Hello group, I typically try to stay with factual stuff and stay clear of opinion but this group has been good when I do want opinion and some expanding on what I don't think of or dont know.
I posted on another "pace car" thread and don't want to hijack a thread so thought I would start a new one.
I have been considering hunting for a 78 pace car, as most know I currently have a 1980 L48 (also a 2011 GS) my 80 is in excellent condition in every way... perhaps a handful in this condition out there for a 1980, show or drive and would be very hard to replace, recently installed a 2004R and a joy to take out, though the paint is flawless I have been planning a disassemble and repaint in 1980 code 83 red (won't cost me anything to do a SEMA quality paint job) but that also got me thinking... if I'm going to take a car apart to fully repaint should I do it to another car that could perhaps benefit from this kind of paint job more... this may be my last full complete refinish in my life as I'm 57.
I have tossed around the idea of a low mile more "collector" 78 pace car... not the 9 mile or 297 mile car but a 15k-25k mile original car, I realize I will spend more than I can get for my 80... I'm OK with that, I love working in the garage so don't mind replacing the maintenance items I may have to that have all been done already to my 80, in fact I imagine I will spend $1000s getting one to be as nice as my 80 but feel maybe worth it long term as perhaps a more collectable investment type car.
I am a perfectionist when it comes to my cars and bikes, if it's not perfect I want to replace it... running out of things to replace on my 80, I've put 500 miles on it in the past year, take it out all the time but to the gym or for lunch or something, I travel for work weekly and the weekends I'm in the pool in the summer or we go for a ride in something but not putting any real miles on my 80... so thought a more collectable car might be better.
just my thoughts here, started a search and talked to a few, would consider auto but 4 speed hunting.

I understand asking opinion is asking what you would do but is there something I'm not considering here... besides the typical "your gonna need to replace stuff on a low mile car" or "check frame and birdcage" stuff.

 

I remember when you bought the 80, probably nicest one around. Sounds like you are ready for a new challenge.

 

you understand me lol, that has allot to do with it as well, my wife now is even to a point where she says the same thing, I do need a challenge all the time though I would truly like to keep a car and thought the 80 was it... still may be but if I got one more in me is the 78 pace car a good one to move to from what I have.

 

It sounds like if you find the right Pace Car...you'll acquire it!

Back in 93, I picked up a 21k mile 1978 Silver Anniversary and drove it to judging events, campaigning the car until the early 2000s...last event was the GM Chevrolet Corvette 50th anniversary of Corvette. My 78 was an NCRS display car. It has sat since with 35k miles and, as you note, I do the maintenance stuff, brakes, mechanical clock repair (needing it now), tach board replacement, gaskets. etc. I enjoy keeping it up and riding around town. I paid $15,500 for it and have now owned it what 30 years? The paint is original and with many factory paint flaws. Interior is in excellent shape...still smells of leather.

In 2007, picked up a Pace Car, L82 M21 with all the paperwork including build sheet. It was autocrossed and had been mechanically neglected. Its a candidate for full restoration, paint and frame off tasks...many of which I have worked on over the years. Over this period, I've picked just about every replacement part, (original, NOS, etc.) i've needed to restore except those date-coded L82 mufflers. In the meantime, I've troubleshot all sorts of systems, like an 8-track rebuild and new speakers, replaced 4ohm with 8ohm and then testing the system before boxing it up. When I finish, I figure I'll have $40k in it, $50k may be closer to reality. But then its an L82 M21 1978 Pace Car...one of 519 with that power team configuration.

I share these stories to show you the bookends of what you are considering for a 78 Corvette. It is apparent you know the costs of maintenance and have the mechanical skills for its upkeep. Your search is probably closer to the Silver anniversary that just needs attention along the way vs one that can be picked up and restored. Ask RickM who has a discussion thread on his restoration. His work is meteculous and has researched original factory configurations and finishes to get his neglected Pace Car back to its original status. He also knows the cost of getting replacement parts.

