Corvettes for Sale: 1978 Corvette Indy 500 Pace Car with L82 V8

Some cars are bought to be driven. Others are bought to be admired. And then there are the rare few — like this 1978 Chevrolet Corvette L82 Indy Pace Car — that manage to do both with grace, reliability, and a whole lot of attitude.

Offered by its current owner on Craigslist out of a small town in northeast Oklahoma, this Pace Car is a nicely preserved slice of late ’70s Corvette history, showing only 70,000 original miles and carrying itself with the confidence of a car that’s been loved, maintained, and kept out of harm’s way.

A few years back, we ourselves were looking for a Pace Car, but gave up the ghost when we couldn’t find one that didn’t look like a teen’s pocked face on the front. This one may have a lot more miles than many “investment queens,” but the photos seem to indicate this is one Corvette with a paint job that seems to have undergone a “Clearasil” treatment. The interior shows minor wear, but nothing major at first glance.

Chevrolet, of course, built the 1978 Pace Car to celebrate the Corvette’s 25th anniversary and its role as the official Indy 500 pace car. With its iconic black and silver paint scheme, mirrored T tops, and bold graphics, it became an instant collectible — a car people tucked away in garages, hoping it would become a future treasure.

This one has been kept in a garage, at least lately, but a look at the odometer shows it wasn’t hidden under a cover. It was driven, enjoyed, and cared for — the way we think a Corvette should be.

Under the hood sits the more desirable L82 5.7 liter V8, with 35 more horses than the base L48, paired with a 3 speed automatic transmission. Eric says the car “runs and drives great,” and the upgrades back that up:

• Holley Sniper fuel injection for more reliable performance
• New aluminum radiator to keep temps steady
• Brand new A/C compressor delivering cold air and a working “hot heater!”

It’s the best of both worlds — classic looks with modern dependability.

Finding a 1978 Pace Car in this kind of condition is becoming increasingly rare, the owner says. We’d tend to agree. This one checks all the boxes:

• Garage kept
• Complete interior that looks nice, though there is a small tear in the driver’s bolster
• “Absolutely zero” rust
• Everything works as it should
• Very reliable
• Clean title

The owner is asking $19,500 firm, a number that reflects both the car’s condition and the rising interest in late C3 Corvettes. With clean, rust free Pace Cars becoming harder to find — especially ones upgraded for modern drivability — this example stands out as a strong value. Are you interested?

Source:
Craigslist.org

Related:
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Corvettes for Sale: Crazy Modified 1963 Corvette Convertible Offered on Bring a Trailer
Corvettes for Sale: Two-Owner 1972 Corvette LT1 Convertible Offered on eBay

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