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Genuine W44/W43 Indy Pace Car Replica. Somewhere along the line it lost its decals. Otherwise it’s original. Still has the aluminum hood, sport mirrors, 15x7 SSII wheels, 4 spoke sport steering wheel and 4BBL 403 that made up the W44 pace car package.
Other options include power windows and door locks, 6-way power split bench seat, power antenna, AM/FM Cassette, power trunk release, cruise control and the all-important litter container in the passenger footwell
70,000 miles on the odometer. From the minimal pedal wear and the lack of any rattles or squeaks I believe it’s 70,000 not 170,000. No rust other than a spot on the rear bumper.
I drove it 80 miles today. Runs smoooooth. Fired right up, everything works except the clock and the antenna. Cold this morning and the heater was A+.
Needs paint, a new / uncracked dash and some small interior bits. I’m not quite sure what I’m gonna do with it. I generally like to keep things bone stock… but part of me wants to make this a more accurate 77 pace car tribute… Can’t do the removable Landau top so ‘more accurate’ would mean -
High Back Bucket Seats
Center Console (but still column shifted)
15x8 SSII Wheels with chrome lips
Higher compression / hotter cam on the 403 (I think the real cars had warmed over 455s…)
Anyway, on to the (not professional in the CVS parking lot) pictures ‘cause that’s what you’re all here for anyway -
Last edited by mapearso; December 9th, 2023 at 12:39 PM.
Reason: Typo!!
It probably never had the decals since they came in the trunk along with the front license plate bracket. Some dealers installed them for showroom duty, most left it up to the customers whether they wanted them installed.
Neither of the two Pace Car replicas sold here had them installed. Neither car survived well either after their first owners. One ended up with a crackhead who sold parts off it to finance his addiction, the other got driven into the ground.
Some people should not be allowed to own special cars.
It probably never had the decals since they came in the trunk along with the front license plate bracket. Some dealers installed them for showroom duty, most left it up to the customers whether they wanted them installed.
Neither of the two Pace Car replicas sold here had them installed. Neither car survived well either after their first owners. One ended up with a crackhead who sold parts off it to finance his addiction, the other got driven into the ground.
Some people should not be allowed to own special cars.
Interesting. Possible for sure the decals never made it onto the car.
It was originally sold at Poier Motors in Snohomish Washington. I have all the original paperwork.
Would love to find the dealer license plate frames!!
However an original road test says special cam (same as Toronado), with true dual exhaust and dual catalytic converters producing 225 HP, special TH350, special torque converter, 3.23 rear gear and she ran 15.35 @ 90 MPH without air filter. That performance puts it in L82 territory for 1977. And one of the quickest cars money could buy for that year. 2401 were built ... https://www.gminsidenews.com/threads...ket-88.136617/
That 225 HP version is said to be identical to the Original Pace Car. And capable of performing a 0-120 MPH in 30 seconds. A prerequisite to being able to pace an Indy 500 at the time.
I was under the impression that the Pace Car Replicas available to the public came with 200 HP ?
Could you post some pictures of the interior? Maybe a few of the engine compartment? I've been looking for one of these for about 4 years now. My post is still listed in the cars wanted section of this site. I currently own a 1978 Delta 88 Holiday coupe but was looking for a 1977 pace car before I bought my car. These are very hard to find. I'd leave it all stock including the super stock wheels. It would be hard to find another set in the 5 x 5 pattern.
Could you post some pictures of the interior? Maybe a few of the engine compartment? I've been looking for one of these for about 4 years now. My post is still listed in the cars wanted section of this site. I currently own a 1978 Delta 88 Holiday coupe but was looking for a 1977 pace car before I bought my car. These are very hard to find. I'd leave it all stock including the super stock wheels. It would be hard to find another set in the 5 x 5 pattern.
