Wow, forgot about the Cutlas Ciera. My parents had one. Not a Pace Car, though. It did have the factory mags and tach, however.
Photography courtesy Mecum
When people think Indy 500 pace car editions, Camaros and Corvettes often come to mind, because so many of them were those. However, other makes and models received the Indy 500 special edition treatment, too. What were some of those? Here are seven examples from the upcoming Mecum Indy auction on May 9-17.
[Just how valuable are Indy Pace Car editions?]
1994 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra Pace Car Edition Convertible
Estimated Value: $50,000-$75,000
The SN95 Mustang debuted in 1994 to much fanfare. Motor Trend named the fourth-generation Mustang as its Car of the Year. It was also chosen as the 1994 Indy 500 pace car. Ford made 1000 examples, with the automaker choosing its high-performance SVT Cobra model to serve as the base for the special editions. With it came the Cobra 5.0-liter V8, upgraded brakes, unique 17x8 cast-aluminum wheels and chassis tuning specific to the SVT Cobra. (As an aside, if this particular example at 31 miles doesn’t do it for you, there’s one with even less mileage, clocking in at 22.)
1970 Oldsmobile 442 Pace Car Edition
Estimated value: $52,130-$178,100, per Hagerty
The Oldsmobile 442 epitomizes big, brute American muscle car power, and the 1970 model year was the pinnacle of that for the GM marque. Under the hood, the 455-cubic-inch V8 was rated for 365 horsepower and 500 lb.-ft. of attention-grabbing torque. Oldsmobile made just 268 examples of the 442 Pace Car Edition, making it a relatively rare version of the 442.
1984 Pontiac Fiero Pace Car Edition Coupe
Estimated value: $6000-$25,000, per Hagerty
Could a car marketed as a commuter car carry the Indy 500 insignia. Certainly could. The Fiero became the first four-cylinder-powered car to pace the race since 1914 and first mid-engine car. A total of 2000 pace car editions were built. Besides the usual Indy 500 markings, this Fiero received aero body cladding and front and rear fascias that would be used on the 1985 GT.
1981 Buick Regal Pace Car Edition Coupe
Estimated value: To be determined
Back in 1981, Buick was atop the motorsports world. The Regal received an aerodynamic facelift that year and it worked in NASCAR (back when its cars were closer to stock). Richard Petty earned his last Daytona 500 win in 1981 with a Buick. Before Toyota won the 2016 manufacturers’ championship in NASCAR, the last marque other than Chevy or Ford to win that title? Buick, in 1981 and 1982. Buick made just 150 examples of the Indy 500 special edition, and this example has the standard, naturally aspirated 231 cubic-inch V6, not the beefier, optional 265-cubic-inch V8.
1996 Dodge Ram Pace Truck Edition Pickup
Estimated value: $50,000-$75,000
While the Dodge Viper GTS paced the 1996 Indy 500–the first year of the IRL-Champ Car split–Dodge also made pace truck editions of the Dodge Ram. After all, what’s more useful to clean up debris and fluids off the track, a Viper or a Ram? Indianapolis Motor Speedway CEO Tony George owned this one, with documented use during the 1996 Indy 500. Mecum is also offering another Ram Pace Truck, but without significant history (or Indy 500 insignia, for the matter).
1993 Chevrolet C1500 Pace Truck Edition Pickup
Estimated value: $15,000-$25,000
No, Dodge wasn’t the first to have an Indy 500 pace truck edition. Chevrolet had one a few years before. Likewise, while a car (in this case, a Camaro) actually paced the field, that didn’t stop the automaker from making a pace truck edition. Chevrolet made 1534 examples of the truck that sports a 5.7-liter V8 and rad-era graphics.
1989 Pontiac Turbo Trans Am 20th Anniversary Pace Car Edition Coupe
Estimated value: $35,000-$45,000
Wait, isn’t a Trans Am just a Camaro in Pontiac clothing? Shh–quiet there. A Trans Am is its own thing. Although it’s essentially a Firebird. And this special edition used a 3.8-liter turbocharged V6 from a Buick, the same one in the 1987 GNX, with a few differences. Reengineered cylinder heads, 8:1 instead of 9:1 compression and upgraded turbo capable of more boost (16 psi vs 14 psi). Advertised at 260 horsepower, many say it was underrated.
1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera Convertible
Estimated Value: To be determined
This isn’t a Pace Car Edition, per se. The Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais, driven by actor James Garner, would actually serve as the official pace car. And, yes, Oldsmobile never made a Ciera convertible. Instead, Hess & Eisenhardt specially built 35 convertible examples of a Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera to shuttle VIPs around the 1985 Indy 500, making these unique compacts unexpected collector cars.
Wow, forgot about the Cutlas Ciera. My parents had one. Not a Pace Car, though. It did have the factory mags and tach, however.
The Fiero sold for $8800.
The rest hit the block this week.
Looking at the list of Indy 500 pace cars shows that the last non-GM brand to hold that honor was Dodge (Viper) back in 1996 while it’s been all Chevy since 2002.
Okay, what did these sell for?
1994 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra Pace Car Edition Convertible: $33,000 (way below the estimate of $50,000-$75,000)
1970 Oldsmobile 442 Pace Car Edition: Didn't meet the reserve. Last bid? $57,000.
1984 Pontiac Fiero Pace Car Edition Coupe: $8800 - that's the low end of the Hagerty value scale.
1981 Buick Regal Pace Car Edition: $19,800.
1996 Dodge Ram Pace Truck Edition Pickup: $47,300 - more than the Mustang, but much less than the estimate of $50,000-$75,000.
1993 Chevrolet C1500 Pace Truck Edition Pickup: $33,000 - way above the estimate of $15,000-$25,000.
1989 Pontiac Turbo Trans Am 20th Anniversary Pace Car Edition: $60,500 - way above the estimate of $35,000-$45,000.
1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera Convertible: $8800.
In reply to J.A. Ackley :
I think I’m most impressed by the Ciera sale.
In reply to J.A. Ackley :
Mecum certainly seems like a good place to get some really good deals, depending on what you're looking for.
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