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- Introduced: October 6,1977
- Model-year production: 46,772 (but some industry sources have reported a total of 47,667)
- Calendar-year production: 48,522
- Calendar-year sales by U.S. dealers: 42,247
- Model year sales by U.S. dealers: 43,106
- The limited-edition Indianapolis 500 Pace Car replica was created to commemorate the selection of Corvette as the pace car for the 62nd Indianapolis 500 race on May 28, 1978.
- A production run of 2,500 was planned, but so many potential buyers who saw it at the New York Auto Show in February wanted one that the goal quickly expanded to 6,500 or roughly one for every Chevrolet dealer.
- Buyers also had to endure a selection of "forced RPOs" (items installed at the factory whether wanted or not).
- The mandatory extras included power windows, air conditioning, sport mirrors, a tilt-telescope steering wheel, a rear defogger, an AM/FM stereo with either an 8-track tape player or CB radio, plus power door locks, and a heavy-duty battery.
- Before long, the original $13,653 list price meant little, as speculators eagerly paid double that amount and more.
- Later the price retreated to around the original list.
- Even though so many were built, the Indy Pace Car is still a desirable model.
- Dave McLelIan became head of engineering for Corvettes and worked on the next-generation models.
- The axle ratios used in cars sold in California and high-altitude counties were switched from 3.08:1 to 3.55:1.
- A total of 12,739 had the optional L82 engines, 3,385 Corvettes had the M21 four-speed close-ratio gearbox, and 38,614 had automatic transmission.
- A total of 15,283 displayed the $399 special two-tone "Silver Anniversary" paint combination with silver metallic on top and charcoal silver on the lower body.
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