NEW PRICE! 27,357 original miles. NCRS
Top Flite, AACA National First and Grand National First Prizes,
Bloomington Gold Certified. L48/auto, matching-numbers, beautiful
survivor in exceptional condition.
This Pace Car is almost completely original and shows just 27,357
original miles, so it’s been driven, but not much and certainly
very gently. It is an early production car, #390 out of the 6502
built, and it wears its original paint and original decals, which
is a bit of an achievement. The finish is very good, certainly
better than you’d expect for a car approaching its fortieth
birthday, and it shines up beautifully to really show off the
contrast between the black and silverThere’s some checking on the
hood decals, which obviously see a lot of heat, but the balance of
the decals are bright, crisp, and beautifully rendered.
The silver leather interior is admittedly pretty Buck Rogers, but
remember it was 1978 after all. The leather is in excellent
condition with only modest comfort marks on the seating surfaces.
The carpets are also original and show some light discoloration
that’s probably inevitable after nearly four decades, and it’s
worth noting that it carries replacement floor mats but the
originals are included with the car. The Pace Cars came loaded with
options, and this is no exception, with features including A/C,
power windows and locks, a remote mirror, tilt steering column, and
an AM/FM/8-track stereo radio, all of which are fully operational.
The gauges spring to life when you turn the key and the clock has
been converted to quartz movement, so it keeps good time and ticks
away pleasantly. The cargo compartment is almost like new and the
new fastback roofline offers decent luggage capacity for
touring.
This car carries its original, numbers-matching L48 350 cubic inch
V8, which was the base engine. The engine was pulled and the engine
bay was detailed for show, but the engine has never been opened
beyond replacing a few gaskets before it went back in. The single
snorkel air cleaner is an easy way to spot the L48, and all the
little stuff is exactly the way it was when it was new. Note the
shielding over the ignition system, the correct tower hose clamps,
and even the proper plastic zip tie holding the flexible intake
tube to the air cleaner housing. Finishes, fasteners, and colors
are all exact, which is why this car has won all those prizes. It
also runs great, starting almost instantly, idling smoothly, and
driving properly as only a low-mileage car can. To reach our
facility, the car was driven more than 150 miles without incident,
and it’s the kind of machine that’s ideal for a long-range cruise
to one of the big Corvette rallies across the country. Get in and
cruise, that’s what this car is all about.
The transmission is a tried-and-true TH350, perhaps the most
reliable 3-speed automatic gearbox ever built. Out back, this
Corvette also features 3.08 gears, which are great for highway
economy and the torquey L48 doesn’t seem to mind, giving the car a
real aggressive feel at any speed. Legend has it that the C3 was a
rattle trap that would knock the fillings out of your teeth, be
that couldn’t be further from the truth here, because this car is
tight, quiet, smooth, and rides rather well, all indicative of a
low-mileage car that’s led an exemplary life as a permanent
collectable, not a commuter car. The suspension, brakes, and fuel
system are all original spec and in excellent condition with proper
maintenance, helping with that “new car feel.” Shiny aluminum
wheels were a great addition to the lineup and the red stripe
around the perimeter is unique to the Pace Cars, giving them a
unique look. These are reproductions wearing 255/60/15 Goodyear
Eagle radials, but the original wheels and tires are included with
the car for competition purposes at the highest levels.
This car also includes an original owner’s manual, a build sheet,
and a copy of the 2000 calendar for which it was the cover vehicle
(not that you can tell, they all look the same anyway).
Awards include NCRS Top Flite, Bloomington Gold Certified, AACA
National First and Grand National First prizes, and was invited to
be a part of the Corvettes at Carlisle display showcasing 1978-1979
Corvettes. It is listed in the Corvette Pace Car Registry and has
actually turned a wheel at the Watkins Glen race track. It’s quite
likely one of the nicest Pace Cars you’ll ever see.
We’ll admit that this car has grown on us. Yes, there are quite a
few of them for sale and you have many choices at many levels if
you really want to own one. But this one is incredibly clean,
totally sorted, beautifully preserved, and nicely documented. It
comes with a lot of nice spiffs and with only two owners, including
the most recent owner who bought it in 1993, there are no skeletons
in its closet. We would argue that if you’re going to own a car
from the 1970s, there are few better choices than this. Call
today!
For more photos and information, please visit
www.HarwoodMotors.com
