1978 Pace Car # 4 Sells at Auction

[Brian F.]

Looks like someone got a great deal on the # 4 1978 Corvette Indianapolis 500 Pace Car. The car sold for $29,700 with the 10% buyers commission on April 11 at the West Palm Beach Barrett-Jackson Auction.

The car was sold from the GM collection on a scrap title which means the car is not street legal. I was wondering if you could ever make the car street legal after having a scrap title?

Still a great deal for someone's collection.

Here's the link, enter lot number 675:

http://www.barrett-jackson.com/application/onlinesubmission/currentcarlist.aspx?aid=284&sd=04%2f10%2f2009&ed=04%2f10%2f2009

[Dick W.]

Re: 1978 Pace Car # 4 Sells at Auction

Car was very well used and abused. Exterior and interior rough. Car would have a hard time bringing $5,000 at a regular auction. That is if you could title it.

[Terry M.]

Re: 1978 Pace Car # 4 Sells at Auction

Getting a real title depends on the state you are in.
In Illinois there are people who are certified by the SOS (Secretary of State) who can take the car in for inspection for DOT and EPA compliance in order to remove the salvage stamp.

[Kevin G.]

Re: 1978 Pace Car # 4 Sells at Auction

The car was sold from the GM collection on a scrap title which means the car is not street legal. I was wondering if you could ever make the car street legal after having a scrap title?

Isn't that exactly why the GM cars sales were stalled?

Kvin

[Tom H.]

Re: 1978 Pace Car # 4 Sells at Auction

Did anyone note the VIN of that car ?? Was it actually VIN # 4 or was it just the #4 Pace car from the race ?

[Ron L.]

Re: 1978 Pace Car # 4 Sells at Auction

Car was very well used and abused. Exterior and interior rough. Car would have a hard time bringing $5,000 at a regular auction. That is if you could title it.

No kidding! It looked like it paced the running of the bulls to me.

[Stuart F.]

Re: 1978 Pace Car # 4 Sells at Auction

The coverage on SPEED was not too good about CARS this time. They only said it was the #4 car used in the actual Indy event. I recorded it to review again, but they also said the Scrap title only meant that it might not be able to be titled in some states. It was indeed used up with no attempt to rehab it in any way. The Ford prototypes were sold I believe on a Bill of Sale, but they read a long disclaimer before the bidding on each. They each went for $175.k after the B-J president and VP put in the final bids against each other (Joke). The Jimmy Johnson NASCAR race car past the that $175.k mark on the second or third bids.

Probably more interesting was the 97 mule with the 96 body and engine (LT-1 or 3). It was the C-5 chassis so the engine had to be set back in the engine bay. Don't know if they said what tranny it had. Also mentioned, in honor of Rick Hendrick, was that his son "Ricky" designed the suspension (??) didn't know he worked for GM before his passing in the plane crash.

Stu Fox

[Dick W.]

Re: 1978 Pace Car # 4 Sells at Auction

Did anyone note the VIN of that car ?? Was it actually VIN # 4 or was it just the #4 Pace car from the race ?

Supposedly NO VIN.

[Joseph T.]

Re: 1978 Pace Car # 4 Sells at Auction

Supposedly NO VIN.

I heard them say it was #4 of 4 pace cars at Indy. Also heard no VIN which I question.

To my thinking a great piece of history regardless of condition. I thought it went cheap as did the other GM cars.

Did Terry buy it?

Joe

[Jay G.]

Re: 1978 Pace Car # 4 Sells at Auction

I heard them say it was #4 of 4 pace cars at Indy. Also heard no VIN which I question.

To my thinking a great piece of history regardless of condition. I thought it went cheap as did the other GM cars.

Did Terry buy it?

Joe

I believe he did. As Camera went to him and new wife and baby as I recall. I feel its cheap. As all the tribute GM 78 Pace derived from those 4. GM car did go cheap. But as Scottsdale is blamed for excessive high prices. Palm Beach has a rep. of always Low prices. West vs. East pocketbooks. Ad the 2 up. Divide by 2. May come up w/ reasonable market price for any given corvette etc.

[Stuart F.]

Re: 1978 Pace Car # 4 Sells at Auction

Terry bought the 97 mule, not the 78 P.C.. That's when they showed him w/family. Actually, that was the first one I saw him bid on - not to say there were no others, but SPEED didn't cover them well.

Stu Fox

[Stuart F.]

Re: 1978 Pace Car # 4 Sells at Auction

Just a clarification and correction regarding my post about the 97 Mule Corvette that Terry M. bought:

I made reference to what I thought I heard John Henricy (sp) say regarding the suspension designer. I thought (in the heat of the moment) he said it was designed by "Ricky" and I assumed he was speaking of Rick Hendrick's son (deceased). Upon review of the recording I (w/o distractions), learned he was speaking of I believe a Mr. Rex Stumpf (sp) who now works for Rick Hendrick and is the designer of the suspensions on both Jeff Gordon's and Jimmy Johnson's race cars. He is the one to be credited for the design of the C-5 suspension.

I apologize for this incorrect statement and trust, specially after this amount of time, no one noted it and took it serious (like most of what I post). I will try to get my facts straight(er) in the future. Forgive an old man.

Stu Fox

[Dale S.]

Re: 1978 Pace Car # 4 Sells at Auction

I watched for a while. When bids stalled, then the face less bidders started. Many bids with no bidders shown. Dale