Hi Guys, I was looking through ebay and came across a 50th AE INDY EDITION for sale with about 2450 miles on it. So far it's bid up to about 30k. I wonder if it will bring more than a super low mileage non indy AE vert?
SEE LINK:-Good Picts
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2003-...QQcmdZViewItem

I've seen one or two at a car show once in a while, but according to the GM Press release in 2002 about the 50 AE vette being chosen to pace Indy, it said that the Pace Car is a coupe and almost Identical to the coupes available in the showroom for 2003.
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We’re proud that the 2003 Corvette has been named Official Pace Car of the 86th Indianapolis 500," said Kurt Ritter, Chevrolet general manager. "The excitement that builds at Indianapolis Motor Speedway from opening day until the checkered flag falls mirrors the excitement that is building around Corvette’s 50th anniversary.

"Chevrolet’s racing heritage began with company co-founder Louis Chevrolet, who gained international fame as an engineer and race car driver," Ritter noted. "I wouldn’t be surprised if the bronze statue of him that stands outside the Hall of Fame Museum was smiling at the news about Corvette and Chevy’s return to the Brickyard."

The Corvette that will serve as the Indy 500 Pace Car is virtually identical to the 50th Anniversary Edition Coupe available for purchase later this summer through local Chevrolet dealerships. It’s equipped with a 5.7-liter LS1 V8 engine that produces 350 horsepower in production trim. Corvette incorporates advanced technology such as hydroformed frame rails, Active Handling System, driver-selectable suspension modes and optional Head-Up Display.

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The car on ebay is a vert. Was the Indy package just a graphics package and nothing else, and available to any one to buy, or was it a factory option? I know you can buy the Graphics from vette supply houses now for about 550.00. The main question I have is how can you know if it was a factory installed option, or just put on later?
Below is what Motortrend had to say about it.
Good Luck To ALL
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Film actor Jim Caviezel ("High Crimes," "The Count of Monte Cristo," and "Angel Eyes") had the privilege to lead the field and introduce the much-anticipated 2003 Corvette to millions of spectators. A few changes were made to prepare the Vette for its track duties, including obligatory exterior graphics, safety strobe-light system, and four-point racing harness. Performance was enhanced with a lower-restriction exhaust system, and heavy-duty transmission and steering box coolers. Otherwise, the car was identical to those destined for showrooms.
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sweet!! but i'll still take my spiral grey 03

eric

 

I prefer the one in your avatar over that one. Too busy for me.

 

To my knowledge and from everything I've read, replicas of the 2003 Corvette Pace Car (86 running of the Indy 500 on May 26, 2002) were never available from the factory, but graphics packages were eventually produced for the 50th Anniversary coupe and convertible. See following link:

2003 Chevy Corvette
86th Indy 500
May 26, 2002

 

The graphics package was available, and can still be purchased, for about $500,

 

I still like the 98 pace car better.. but to each his own!

 

I prefer ours without all the decals, makes the car look much cleaner. It looks like a pretty clean car, the six speeds are more rare. However why are the left exhaust tips bent?

 

Very nice write up. It seems that the Indy Edition never was a factory option. So why pay more for the replicas out there when you could just buy the graphics pkg and make one yourself. Although I think the pkg has a unique or symbolic look, I don't particularly like it . The clean look is more appealing.
Good Luck

 

Hi, the inner tips do look like they are angled down a bit. I just had to go out to the garage to check mine. They are even straight across.
Good Catch

 

I like that decal package.

 

The decals were delivered with the car and installed at the dealer

 

At the risk of offending the owners of the 50th Anniversary cars, they aren't any more collectible than any other 2003 Corvette. As stated, the decals could and still can be had.

There were 7547 Anniversary package convertibles made, and 4085 coupes. Anniversary Red was the single most popular color offered in 2003 with a total of 11,632 made.

They had the shale interior - but other than the color of the car, the color of the interior and the color of the wheels - nothing was special about the car.

I wouldn't pay any more for an Anniversary car than I would a comparably equipped similar mileage car of another color.....IMHO.

 

A little to busy for me,...........like a high end Trans Am or something.

