heater cores and radiators and don't get frustrated with it, it's an interesting car.
I'm a sucker for low mile, original paces, I get the draw. Good luck.
My 17k miles, all-original, excellent condition 78 sucked up $6,000 in parts very quickly. Everything rubber, seals everywhere( diff, front and rear mains, brakes, AC), harmonic balancer, cat, carb, shocks; to name a few. Needs to be done comprehensively for worry-free cruising. That said, all those parts are actually enjoyable to deal with if you are the first one to touch them since the car was built. 12 years and 20k miles down the road and it’s still a fun, trouble-free car.
Charlie
not connected with this in any way, but as a former 78 pace car owner who spent a lot of time an money putting an "original" back together correctly for safety and comfort 15 yrs ago, consider this posted by a forum member (plus it's an L82) : https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...21k-miles.html
Seems like both of these 78 pace cars are good deals. L48/automatic 400 Original Miles for $32,000 - something a collector would buy and the L82/automatic 21,000 original miles for $24,000. If you are looking for a driver, go with the L82 I say. I agree; you will probably need to expect to replace components on the lower mile undriven one, just expected, being a car that has been sitting.
1978 P/C's and Silver Anniversaries are continuing to appreciate if all original and low miles. Ones with L82's are worth more and ones with 4 speed Manuals are the cream of the crop. I have a 1978 Silver Anniversary that is mint condition/all original, 55000 Original Miles, 2nd owner with L82/4 Speed - two buyers want it for $28,000. Ones all original, in excellent original condition and low miles with the right options are becoming harder to find and climbing in value. Just FYI, when I received my excellent shape vette, to my surprise I still needed to drop over $7,000 in parts like gaskets and components from sitting. I was able to do most of the work myself but if I paid a mechanic, it would have cost me double that in labor. Basically, at a breakeven point but I plan on keeping the car that I mostly take to shows and have a 2017 C7, my daily driver.
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Originally Posted by vtech
Ones with L82's are worth more and ones with 4 speed Manuals are the cream of the crop.
Hagerty says add $10k for a L82 in a #2 excellent condition car.
Like most C3's you don't add for a stick, just subtract around 10% for an auto. But if you have a M21 in a PC you've hit the jackpot.
Add $3500...
Interesting read all the way around in particular at this timing for me. I have a 2011 GS stock with just some Billy Boat exhaust and an exceptional 1980 L48, I love the 1980 for the cruise around drive (added overdrive was a must for me) and take the GS out now and again as my wife drives it more than me... took it out yesterday and always forget the difference in performance till I drive it. If I had to keep one it would be the GS just for get in and go spirited fun, plus my wife drives it but always said I would NEVER give up the 1980 as I found an exceptional one.
I have also been considering a 78 pace car... had someone actually offer to trade straight across for my 1980 but couldn't pull the trigger, probably would have if it were a 4 speed, last few weeks been considering selling the 80 to find an exceptional 4 speed low mile pace car... clearly I would be adding cash to that deal.
Best of luck in your decision, will be following.
Also, nothing wrong with any C3 1976-1981 clean L82 with 4 Speed, if you come across one. I love driving mine - the thrill of the 4 Speed Muncie brings back memories of my younger days. I also love jumping into my C7 2017 2LT Manual - just a totally different thrill.
I'll throw in my 2 cents worth.
A extremely low miles car like this one simply belongs in a museum. To actually drive it again is possible, but it will require rebuilding basically everything! Everything rubber has long since perished. The fuel tank? The Carburetor? Surface rust on bearings that haven't turned in decades? Surface rust inside the engine? Transmission?
Etc. Etc. Etc.
This car is going to need a TON of work.
At that price.......
I wouldn't even consider it if I wanted a car to drive.
But of course, I know nothing. I'm just a mechanic with 50 years experience.
.Know nothing about the car but look at this L82 for $24K, appears it would be a good driver that has been taken care of.. There are some parts missing or changed if that matters : https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...21k-miles.html
Did you buy this one? sold quickly since being posted.
1978 PaceCar
