1978 Pace Car

[Ashley Webb]

A friend of mine told me last week that my 1978 Pace Car L48, 4 speed was one of only 70 built in this configuration out of the total 6502 built. Is anyone able to confirm whether or not this is correct?. Many thanks, Ashley Webb

[John C.]

Re: 1978 Pace Car

Mr. Webb, your friend must have read No. 3 of volume 27 of the NCRS' publication, The Corvette Restorer. On page 14, Mark Iwanski does confirm your statement that 70 L-48 4-speed Pace cars were built compared with 626 L-82 4-speed Pace cars. He went on to state that L-48 4-speed cars could only be equipped with the 3.36 rear axle. It looks like you have quite a rare vette!

However, don't let it go to your head. All things are NOT equal and given the choice I would choose the less rare L-82 4-speed over the more rare L-48 4-speed Pace car any day of the week! In '64 only 28 convertibles were built air conditioning, manual transmission, and the base 250HP engine. In contrast 138 '64 convertibles were equipped with air, 365HP engine, and the mandatory (with L76) 4-speed. Which would I choose? The solid lifter screamer of course!

Besides a vette, I also own a '62 Oldsmobile F-85 Jetfire. This is a rare turbocharged car with a four speed. Guesstimates are that perhaps 50-60 4-speed '62 Jetfires survive. No one is beating down my door and offering to swap their 401K for my father's Oldsmobile.

My point is that rarity doesn't always translate into a high market value. I'm sure someone else will point out the obvious, that an F-85 isn't a Corvette! You're probably weary of reading this by now so I'll just conclude with: join the NCRS and enjoy your rare machine!

[John C.]

P.S.

Pssst! This is not a technical question and really belongs on the forum.

[Jim T.]

Re: 1978 Pace Car

Interesting stats on the 64 converible with air. I once owned a 64 convertible with air,4-speed, and the 327/300HP engine. Do you know how many of these left the factory?

[Ashley Webb]

Re: 1978 Pace Car

Thank you John. How can I obtain a copy of that Corvette Restorers publication you mentioned. My apologies to members for posting this message on the Technical board. Ashley.

[John C.]

Re: 1978 Pace Car

No apology necessary, I was probably mistaken about what constitutes a technical vs. "forum" question anyway! Try sending an e-mail to info@ncrs.org for purchasing information on single issues of The Corvette Restorer.

[John C.]

Re: 1978 Pace Car

C60 ECL AA-AB Conv., L75 with manual trans 228 units in '64 The figures in Adams' book do not differentiate between 3 speed and 4 speed except to state that there were 715 vettes (total) that were equipped with 3 speeds and 19,034 equipped with 4 speeds. Apparently L75 was the most popular engine to order with air since 1342 of the 1988 vettes with air in 64 came with L75. 381 L76s came with air. 265 base engine 250HP cars had air. Air became increasingly popular with each successive year, 3,788 67s had air.