1978 Chevrolet Corvette Indy 500 Pace Car

Description

OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE

Shortly after producing the 500,000th Corvette on 15 March 1977, Chevrolet prepared to celebrate the model’s 25th anniversary the following year. The new 1978 models were given the first major design revision in 10 years, which included a new fastback body and rounded glass rear window, but then the Corvette was chosen to pace that year’s Indianapolis 500. To commemorate the honor, a “Limited Edition” collector's edition Corvette — often referred to as the “Pace Car Edition” — was produced with black-over-silver livery and special decals with a gray leather interior. 

More than just cosmetics, the car featured a 350 cubic-inch L82 V8 and numerous options as standard. Chevrolet originally intended to build only 300 of these Limited Editions for 1978, but so many enthusiasts began asking for them that GM altered its plans and produced enough (6,502) so that every Chevrolet dealer across the U.S. and Canada had one to sell. And for the first time in Corvette’s history, these pace car replicas were given a separate VIN sequence (the eighth digit is “9” versus “4”), making them nearly impossible to clone. 

This 1978 Corvette pace car has "Indianapolis Motor Speedway" decals on its rear fenders, but it does not wear the dealer-added red and white “Official Pace Car” side decals, which are included in the sale. 

Highlights 

• 1 of 6,502 1978 Chevrolet Corvette Limited “Pace Car” Editions 

• Powered by a 350 cu-in L82 V8 engine with revised heads, four-bolt mains, a forged-steel crank, 9.0:1-compression pistons, and an aluminum intake, generating 220 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque 

• Three-speed Turbo Hydra-Matic automatic transmission 

• All 1978 Pace Car Editions received: 

  • Black/Silver Metallic paint with Pace Car decals and red pinstriping 

  • Silver/Smoke leather interior with color-coordinated door panels, dash trim, and carpet 

  • New lumbar support seats 

  • Glass T-tops 

  • Power windows 

  • Power locks 

  • Rear spoiler 

  • Front air deflector 

  • AM/FM pushbutton stereo radio

• The chassis number (1Z8748S905808) decodes as: 

  • 1 – USA 

  • Z – Corvette 

  • 87 – Two-door coupe 

  • 4 – L82 V8 engine 

  • 8 – 1978 model year 

  • S – St. Louis, Missouri, assembly plant 

  • 905808 – Sequential production number (9 indicates “Pace Car Edition”)

• Recent maintenance: 

  • New rear disc brakes 

  • Air conditioning recharged 

Features 

• Rear-wheel-drive, two-door coupe 

• Air conditioning 

• Leather-wrapped tilt/telescope three-spoke steering wheel with 25th Anniversary center badge 

• Remote-operated mirrors 

• Dash instrumentation: 

  • 140 mph speedometer with odometer 

  • 7K RPM tachometer 

  • Coolant temperature 

  • Fuel level 

  • Oil pressure 

  • Battery 

  • Analog clock 

• Delco AM/FM pushbutton radio

•  Cigar/cigarette lighter and ash tray 

• Shoulder belts 

• Corvette carpet floor mats 

• Rear defogger 

• 15-inch aluminum wheels 

• BFGoodrich Radial TA P225/70R15 tires 

• Wheelbase: 98 inches 

• Length: 185.2 inches 

• This car does not wear the dealer-added red and white “Official Pace Car” decals, but they are in a box and included in the sale 

• Original MSRP: $13,653.21 ($65,920 today) 

Known Imperfections 

• Paint chips up front

• Red side trim is chipped

• Glove box edge is chipped

Ownership History

This 1978 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car was purchased by the consignor on 24 May 2024 and is titled in Minnesota.