Jim & Diane McCracken's 1978 Corvette Pace Car

I distinctly remember the day, it was early May of 1978, my wife and I went to the local Chevrolet dealer to see the new "Indy Pace Car" on their showroom floor. When we entered the showroom, there it was, "STRIKING", is the only word I can use to describe it!

The contrast of the black upper body against the silver lower body, separated by the red stripe, the highly-polished aluminum wheels with red stripe, the mirrored t-tops, the bright silver leather interior, and the front and rear spoilers, made this car very special.

Obviously, this car had a "SOLD" sign on it as virtually all the others did - and sold at well over the M.S.R.P. In my earlier single years, I had a '65 and '68 roadster and a '76 coupe, and have never been able to extinguish the fire to own a '78 Pace Car.

In the spring of 1985, I saw a classified ad for a 1978 Pace Car. My wife and I quickly drove to New Jersey to see it. It was in excellent condition with less than 6,000 miles with everything working except the cruise control. The asking price was higher than what I felt the market value was so, as painful as it was, I returned home without it. Several weeks later, my wife and I attended a Corvette Show, and there it was again with a "For Sale" sign on it. I again spoke to the owner who had not reduced his asking price. At that point, I made him an offer for the car and told him I was going to Europe on a business trip the next week. I asked him to call me the next Saturday. I'm glad it was a business trip with full expenses paid by my company since my thoughts the entire time were about the Pace Car and whether I should call and up my offer. The bottom line - I didn't call and up my offer and obviously the call I received from the owner when I returned home from my trip resulted in us being the NEW owners.

The first thing my wife and I did was to get a personalized license plate, "A-PACER", for the car. The car is used very infrequently, about 14 miles per year over the last nine years - seven miles to the state inspection station and seven miles home.

I love this car dearly and will never sell it! It is now surrounded by a 1962 White/Red Roadster, a 1992 Aqua 6-speed Coupe, a 1998 Red/Oak 6-speed Roadster (Museum delivery), and a 1998 6-speed Pace Car. All my friends in the RCGC (Red Corvette Gourmet Club) are awaiting the garage sale my wife is planning the day I die. Just kidding, of course, I think, for without my wife's support and approval, I would not have the toys I enjoy today!

Jim & Diane McCracken
Harleysville, PA
NCM Lifetime #596