This 1978 Chevrolet Corvette is one of approximately 6,502 Pace Car Edition examples produced to commemorate the model’s use as the pace car for the 1978 running of the Indianapolis 500, and it was originally delivered to Lee Benson Chevrolet of Gowrie, Iowa. The car is finished in two-tone black and metallic silver with red accents and is powered by a 350ci L48 V8 paired with a three-speed automatic transmission. Features include silver upholstery, air conditioning, cruise…
This 1978 Chevrolet Corvette is one of approximately 6,502 Pace Car Edition examples produced to commemorate the model’s use as the pace car for the 1978 running of the Indianapolis 500, and it was originally delivered to Lee Benson Chevrolet of Gowrie, Iowa. The car is finished in two-tone black and metallic silver with red accents and is powered by a 350ci L48 V8 paired with a three-speed automatic transmission. Features include silver upholstery, air conditioning, cruise control, sport mirrors, 15″ wheels, removable glass T-top roof panels, front and rear spoilers, and power windows and door locks.
The 1978 Corvette featured a revised fastback roofline with wraparound rear glass, and Pace Car examples feature a black and silver paint scheme separated by a red stripe just below the blend line. Additional features include dual sport side mirrors, removable T-top roof panels, front and rear spoilers, and unique badging.
Factory 15″ aluminum wheels wear 255/60 Goodyear GT Radial white letter tires. Stopping power is provided by disc brakes at all four corners.
Interior updates for the 1978 model year included revised door panel trim and a single-piece dashboard with a locking glovebox and a rectangular instrument cluster. Pace Car interiors were equipped with newly-designed lumbar support seats, revised glass t-tops, power windows, air conditioning, a tilt/telescopic steering wheel, power door locks, and a rear window defroster. This example’s seats are trimmed in silver leather and it is also equipped with optional cruise control.
Corvette-branded instrumentation consists of a 140-mph speedometer and a tachometer with a 5,400-rpm redline, and additional gauges for oil pressure, coolant temperature, and fuel level are housed within the center stack. The five-digit odometer shows 13k miles.
The L48 350ci V8 was factory rated at 185 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. The removed stock valve covers and air cleaner top are included in the sale.
Power is sent to the rear wheels via a three-speed automatic transmission. The seller reports that the rear leaf spring was replaced with a composite one, and that the removed spring is included in the sale. The differential was serviced in 2019.