Pace Cars in your mileage range will have, in all likelihood, great paint and a great interior. the interior may show its age with wear, whether carpet or those silver metallic seats. Check to see if the mechanicals have been replaced with OTC units, loosing their original P/Ns, dates and codes. Tough to replace if you seek a status of originality. More than likely, its underneath, the chassis that will reveal either years of care or years of neglect. Check for leaks; brakes, power steering, oil, pan, transmission and differential.

Hope this helps! Good luck with the search. On facebook there is a Pace CAr forum and owners posting their PC up for sate. Check it out.

 

thank you and good stuff here, I dont think I would pursue the all original NCRS route though I would like to find all original and would keep it that way, I would consider a full repaint and decals to make it perfect for me (again non NCRS in mind) unless it had exceptional original paint. A really nice example recently sold on bring a trailer for $25k, I waited several months to find this 80... if I move forward I will take my time to find the right one. Thank you again and I requested to join the facebook pace car group.

 

I tell my wife and others-a person doesn't need to be spending money in later years like a drunken sailor, but then, you only live once. If you have your heart set on a PC then pursue it! Sounds like you have time to shop for a good candidate. There seems to always be one for sale. Seen 2 on BaT the last couple months. Mine won't be judged but I get satisfaction of getting it as close to original as is reasonable. Not close to #'s matching but I intend to drive the car and have fun with it. When Tom is finished with his PC, it will be a showpiece! My thought, keep your 80 until you have a PC bought and sitting in the driveway. Good luck my friend.
RickM

 

Why not just complete the 80's journey to perfection, and swap in a 5 or 6-speed manual transmission? It seems that the missing third pedal was your biggest gripe with your current car.

Even if you still sell it, you'll be doing the world a favor by creating another sports car.

 

thanks bikespace... the 80 is pretty perfect unless i creat something (like color change) but it is a factory white on black car and perhaps worth more to someone as it is now over red... there is absolutely nothing to finish.
the install of a 5 or 6 speed would just be throwing money at it and would never get the unstall cost back as i am one of those guys that is ok with an automatic... the 4 speed thought with a pace car would be more to future value and collectable.

I don't have my mind made up yet, love this 80, perhaps a new challenge, a new focus, if im gonna jump into a full color change should i put that effort in a more "collectable" car and not an L48 1980.

My wife asked me the other day what I want in the garage in several years when I retire... I told her "a hot 30 year old female mechanic with her own tools" that didn't make her laugh like it did me, but seriously I thought a more collectable car would be a better answer, clearly there are better collectable corvettes but in my price range I thought the 78 pace car would be a good candidate.

 

I feel sorry for your '80. It's days in your garage are numbered. I wouldn't get a car thinking of it as an investment because who knows what will happen tomorrow. But I would get a car that had investment potential AND would be a challenge, and would keep me busy. If at the end of the day the money ALMOST balanced out, that would be a win win. Time to start looking. For the car, not the mechanic.

 

lol good advice, that's how I'm thinking, I don't usually get caught up in investment with a car at all and dont mind putting more into it than i will get out of it... i did that with my 80 and love the journey of ownership, if the market does drop my 80 will feel it as well, I'm gonna look at a few before deciding to see what my money will get, again I could be a little bored and need a little challenge again, I've come to realize there is nothing wrong with that, my wife's good with it and I'm having some fun.

And the 80 will go to a good home if I do decide to move forward, i put it on CL for about 12 hours yesterday to gauge interest and spoke with two collectors who want it... just not ready yet.

 

You'll be changing your avatar soon.

If you need a project car, and your 80 isn't that anymore, and you don't want a restomod, find an L82 4-speed Pace Car. I really don't think the market for original cars is going to go up, but the market for base automatics will continue to collapse.

I hope you find something that you are as excited to drive as you are to work on, and isn't just something pretty to look at in the garage, like your mechanic.

 

thats what im looking for, it's almost always about the build/project and has been since I was young though its always nice when its something pretty to look at in the garage... I do drive them as well just shorter drives.
I've been like this a long time, wife won't let me sell the GS and oddly ive had my street glide since 2012, will definitely be pursuing a collector grade car if i can find one in my price range and believe i can.
wife is now enrolled in mechanic school ;-)