This C3 Indy 500 Pace Car Has Never Seen the Open Road
The great Al Unser, Jr. captured the checkered flag with an average speed of 161MPH —a speed this Corvette might still reach
Message on the Voltage Line
By 1978, Corvette had fallen on what can only be described as hard times, particularly in comparison to the car’s glory days in the mid-1960s. Design fluctuations to engine and transmission options had left many diehard fans frustrated, while an economic recession continued to wreak havoc on fuel prices. But when the famed Indianapolis 500 decided to utilize Corvette as a flagship sponsor, things began to look up again for America’s most venerated sports car.
Reelin' on a Rockin' Machine
Just over 6,500 1978 Chevy Corvette Pace Car editions were manufactured for that year (6,502 to be exact.) This particular model —still in stellar shape —still has its original paperwork. In fact, it was the 3,115th model off the line —right at the center of the line’s production. The car’s whopping 380 original miles are a testament to just how little of the road this car has seen.
Flick of the Switch
The '78 Corvette Indy Pace Car models had very little difference mechanically when compared to standard '78 Corvettes, thanks in large part to new automobile manufacturing constraints and engineering cost concerns of Chevrolet execs. The Pace Car Edition was available with the base model 4-Barrel 350 Cu. In. V8 engine with a choice of four-speed manual or automatic transmission. In addition, drivers could also choose the L82 350 Cu. In. V8 engine which topped out at 220-horsepower. This particular model has the base model engine.
Blow You Sky High
Famed automobile designer Bill Mitchell had an integral role in designing the 1978 Corvette Pace Car edition interior. While this model features gray cloth upholstery and gray carpeting, a full leather interior was also available. The '78 Corvette Pace Car edition also offered drivers a new interior feature: a thin-shell seat construction that placed a higher priority on lumbar support.
Flash of the Eye
The car's stance and look upon passenger approach is enhanced by soft-ray tinted class on all exterior windows. Removable T-Tops on the roof allow for relatively quick access to the breeze and sunshine. Although their manual removal and replacement will never be quite as quick as a mechanical convertible roof, they're a true vintage style accent. While raindrops might sully the leather or cloth interior, the car's exterior is constructed of reinforced fiberglass that's impervious to rust and corrosion.
Electrify
This 1978 Indy 500 Corvette Pace Car edition —one of only a few made and a few that still exist —is a unique throwback to a particularly tumultuous time in American automotive. The car's most incredible feature is of course its personalized bright red badging that conveys its "Official Pace Car" designation as well as the date of the race —May 28, 1978. While Corvette collectors worldwide all know what makes their particular car unique, this particular vehicle makes it known from the first sight. And thanks to its pristine condition and just 380 original miles to its name, it'll be telling its story for many more years to come.
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