1982 Pace?
Well I've searched and can't seem to be able to figure this one out... Got a car that is claimed to be a pace car (was repainted all gray). Is there a way to know *for sure*? It has blue under the repaint on the lower half and the interior seems correct -- of course the front seats are trash

VIN
1G1AP8774CL144941

Stuff from the tag on the radiator
C 04A 1FP87 L 1444941
26G 16L 16U W
AQ9 CC1
D S 051972

Thanks for any clues

 

there may be a RPO code for that package.. does that car have the RPO sticker in it. either in the glove box, or in the rear locking compartment.

 

Nope... from what I found the 82&83's didn't have a RPO code sticker - only the plate on radiator support. If there was supposed to be another sticker it is either long gone or *really* well hidden.

 

Does the car still have the original rims? If so, there will be a red band around the face of the rim. The interior on a Pace car is specific to the car. The seats are silver with blue fabric inserts. The dash badge also says Indy 500. The cowl tag is a good start with the 16L and 16U. That denotes the paint colors used. All Pace Cars are labeled with 16 upper and lower. The 26G denotes Navy interior. Check under the passenger seat in the springs of the seat for the build sheet. All Pace cars originally had them in the passenger seat. If it's there, look for RPO code Z50. It might not be there anymore as the car is 20 years old now. The VIN designates the car was built in March and the cowl tag dates the 1st week of April (04A). That was the correct time frame for a Pace Car build. It sounds to me like you have a legit pace car.

 

Thanks, I think Really what I have is a fix'r'up'r. It does have the rims with the red stripe (well most of it) -- I'll look for the build sheet in the springs when I get a chance. Thanks!

 

Found the build sheet! It was all in peices though - really bad shape. On the last coloum found Z5X (could not read the last digit) - Indy Special -- Looks like I have a pace car Since it needs to be repainted anyway, might as well make it look right.

What are the correct GM paint codes for the pace car in 1982?

 

Not so fast chief. Check the build sheet to be sure the vin on the sheet matches the vin on the car. If you're going to scrap a pace car for parts, and you put the seats in another car, then you'd also transfer that build sheet... See what I"m saying?

 

True... it has all the VIN but the last three digits. So it is possible that the car isn't a Pace, but I'm not planning on selling it. The car's drivetrain is so far from stock it really isn't going to matter (not only did the previous owner repaint with a chrysler grey, but they put in a gm crate engine 350 - the BOTTOM end one - patched over the hood louvers - and scrapped the stock ECM). The peice of the build sheet that has the last of the vin is either still in the seat or lost forever. Were the pace cars made sequentially?

 

I agree With that statement.

 

Check the check digit. If its the same then the build sheet is correct. The check digit is calculated from all the numbers in the VIN.

 

The radiator tag has interior code 26G which was the pace car interior code. Looks legit to me. As far as pace cars being built sequentially, no they were not.

 

I agree, Drew, however, in this case, there are too many items that are pointing to a pace car that don't really require this. He has the specific rims, the interior, and blue paint under the silver. The cowl tag decodes correctly with color schemes and build dates. I think it would be too coincidental that all of this matches on this particular car, and it might not be legit. If it were any other car, I would do this, but these items are specific to the pace car only and the build sheet just backs it up. Even if he can't verify the VIN on the buildsheet.

No, the pace cars were not built sequentially. They were mostly built during March and April, but not in any sequential order. The original Pace Car was built in October 81 and the backup was built in February 82.