1978 Corvette Pace Car License Plate

[Brian F.]

Most Indianapolis 500 pace cars were issued an INDIANA license plate stating, "Indianapolis 500 Official Pace Car" with an expiration date and specific car number. I've included a picture of the one I bid on eBay several weeks ago.

My question is does anyone know if the 1978 Corvette Pace car used at the Indy 500 race had a "78" or a "79" expiration date? I understand in 1978, the state of Indiana changed the expiration date of the license plate to the year it was issued rather than the year the plate expires.

Anyone been to the Indy 500 museum to know what the correct date is on the license plate? Furthermore, I'm sure there weren't 163 Corvette official pace cars at the race. Were these plates issued to support vehicles in addition to the Corvette pace cars?

[Tom H.]

Re: 1978 Corvette Pace Car License Plate

Hi Brian !

I can't answer your specific question for 78, but I have had many, many track cars and plates over the years and every one had the date for the year the race was.

If you don't know him, do a search on Howard Kirchenbauer. He and his family have been involved with the distribution of pace cars for years. He will know the details of your plate. The last contact # I had for him was at National Car Rental in Indy, where all of the pace car track in recent history were outfitted with decals. He was also in charge of the plates. PM me if you can't find him and I'll give you the last # I had for him.

My guess is your plate may have been on one of these.........................

[Tom R.]

Re: 1978 Corvette Pace Car License Plate

[Roy V.]

Re: 1978 Corvette Pace Car License Plate

Brian, just last week at the Barret Jackson auction in Palm Beach, Florida a 1978 Indy pace car sold for $29,700. I remember watching the coverage on speed channel and it was lot #675 and was said to be one of 4 actual pace cars used (#4, I believe) anyway they did come around and had a close up of the license plate for a second, but I don't remember looking at the expiration sticker. I did record most of the auction on my dvd recorder and if you would like, I can go back and review and see if I can find it for you. I remember them saying it was sold on a scrap title and while the car appeared to be in rough shape, I remember thinking that someone bought a nice piece of history.
Regards

[Stuart F.]

Re: 1978 Corvette Pace Car License Plate

Roy;

Thank you for pointing this out in your post. Brian (my son) and I reviewed that P.C. transaction at B.J. from my DVR just a few days ago, but I don't know if he was looking at the plate on that car or not. He had not seen the car at all until then. I will review it again to see what it is and advise him about it. He may be stuck in Denver today due to the snow storm as he had to fly in there for an overnight (sent me a cell phone picture from out of his hotel window). Hopefully he got out of there as he was then to go to Boston and on to Cancun (night and day weather wise).

Thanks again. I'll make certain he gets the message.

Stu Fox

[Roy V.]

Re: 1978 Corvette Pace Car License Plate

I just found the dvd recording i made and when the car was on the auction block it had a Barret Jacson plate on it, so I don't know what I was thinking, However it was one of the "Fantasy Bid" cars that people were supposed to send in their guess on what the hammer price would be, and those cars,had a preview out in the tent area, so I will try and see if I can find that footage. Its also quite possible that I hallucinated the whole thing (watched too many hours of the auction and maybe mixed up some of the cars that I saw)sorry for the bad lead!!

[Brian F.]

Re: 1978 Corvette Pace Car License Plate

I think the best source would be to visit the museum at the Indianapolis 500 Speedway. Maybe someday I'll make a trip up there and will take a few photos. It's neat that these items show up on eBay.

[Stuart F.]

Re: 1978 Corvette Pace Car License Plate

So Son, where are you posting from? Boston? Guess you must have escaped the storm in Denver ok. Looking forward to Cancun, I'll bet.

Roy, don't worry about the lead. Last week I thought I heard that Rick Hendrick's son designed the suspension on the 97 mule that sold on BJ. Like you say, watching that for hours can be confusing.

Stu fox

[Steven B.]

Re: 1978 Corvette Pace Car License Plate

I think the best source would be to visit the museum at the Indianapolis 500 Speedway. Maybe someday I'll make a trip up there and will take a few photos. It's neat that these items show up on eBay.

When you visit check out the Corvette SS and the photos for sale by the track on the second floor. They have PC photos!