For the 1978 Pace Car fans.

[Michael H.]

Re: For the 1978 Pace Car fans.

That's correct - also applied to regular production non-pace cars. They came off the end of the Final Line in VIN sequence (driveable, but no interior in them yet), but went through roll-test, toe-in, water test, and any mechanical repair needed with a temporary seat installed before they went back on-line through Final Paint Repair, then to the Final Trim Line where the entire interior was installed, Final Inspection, then to the shipping gate.

Any water-test repair or mechanical repair would take a unit out of VIN sequence before it went back on-line to Final Paint Repair.

Yup, that pic was taken in the paint repair line, not the actual body build area paint booth. Cars would likely be off sequence when entering that area.

[Rob M.]

Re: For the 1978 Pace Car fans.

So does the INSTALL DECALS label on the windshield in the second photo indicate the Pace Car Decals were actually installed at the factory???

[Tom H.]

Re: For the 1978 Pace Car fans.

So does the INSTALL DECALS label on the windshield in the second photo indicate the Pace Car Decals were actually installed at the factory???

No, I believe that indicates the stripes for the hood, sides and the winged wheels decal on the quarters. Official pace car decals were installed by the dealer at owner's request.

[Rob M.]

Re: For the 1978 Pace Car fans.

No, I believe that indicates the stripes for the hood, sides and the winged wheels decal on the quarters. Official pace car decals were installed by the dealer at owner's request.

So would these hood and side strips and the winged wheels decals on the quarters not being installed when this label wasn't on the windscreen?

[Tom R.]

Re: For the 1978 Pace Car fans.

So would these hood and side strips and the winged wheels decals on the quarters not being installed when this label wasn't on the windscreen?

Hey Rob

The note was to direct the appropriate assembly line (ie, final trim), to install factory installed labels. The factory AIM (assembly instruction manual) specified those decals (both Anniversary and Pace Car) that were to be installed in the factory such (as noted by TH), pin stripe, hood decals, Limited Edition emblem, UNLEADED FUEL decal, etc. The AIM was very specific, listing part numbers and detailed the application process. The Indy logo, winged wheels were included with the dealer instruction packet.

Other decals would have been specified for dealer installation. I wrote an article for the Restorer on Pace Car Decals that was published last year that describes the process.

http://www.hunt4cleanair.net/Articles/pacecardecals.pdf

[Alan S.]

Re: For the 1978 Pace Car fans.

Hi,
Because of the elevation of the car relative to the painter might there typically be better paint coverage on the lowest body areas on these cars compared to the single color cars?
I really enjoy the factory photos too!!
Regards,
Alan

[Tom R.]

Re: For the 1978 Pace Car fans.

Hi,
Because of the elevation of the car relative to the painter might there typically be better paint coverage on the lowest body areas on these cars compared to the single color cars?
I really enjoy the factory photos too!!
Regards,
Alan

Alan Good point. I judge these years and the area is nicely covered in contrast to early C3s. I've seen these on the rack during Bowtie judging and the 78s, both Pace CArs and Anniversaries have nice coverage.

[Michael D.]

Re: For the 1978 Pace Car fans.

Thanks for sharing the pics!! Great stuff.

[David S.]

Re: For the 1978 Pace Car fans.

Very cool pictures. Thanks so much for sharing!


-Dave

[David W.]

Re: For the 1978 Pace Car fans.

I was looking at pace car paint items and saw this old thread. Interesting pictures for sure. I was working on my door panel recently and noticed orange peel around the sport mirror and some minor overspray on the mirror gasket. Were the sport mirrors on the car when it was painted black? I wouldn't think so other than touchup later or door respray. The body shell was painted before the interior was installed I assume.

[Tom R.]

Re: For the 1978 Pace Car fans.

I was looking at pace car paint items and saw this old thread. Interesting pictures for sure. I was working on my door panel recently and noticed orange peel around the sport mirror and some minor overspray on the mirror gasket. Were the sport mirrors on the car when it was painted black? I wouldn't think so other than touchup later or door respray. The body shell was painted before the interior was installed I assume.

Here I thought we had a new discussion thread until I realized this was a throwback to 2010.

Mirrors would have been assembled after body paint. Interior installation would have followed as well. The silver exterior paint and decals were painted/applied in the Impala Final Process area. No room at the Corvette plant. The link below is to an article that has been submitted for publication to the Restorer. We are looking at a 2018 publication date to coincide with the 40th-anniversary date of the 1978 Pace Car. It tells the story captured by images posted above, along with a few others of the Pace Car's final process!

http://hunt4cleanair.net/Articles/finalprocess.pdf

[David W.]

Re: For the 1978 Pace Car fans.

Thanks Tom.............probably should have started new thread. Thats how I thought the painting process was. The more I look at it the hard plastic mirror gaskets are brown in color. They were likely painted black and since flaked off because it doesn't look like a poor masking job. The doors do not appear to be a repaint. Nice article..........