50th AE do have a premium over other 2003s because of the level of equipment that is standard (everything GM offered including Magnetic Select Ride).

The only real advantages are the future potential value, emblem package and the best color ever on a Corvette (although regular Red and Black are very nice in my opinion).

 

Hi, at the risk of starting a flame war I feel I have to disagree with some of your post. While I believe you when you say that you wouldn't pay more for an AE than any other 2003 vette, many others would and will in the future. I myself did in fact pay a bit more for the priviledge of owning a 50th Anniversary edition. I could have bought an equal in mileage and condition non AE car for a bit less but I chose the AE even at the higher price, and I'm sure others did also , because if they didn't and the market value was the same as the non AE cars, then I, and others would not have had to pay more to get one. In fact as you stated at least 11,632 people chose to pay at least 3k(discounted price) to 5k(approximate msrp option cost) more for them when they were new.
Also there are other items that came standard with the AE package--SEE BELOW
Package--1SC
50th Anniversary Edition Package, which includes these options as standard equipment:
(effective 4/2003)
Original Msrp (not counting dealer markup)-$5,000
Discounted Package Price--$3,700
50th Anniversary Red metallic paint
Shale two-tone leather trim
50th Anniversary aluminum wheels
50th Anniversary trim & badges
Shale convertible top (convertible only)
5.7L LS1 350HP V8 engine
Electronic four speed automatic transmission
Heads-up display
Electrochromatic inside & left side mirrors
Power telescoping steering column
Memory package
Twilight sentinel
Custom adjustable sport bucket seats
Power passenger seat
Dual zone electronic air conditioning
Front fog lamps
Rear luggage shade & parcel net (coupe only
Magnetic selective ride control
Now, I realize that some of the above were options on other 03 vettes, but the AE package had them all and the special colors, which in many peoples minds does make it special, or more desireable.
So, while I'm not offended by your post, I did want to point out the innacuracies, and the simple logic that points out why the AE will command more money to buy at the beginning, now, and in the future. And I'm not saying that it is Better or Worse, or Faster, or anything like that,(Although the Magnetic Suspension is a much better ride than the standard suspension), all I maintain and believe is that it will be desireable enough and special enough to command more money.
Lastly Corvette history has proven that the special packages, commemorative editions, rare colors, faster powertrain options, and such are bringing more money than the non special package cars.
Good Luck To ALL

Edit--Just to get back to the original theme of this thread, I would not pay more for the INDY Decals, nor would I want them for free, just not my cup of tea, but I'm sure that others would.

 

,,, any wonder ?

 

At over 11,600 copies, it's hardly rare or even special. But I guess you'll find out at Barrett-Jackson in 2053 when your car is 50 years old.

It was and is a paint and trim package - nothing more. The options you listed were available on every 2003 coupe and convertible except for the paint and trim.

This discussion is a waste of time and bandwidth. Enjoy your "special" car.

 

nice car I like the part in the write up that states if you dont have the money in the bank dont bid

 

THANKS!!!! I WILL ENJOY MINE TOO!!! Love the color , love the car, love the suspension, love the interior..... Gosh I wish you had one too!

 

Hi Guys, I guess I'll have to waste a bit more bandwidth to point out one more fact to bolster my statement. There were approximatly 248,715 c5's built 97 to 04. Of these, the 11,632 AE cars make up just a shade over 4.6% of the total c5's built. I don't think I'll be the only one to think that is a "Special" model. And I'm quite sure I won't have to wait till 2053 to know it. They already bring more bucks. After all it is the options and trim packages that make something out of the ordinary.And who can deny the significance of anything having a 50th Anniversary.

Sidebar--Just a bit of something for you CE guys, there were only 4829 CE cars built in 04, also a special car.
Flame On-

I hope everyone realizes this is all in fun. Especially blacksedan87--No disrespect meant. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

Semper Fi

 

Apologies for wasting bandwith. A/E's today demand no more dollars than any other '03, yet they are "special" for all the reasons mentioned here. Like the decal package or not, it makes this particular vert offered even a bit more special. On the other hand, this vert with post -production aftermarket graphics can be as obscure as the driver of the '02 pacecar:
Film actor Jim Caviezel.