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1978 Chevrolet Corvette C3 Navigation
The 'Official Pace Car' was driven by race car driver Jim Rathmann (a winner of the 1960 Indy 500). The winner of the 1978 Indianapolis 500 was Al Unser.
Chevrolet had negotiated with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to have a modified Corvette chosen as the pace car for the 1978 Indy 500. 6,200 units were produced so that each Chevrolet showroom could have at least one. Thus, what was officially called the Limited Edition Indy Pace Car Replica Corvette made up some 15% of total production.
Pace Car replicas have two-tone black over silver paint with special decals. Pace Car interiors reflected Bill Mitchell's influence, with full silver leather or silver leather/gray cloth upholstery and gray carpeting.
Chevrolet had scheduled new Corvette seats for 1979, but the program was rushed forward so that the 1978 Pace Car could have them first.
This particular example, currently on display at the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY, was from the collection of baseball great Reggie Jackson. It has only 78 actual miles and a unique VIN sequence. The base-price at $13,653.21 for the Pace Car Replica was quite a boost over the $9,351 standard model but because it looked like an 'instant collectible,' everyone was sold.Source - Corvette Museum
Chevrolet had negotiated with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to have a modified Corvette chosen as the pace car for the 1978 Indy 500. 6,200 units were produced so that each Chevrolet showroom could have at least one. Thus, what was officially called the Limited Edition Indy Pace Car Replica Corvette made up some 15% of total production.
Pace Car replicas have two-tone black over silver paint with special decals. Pace Car interiors reflected Bill Mitchell's influence, with full silver leather or silver leather/gray cloth upholstery and gray carpeting.
Chevrolet had scheduled new Corvette seats for 1979, but the program was rushed forward so that the 1978 Pace Car could have them first.
This particular example, currently on display at the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY, was from the collection of baseball great Reggie Jackson. It has only 78 actual miles and a unique VIN sequence. The base-price at $13,653.21 for the Pace Car Replica was quite a boost over the $9,351 standard model but because it looked like an 'instant collectible,' everyone was sold.Source - Corvette Museum
No auction information available for this vehicle at this time.
1978 Chevrolet Corvette C3 Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Chevrolet Corvette C3
(Data based on Model Year 1978 sales)
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe Chassis#: 1z87l8s416069 Sold for USD$20,350 2025 Mecum : Florida Summer Special | |
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car Edition Chassis#: 1z87l8s903378 Sold for USD$27,500 2025 Mecum : Florida Summer Special | |
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car Edition Coupe Chassis#: 1z87l8s904059 Sold for USD$25,300 2025 Mecum : Florida Summer Special | |
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Silver Anniversary Coupe Chassis#: 1z87l8s428251 Sold for USD$16,500 2025 Mecum : Tulsa | |
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Silver Anniversary Coupe Chassis#: 1z8748s427736 Sold for USD$31,900 2025 Mecum : Indy | |
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car Edition Coupe Chassis#: 1z87l8s906177 Sold for USD$35,200 2025 Mecum : Indy | |
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Silver Anniversary Coupe Chassis#: 1z87l8s437263 Sold for USD$34,100 2025 Mecum : Indy | |
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car Edition Coupe Chassis#: 1z8748s903984 Sold for USD$18,700 2025 Mecum : Indy | |
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Silver Anniversary Coupe Chassis#: 1z8748s431604 Sold for USD$13,750 2025 Mecum : Indy | |
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Silver Anniversary Coupe Chassis#: 1z8748s412712 Sold for USD$11,000 2025 Mecum : Indy | |
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Silver Anniversary Coupe Chassis#: 1z8748s432089 Sold for USD$11,000 2025 Mecum : Indy | |
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car Edition Chassis#: 1z8748s900047 Sold for USD$20,900 2025 Mecum : Houston | |
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car Edition Chassis#: 1z87l8s905934 Sold for USD$24,200 2025 Mecum : Houston | |
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car Edition Coupe Chassis#: 1z8748s900199 Sold for USD$11,000 2025 Mecum : Houston | |
