1978 Chevrolet Corvette Indy 500 Pace Car Special Edition

Topline is pleased to offer this highly sought after 1978 Indianapolis 500 Corvette Pace Car.

The current owner has owned this car since August of 2007. It has been brought to several car shows, parades and car enthusiast gatherings. This car attracts attention everywhere is it seen as most car enthusiasts remember when Chevrolet bought these out in 1978 and have stories about either owning one or dreaming of owning one.

Chevrolet made about than 600 with the 4 speed manual transmission matched with the L-82 high performance engine to mirror cars that would Pace the 62^nd running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 28, 1978. This collector spent two years searching the country for a very clean and operational L-82 4 speed. It is number 4,929 of the 6,502 made.

The collector purchased this car with 36,289 miles and the odometer currently shows 41,311 which is believed to be actual miles. The car is believed to have been spent most of its life in Texas as 4 speed cars were not allowed to be sold in California.

This Pace car is in excellent condition with the black and silver paints shining in the sun. In addition to the high performance L-82 engine and the 4 Speed transmission, this car includes power windows, power door locks, power brakes, power steering, T-Tops, and an AM/FM radio.

Is it time for you to own a piece of Corvette and Indianapolis 500 history? Come check it out for yourself!

Background and History:

For decades, Chevrolet has produced special edition Corvettes to commemorate milestones of the brand, to celebrate anniversaries and, of course, to serve as the official pace car of the Indianapolis 500. While the idea of a Corvette pace car is almost common place today, the tradition of using “America’s Sports Car” as an official pace car actually begin in 1978.

The 1978 Corvette was significant because it marked the cars 25th anniversary of production. Recognizing the achievement of manufacturing a car for a quarter-century, Chevrolet commemorated this accomplishment by introducing two special-edition Corvette that year. The first of these was known as the “Silver Anniversary” edition Corvette. It featured a two-tone silver over gray exterior with special pin-striping and special “25th Anniversary” badging.

The second special-edition Corvette was the 1978 Corvette Indy Pace Car. This car, much like the Silver Anniversary Edition, featured a special two-tone paint scheme. Unlike the Silver Anniversary Edition, this car came finished in black over a silver metallic and featured a bright red pinstripe between the two-tone paint.

The Corvette Indy Pace Car also featured a special front and rear spoiler, both of which were designed to add a more dramatic appearance to the car. The front spoiler wrapped under and around the front of the car before blending into the wheel wells. Conversely, the rear spoiler curved down at its out-bored ends to meet the body-sides of the Corvette.

Like the Silver Anniversary model, the Pace Car Replica was actually offered to consumers as an option package – RPO Z78. All of the Pace Car replicas included new glass T-Tops, alloy wheels, power windows, a rear window defogger, air conditioning, sports mirrors, a tilt/telescopic steering wheel, a heavy duty battery, an AM/FM stereo and power door locks. In addition to these features, each Indy Pace Car Corvette replica owner would receive a set of regalia decals that they could install at their discretion. The decal set included the famous “winged wheel” Indy Speedway logos for the rear fenders as well as large door emblems that read “Official Pace Car, 62nd Annual Indianapolis 500 Mile Race, May 28, 1978.”

The interior of the Corvette Pace Car was directly influenced by Bill Mitchell and featured either full silver leather or leather/gray cloth upholstery and gray carpeting. For the 1978 Pace Car, Chevrolet introduced a new, thin-shell seat design that featured more lumbar support. Although these seats were originally slated for the 1979 model, the development program was accelerated so that these new seats could be introduced in the 1978 Pace Car package.

Naturally, the development of a special Corvette Pace Car meant an opportunity for GM to market the design to consumers. Even before the car was officially announced, rumors of a special-edition Pace Car excited enthusiasts and would-be future owners. Chevrolet initially decided that they would produce 2,500 Indy 500 Pace Car replicas – 100 cars for each year of Corvette’s production since 1953. Each of these cars would be sold on a “first come, first serve” basis.

When originally introduced as an option, the 1978 Indy Pace Car Replica had a base price of $13,653.21, which was approximately $4,300 more than the base Corvette that same year! Following a front-page article in the Wall Street Journal, prices for these limited-edition Corvettes went through the roof as they were quickly snapped up by collectors.

Today, the 1978 Corvette Indy Pace Car continues to hold its value far better than most other Corvettes from that era. Moreover, it’s not uncommon to see individuals, many of whom have probably dreamed of owning one of these beautiful machines for decades, pay that price gladly for the chance to own one of the most desirable Corvette Pace Cars in the brand’s 65+ year history.

Click on below link to view more on background and history information on this fine collectible:

https://www.corvsport.com/1978-corvette-indy-pace-car/

https://corvettestory.com/specs/1978-Corvette-specs-options.php

For appointment please call or text (650) 280-0280

Third Party Pre-Purchase Inspection Welcome, Extended Warranty Service Contract Is Available At An Extra Charge On This Vehicle, Low Rate Financing Available On Approval Of Credit.

Please Consult Our Sales Department For Term, Condition, Coverage and Cost. (DISCLAIMER: Price excludes government fees and taxes, any finance charges, any dealer document preparation charge, and any emission testing charge.)

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE: While we try to accurately describe all features and prices posted here, we cannot be responsible for typographical and other errors that may occur. Therefore, it is your responsibility to verify that all features and details are as listed. The dealership is not responsible for typographical, pricing, product information, advertising or shipping/freight errors. Advertised prices and available quantities are subject to change without notice. All rates and offers are dependent on bank approval, which varies based on applicant's credit as well as the vehicle.

Always garaged.

Custom wheels.

Fully loaded.

Ice cold A/C.

Looks & runs great.

Records available.

Must see.

No accidents.

Non-smoker.

Performance tires.

Very clean interior.

Well maintained.

At Topline Auto Inc, we are here to make purchasing your vehicle as easy as possible. We partnered with some of the leading financing institutions to make it happen.

Please, apply directly with the following institutions.

Of course, if you need further help, do not hesitate to contact us and we will do everything we can to get you approved.

Located in SAN MATEO, Topline Auto Inc is a pre-owned, late model dealer that provides customers with a complete automotive experience at competitive prices.

Topline Auto Inc is dedicated to customer satisfaction and we have provided you with a map, as well as our address and phone number to help you find us easily.

We are passionate about luxury cars and we intend on sharing that passion with you when you purchase your new car from us.

Many financing options are available if needed. Good credit, bad credit, first time buyer, no DL, and ITIN customers welcome. 

Come by today and test drive the car of your choice.

We take pride in offering for sale quality pre-owned vehicles at some of the most competitive prices.

We personally hand pick our inventory after running a history report and doing our homework to ensure their quality and safety. A professional inspection by a certified third party is encouraged and recommended.

There are also inspection companies that will come to the dealership on your behalf and put the vehicle through a rigorous inspection process or you may select an inspection at a mechanic or franchise dealership of your choice anywhere within a 15 mile radius of our dealership and we will gladly deliver the vehicle there for inspection.

Most of our vehicles qualify for a 3 months / 3,000 miles limited powertrain warranty or extended bumper to bumper warranties up to 5 years. Please inquire about the prices with one of our sales consultants.