Back in the 1960s, muscle cars were kings of the industry, and you could see them everywhere, from the city streets to the tracks where America’s famous races were being held. Obviously, the most spectacular incarnations of these cars were to be seen on the race tracks.
At the end of the decade, when the battle with rival Ford and the others was at its peak, Chevrolet managed to sneak on the Indianapolis race track with a special version of the Camaro. The apparition was an instant hit, and the nameplate continued to pace the races there intermittently for decades to come.
There were not that many original 1969 Camaro pace cars made – jut 133 of them, 130 of which used as festival and courtesy cars. Needless to say, that makes them nearly impossible to find and incredibly valuable.
This original run was followed by a replica run decades ago and a tribute series in 2011. The car you can see in the gallery above is not of the official ones that rolled on the Indianapolis racetrack, but a replica.
That doesn’t make it less exciting, though. Sporting the same colors as the original – Dover White exterior over an orange houndstooth interior - it packs all the right elements that make it resemble the pace car: graphics, spoilers, a cowl induction hood, and 15-inch Rally wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich raised white letter tires.
The car was for sale with no reserve on Bring a Trailer, and the owner says the car’s engine, the same one as used on the pace cars, a 350ci V8 (5.7-liter), was rebuilt as well. It continues to be tied to the original three-speed Turbo 350 automatic transmission and shows 94,000 miles (151,000 km) since new.
The auction for this Camaro concluded earlier this week, and the car went for $46,000 complete with a service history file, spare parts, and a clean Colorado title.
There were not that many original 1969 Camaro pace cars made – jut 133 of them, 130 of which used as festival and courtesy cars. Needless to say, that makes them nearly impossible to find and incredibly valuable.
This original run was followed by a replica run decades ago and a tribute series in 2011. The car you can see in the gallery above is not of the official ones that rolled on the Indianapolis racetrack, but a replica.
That doesn’t make it less exciting, though. Sporting the same colors as the original – Dover White exterior over an orange houndstooth interior - it packs all the right elements that make it resemble the pace car: graphics, spoilers, a cowl induction hood, and 15-inch Rally wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich raised white letter tires.
The car was for sale with no reserve on Bring a Trailer, and the owner says the car’s engine, the same one as used on the pace cars, a 350ci V8 (5.7-liter), was rebuilt as well. It continues to be tied to the original three-speed Turbo 350 automatic transmission and shows 94,000 miles (151,000 km) since new.
The auction for this Camaro concluded earlier this week, and the car went for $46,000 complete with a service history file, spare parts, and a clean Colorado title.