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Silver Anniversary Coupe Chassis#: 1z8748s440056 Sold for USD$17,600 2025 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Silver Anniversary Chassis#: 1z8748s410371 Sold for USD$23,100 2025 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe Chassis#: 1z87l8s413988 Sold for USD$16,500 2025 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Silver Anniversary Coupe Chassis#: 1z87l8s427055 Sold for USD$12,650 2025 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car Edition Chassis#: 1z87l8s901028 Sold for USD$20,900 2025 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe Chassis#: 1z87l8s417560 Sold for USD$14,300 2025 Mecum : Kissimmee |
Chevrolet Corvette C3s That Failed To Sell At Auction
1978 Chevrolet Corvette C3's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Silver Anniversary Coupe | 1z87l8s402747 | 2025 Mecum : Florida Summer Special | $11,000 | ||
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car Edition Coupe | 1z8748s904365 | 2025 Mecum : Florida Summer Special | $20,000 | ||
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Silver Anniversary Coupe | 1z87l8s437709 | 2025 Mecum : Florida Summer Special | $15,000 | ||
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car Edition Coupe | 1z8748s904795 | 2025 Mecum : Indy | $30,000 | ||
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Silver Anniversary Coupe | 1z87l8s402747 | 2025 Mecum : Indy | $11,000 | ||
1978 CHEVROLET CORVETTE T-TOP COUPE | 1Z87L8S423526 | 2025 BarrettJackson : Palm Beach | |||
1978 CHEVROLET CORVETTE T-TOP COUPE | 1Z87L8S423526 | 2025 BarrettJackson : Palm Beach | |||
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Silver Anniversary Coupe | 1z8748s412712 | 2025 Mecum : Houston | $0 | ||
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car Edition Coupe | 1z8748s904795 | 2025 Mecum : Kissimmee | $27,000 | ||
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe | 1z87l8s416069 | 2025 Mecum : Kissimmee | $17,000 | ||
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe | 1z87l8s424859 | 2024 Mecum : Kansas City | $10,000 | ||
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Silver Anniversary Coupe | 1z87l8s410737 | 2024 Mecum : Kansas City | $13,000 | ||
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car Edition Coupe | 1z8748s903733 | 2024 Mecum : Harrisburg | $38,000 | ||
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Limited Edition Pace Car Replica | 1Z87L8S903583 | 2024 RM Sothebys : Dare to Dream Online | $30,000 | $40,000 | |
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Silver Anniversary Coupe | 1z87l8s436677 | 2024 Mecum : Indy | $15,000 | ||
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Silver Anniversary Coupe | 1z8748s409631 | 2024 Mecum : Indy | $25,000 | $35,000 | |
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car Edition Coupe | 1z87l8s902475 | 2024 Mecum : Houston | $23,000 | $35,000 | $45,000 |
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car Edition Coupe | 1z87l8s903799 | 2024 Mecum : Houston | $35,000 | ||
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car Edition | 1z87l8s906443 | 2024 Mecum : Glendale | |||
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car Edition Coupe | 1z87l8s905734 | 2024 Mecum : Glendale | $27,000 | ||
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car Edition | 1z87l8s902494 | 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | $14,000 | ||
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car Edition | 1z87l8s903932 | 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | $21,000 | ||
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car Edition | 1z8748s904586 | 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | $40,000 | ||
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car Edition Coupe | 1z87l8s902554 | 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | $22,000 | ||
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe | 1z8748s404158 | 2023 Mecum : Kansas City | $13,000 | ||
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Silver Anniversary Coupe | 1z8748s421897 | 2023 Mecum : 2023 Monterey | $13,500 | ||
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Silver Anniversary | 1z8748s408916 | 2023 Mecum : Indy | $30,000 | $50,000 | $60,000 |
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Silver Anniversary Coupe | 1z87l8s430378 | 2023 Mecum : Indy | $35,000 | ||
1978 Chevrolet Corvette Silver Anniversary Coupe | 1z8748s434199 | 2023 Mecum : Indy | $16,000 | ||
1978 Chevrolet Corvette | 2023 Spring Carlisle |
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1978 Chevrolet Corvette C3
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