[shelbymotorsports]

Some of you may have seen other boards discuss this LeBaron Pace Car. It is now on ebay, see the link below. For the others I'll post a quick summary.

Back in 1987 Carroll Shelby was the pace car driver for the Indy 500. The offical pace car was a Chrysler LeBaron convertible. Chrysler built 4 identical pace cars for the race. After the race one of the pace cars went to the winner of the race, another went to the Indy 500 museum, another went to Chryslers museum and the fourth one went missing.

Well this missing fourth pace car turned up earlier this year at a CART bankruptcy auction. It turns out that after the Indy 500 this fourth Pace car ended up at PPG paint who painted it a really wild paint scheme, that was popular at the time and then was used as a track car at several smaller races.

From there it looks like it got mothballed in a warehouse until this bankruptcy auction earlier this year when it was purchased by two guys as an investment.

If I recall they tried to sell this car on those other boards with I guess no takers so now they have it on ebay. I don't recall exactly what they want for the car but keep in mind they were upfront saying they purchased the car as an investment so I wouldn't expect the reserve to be very low.

Steve

EBAY AUCTION

[sdac guy]

We had that car on display at the SDAC booth at the Mopar Nationals a couple of weeks ago.

It is an amazing paint job on the car (despite the color choices). All the trim was removed from the car for the body to be painted, and then the trim was painted to match and re-installed. For example a stripe going down the drivers side of the car goes across the door handle as it came to a point. The handle was removed for the door/body painting process, then the handle was painted to match the narrowing stripe scheme. That kind of detail in the painting of the car is evident everywhere. And that detail is also what would make repainting it to the original red very difficult to say the least.

The mechanical quality of the car is exceptional also. Not only the car's engine was modified for pace car duities, but the chassis was also brought up to the required safety specs. It is a unique piece of Mopar history, but I think it may be a tough sell. The car is not street legal, has never been titled (plated), and I don't think it can be. With only about 1400 original miles, the car is like new in nearly every other aspect.

Barry

[shelbymotorsports]

Quote

The car is not street legal, has never been titled (plated), and I don't think it can be.

Good point Barry. I agree that "legally" it could never be registered for use on the street. But then again would you want to be seen on the street with that paint job. Just a joke (but you know you all agree )

Steve

[sdac guy]

shelbymotorsports, on Aug 23 2008, 03:13 PM, said:

Good point Barry. I agree that "legally" it could never be registered for use on the street. But then again would you want to be seen on the street with that paint job. Just a joke (but you know you all agree )

Steve

LOL! When I was contacted about it, my first reaction was that I didn't want anything that ugly at our spot. But as I became convinced of it's authenticity, I felt it was an historically significant vehicle and that if I turned it down I might regret it later.

As it turned out, it was pretty neat! I sort of got used to the paint scheme over the two days it was there. And I marveled over the attention to detail of the modifications. I never realized how much preparation goes into those cars. It even has an on-board fire suppression system!

Here's a couple of pics, the first one of the owner backing it into the spot behind our tent. And the other of it tucked in behind us. That was for Saturday. On Sunday, I let him park it at the side and I parked my Daytona in the back.

[shelbymotorsports]

sdac guy, on Aug 23 2008, 02:40 PM, said:

On Sunday, I let him park it at the side and I parked my Daytona in the back.

Hey I see someones white Daytona that would look great with that PPG paint job

On a positive note PPG painted many other cars just as bad. Here's a GMC Syclone that they painted almost as wild as the LeBaron.

Steve

This post has been edited by shelbymotorsports: 23 August 2008 - 04:02 PM

[rare_ram]

At least it's not pink.

[NordicShelby]

I'm glad the 80's are over I don't miss my parachute pants.

[rare_ram]

What about BIG HAIR??? Watch the Wraith, lots of 80s in that movie.

[glhs444]

ccmellies, on Aug 23 2008, 09:54 PM, said:

I'm glad the 80's are over I don't miss my parachute pants.

Well just be glad you don't have yourself plastered on a LP cover wearing a set of red P pants holding a Flying V, like our motorhead friend Sammy H.....


I never owned a set, but I had the bitch'n hair.....however now if I wear it that long, I look like Swazie's (sp) mentor from the movie Roadhouse.

[ilmor]

I long for the good old days of the Indy 500 when every race car wasn't a Honda and every pace car wasn't a Chevy!!!!

[glhs444]

ilmor, on Aug 24 2008, 05:47 AM, said:

I long for the good old days of the Indy 500 when every race car wasn't a Honda and every pace car wasn't a Chevy!!!!

Yep them's was the good ol days...When you could mention Indy Car and everyone understood what it was and meant.

I also miss the IMSA GTP Series, some great race cars from that era.....I won't forget watching Lynn ST. James figuring out the hard way of creating two Ford Probe GTP racers....

[RickM]

I helped with putting together the history of the car and provided the VIN's to the other 3 pace cars.

I think the owner has high expectations for the value of the car. Unfortunately, I don't see the car pulling in big $ at the present time.

[shelbymotorsports]

RickM, on Aug 25 2008, 07:47 AM, said:

I think the owner has high expectations for the value of the car. Unfortunately, I don't see the car pulling in big $ at the present time.

Well the auction closed at $6,350 reserve NOT met. I'm sure the seller was probably disappointed that their investment didn't do better.

That paint can't be helping any but I agree it's now part of the cars history.

Steve

[OMNI-Potent]

shelbymotorsports, on Sep 3 2008, 11:33 AM, said:

Well the auction closed at $6,350 reserve NOT met. I'm sure the seller was probably disappointed that their investment didn't do better.

That paint can't be helping any but I agree it's now part of the cars history.

Steve

I'm my discussion with the owner, I'm sure that $6,350 is not even HALF of what he wants for the car. There is no question it's an awesome piece of history and if I had money burning a hole in my pocket, I would probably go for it.......

This post has been edited by OMNI-Potent: 03 September 2008 - 10:59 AM

[StokedShelbyOwner]

Kinda makes me wonder A) How much he invested How long can he afford to wait for his investment to reach maturity
I'm thinking real estate is still a better equity builder...

Alan

[OMNI-Potent]

StokedShelbyOwner, on Sep 3 2008, 05:51 PM, said:

Kinda makes me wonder A) How much he invested How long can he afford to wait for his investment to reach maturity
I'm thinking real estate is still a better equity builder...

Alan

I agree....market research is critical for something like this. He did mention that the Old Calais Quad 4 PPG Pace car went for $50K!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[shelbymotorsports]

It's back on ebay if anyone wins the lottery and wants something really different. You will get noticed in this car. Hmmm are they making any more of those Fast n' Furious movies? Might just fit in.

Steve

Ebay Auction

[Michael_Valentine]

Did you say Fast N Furious?

[shelbymotorsports]

Michael_Valentine, on Sep 6 2008, 05:55 PM, said:

Did you say Fast N Furious?

Thats just not right. A 1968 Mustang with a Nissan engine.

Yeah its one of Nissans best engines but it just doesn't belong in a Mustang. Was this part of the FnF storyline?

Steve

[Michael_Valentine]

Was the car in FnF 2 Tokyo Drift Movie.