However an original road test says special cam (same as Toronado), with true dual exhaust and dual catalytic converters producing 225 HP, special TH350, special torque converter, 3.23 rear gear and she ran 15.35 @ 90 MPH without air filter. That performance puts it in L82 territory for 1977. And one of the quickest cars money could buy for that year. 2401 were built ... https://www.gminsidenews.com/threads...ket-88.136617/
That 225 HP version is said to be identical to the Original Pace Car. And capable of performing a 0-120 MPH in 30 seconds. A prerequisite to being able to pace an Indy 500 at the time.
I was under the impression that the Pace Car Replicas available to the public came with 200 HP ?
The 77 Pace cars came from the factory with the same 185 hp 403 that the other B and C bodies did. Only the Toronado had 200 hp due to electronic spark control and a better exhaust system.
The 5 speed pace car is mine. The 15.60 @ 87 was run at 3000 feet elevation. The 403 (actually 407, bored over .024 for KB405s) was choked by a stock A4 intake and stock exhaust manifolds, though the car does have true dual exhaust.
To the OP: Sun exposure will DESTROY any silver paint left on that car in a short period of time if left outdoors. If you can store it indoors and/or cover it, it'll save what paint is left. I don't know if a wipe-on type of patina preserver would help or not. If the silver paint feels chalky it'll probably wash right off. My first car, a 1978 Delta 88 also had silver paint and it started to do the same thing on the hood and trunk.
The 5 speed pace car is mine. The 15.60 @ 87 was run at 3000 feet elevation. The 403 (actually 407, bored over .024 for KB405s) was choked by a stock A4 intake and stock exhaust manifolds, though the car does have true dual exhaust.
Love it, thank you so much for chiming in. Corrected to sea level that comes out to 15.23 @ 89.20. So your ride performs like the Delta that actually paced the race. And as quick as the original 442. Very nice.
Can you provide the cam specs and test weight for that pass?
I figure the original 185 hp 403 is 210 hp with true dual exhaust. Depending on her weight your Delta may be producing considerably more....
Love it, thank you so much for chiming in. Corrected to sea level that comes out to 15.23 @ 89.20. So your ride performs like the Delta that actually paced the race. And as quick as the original 442. Very nice.
Can you provide the cam specs and test weight for that pass?
I figure the original 185 hp 403 is 210 hp with true dual exhaust. Depending on her weight your Delta may be producing considerably more....
The cam is a Comp Cams XE262, .475/.480 lift, 218/224 duration @ 0.050. I believe its installed straight up, I know I degreed the cam when I installed it. I built the engine around 2005-2006. The car weighed 3950 lbs at the time, no carpet, no spare tire/jack/hardware and a 1/4 tank of gas.
After the zip tie drags I installed a Performer RPM intake, some sanderson shorty headers, and MSD atomic EFI. Installed a fuel tank from a TBI Caprice and a Walbro 255 fuel pump. I should have bought long tube headers instead but I wanted the ground clearance due to the car being lowered. I haven't been able to take it back to the dragstrip since but I bet it'll run in the 14s now. The bottom end only has main bolts and no girdle so I don't like spinning it over 5500 due to the windowed main webs. It does have ARP main/rod/head bolts and the rotating assembly is balanced.
The cam is a Comp Cams XE262, .475/.480 lift, 218/224 duration @ 0.050. I believe its installed straight up, I know I degreed the cam when I installed it. I built the engine around 2005-2006. The car weighed 3950 lbs at the time, no carpet, no spare tire/jack/hardware and a 1/4 tank of gas.
Runs great. She showed 220 hp net as was.
I see you are detail oriented as am I. So I am figuring you are aware. But just to compare notes ...
The pass was incredible, once your et shows more hp than from the mph (unless you let up). You've maxed her out. Gearing, traction, and shifts must of been near perfect. I would think the mods with correction put you in the 14s. Coaxing more hp out of her is what was missing. The cam has plenty more ...
Dynoed at 307 HP and 411 LB FT (218/224 cam, intake, headers, carb) gross ...
My take...
185 HP becomes 210 HP going from single to true dual exhaust net.
210 HP becomes 270 HP going from net to gross.
307 HP becomes 262 HP going from gross to net with headers.
December 9th, 2023, 12:38 PM
