West Coast Classics are proud to present an exceptional and very collectible and rare example of this original owners southern California 'Limited Edition Corvette Pace Car' - an official separate VIN sequence numbered 1978 Chevrolet Corvette '62nd Annual Indianapolis 500 Mile Race' Replica coupe with only 34K original miles, as stated by previous and only original southern California owner, with one repaint in its all original 'Black & Silver' factory color paint divided by red pin-striping, but please note without the original factory Pace Car decals being applied, and with the correct 'Silver' color (Trim Code 152) leather interior with correct special 'Goodyear' tires with no history of any rust or accidents and its original matching 350 V8 engine and original factory options including automatic transmission, power disc brakes, power steering, power windows, power door locks, power antenna and dual rear speakers, Mirror T-Tops, cruise control and air conditioning!
The Corvette was honored for the first time in 1978 to be the official pace car for that years world renown Indy 500 race. To commemorate the event, Chevrolet built a number of limited edition Corvettes with their very own dedicated vehicle identification number sequence with the eight digit being a 9 versus a 4 making it easy to spot and near impossible to build a clone.
Finished in a spectacular repaint in its original two-tone black over silver with a red pinstripe just south of the blend line.
Chevrolet decided to limit the run to only one car per Chevrolet dealer with the total reported number being 6,502.
'America's only true sports car' was 25 years old in 1978 and Chevrolet observed the milestone by fitting a special commemorative emblem to all Corvettes that year. But only 6,502 (1 for every Corvette dealer at the time) limited edition near exact matches, apart from the holes punched in the rear for the pace car flags, to the official 'Indianapolis 500 Mile Race Pace Car' of May 28th, 1978 were built with front and rear spoilers, wheels and silver leather interior.
The car has its original fiberglass exteriors, which set it apart from non-Pace Cars, including the paint scheme and a pair of spoilers made of flexible polyurethane, the rear being a one-piece component while the front was a three piece assembly.
The original factory correct decals when applied at the factory included the 'Limited Edition' decals below the fender cross flags, the event door decals and the 'Indianapolis Motor Speedway' logo on the rear quarter panels. Corvette has since paced the Indy field nine times but only 1978 can boast being the 'Original Corvette Pace Car'!
This particular example was purchased new from 'Hessell Chevrolet'' of El Segundo, CA in 1978 with only one previous owner and was always garaged and has 34,042 original miles. The car boasts a plethora of original documentation including its original sales receipts and owner's handbook and the car is reportedly registered in the 'Corvette Pace Car Registry'.
The car sits on its original and correct 15x8" aluminum wheels wrapped with Goodyear P255/60R15 radial tires with a Replica only red pinstripe around the rim of the wheel.
These 1978 'Anniversary Editions' models and its cousin the 'Pace Car Replica' boasted an almost 40% premium to the price of a regular 1978 Corvette and were bid up to as much as 60% over the already inflated price by some collectors eager to get their hands on one and are therefore highly coveted and highly prized amongst collectors today.
This particular example's original factory two-tone color repaint is in superb and highly striking condition and the leather interior and the trim is also in beautiful and very original condition throughout! The car was obviously always garaged and shows no signs or any history of any accidents.
This is obviously one very rare and highly desirable example of this classic American sports car - a rust and accident free 1978 Chevrolet Corvette 'Indy 500 Pace Car Limited Edition' in superb condition throughout! An obviously always garaged and unabused example!
The engine purrs imperceptibly under the hood and the automatic transmission shifts smoothly through the gears - an absolute pleasure to drive without any of the older Corvette typical shakes or rattles - a truly remarkable daily driver that will give any modern day sports car a run for its money!
Without a doubt you will look long and hard to find a finer and very collectible 25th year 1978 'Indianapolis 500 Pace Car Replica Edition' example of this 'Mako Shark' generation Corvette - perfect for the Corvette enthusiast to add to his collection or simply any classic American muscle car collector!
