To further the 25th anniversary hoopla, Chevrolet managed to get the revised Corvette chosen to pace the 1978 Indy 500, a first for the Corvette. That called for a special edition of an already special glass-bodied sportster - the limited edition Pace Car replica.
Initially, Chevrolet intended to produce around 2,500 replicas, but that number was expanded so that every dealer had the opportunity to land one in their showroom. When the dust finally settled, a total of 6,502 Pace Cars were produced, all featuring their own VIN sequence. To set the Pace Cars apart from the silver anniversary Sports Coupes also produced that year, these limited edition models came with a slew of luxury amenities. Add the spicy 220-horsepower L82 V8 and Corvette owners were again at the undisputed vanguard of the American performance scene.
Ellis and Donna Gray of Holland, Pennsylvania are the second owners of this black and silver beauty. The first owner took delivery of the car as it was being unloaded from the factory hauler, and between 1978 and 1994, when the Grays purchased the car, only 400 miles were logged on the odometer. Aside from sporting the desirable L82 engine, it’s equipped with automatic, Gymkana suspension, silver leather interior, power options, A/C and electric rear defogger.
Although the Grays strive to preserve the car’s original form and function, they’re not above putting the T-top on the road (5,600 miles since purchase).