1969 camaro pace car 397/375

[John]

.... How many of these did they make <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/dunno.gif

1969 camaro pace car 396/375 (http://annapolis.craigslist.org/cto/5716895856.html)

<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif

[JBALL]

I think I read less than 2% got the 396/375. Someone else might have exact numbers. Not many I bet!

[scuncio]

Seems cheap if it's real.

[iluv69s]

seems too good to be true... L-78 4 speed pace car...hmmmm

[92646]

Take a look at the brake master cylinder area. That might be a clue.

[Craig_Maiorana]

Make sure you do some checking.. A client of mine just sold one back to a dealership in Maryland that was a clone. He bought it without checking and they got him for 46K BBC was from and 85 truck. Tag should say Z11 obviously but there are more things to look for. The CRG (camaro research group) has a nice write up about these and i am sure some of the other guys here can shed more light on what to look for.

[marxjunk]

i know they made at least 1...i had the broadcast card in my hand and the seller just couldnt let the car go, too much family history...and its still sitting on the same spot i'm sure..

[leach]

I called him and all he said no paper work and he had motor worked on last year and they decked it what does that tell you.

[92646]

I remember a real untouched L78 Pace car out of Texas that needed to be restored but that is the only real one I have ever seen.

[CanCOPO]

The Texas L78 is Rick Bawcom's car. Absolutely gorgeous. Fully documented. The sisters who bought the car still had the paperwork. I was winding up my 69 Z to keep up with him off the line. He still has it.

[COPO]

I've got a documented L-78 PC as well. Born with drivetrain including M-20. There's a few of these cars around, but not many.

[iluv69s]

They are out there...I have a real L-78 &quot;M-22&quot; pacecar..how many of them did they make????

still has original paint..still has the original M-22 with the VIN...certified by Ed C. and Jerry M.

[camaromb]

The pace car for sale discussed here is not a real L78 car per the previous owner.

[BigD69]

I know this is an old thread but, I had one and still have the vin number. I was told years ago 57 396 375 pace cars were built.

[TimG]

We will never know for sure since GM did not keep records of 396 Pace Cars. I'd like to think there were more than 57 L78's since the Pace Car was an upscale Camaro.

[earntaz]

I had a Pace Car back in the late 70's ... came out of Wisconsin with a trashed 350 -- I installed a 396. Lettering on the doors was painted by a local sign painter in Rantoul, Il. Car was sold to a person in Champaign, Il -- lost track of it after that. TAZ

[L78 Fred]

As a High School senior in 1978 I purchased my first Camaro - a L78 Pace Car
( M21/4.10) Original dealer per NCRS Taylor Chevrolet, Flemington NJ
It has patiently sat in the garage since 1979 waiting for restoration and I am diligently tracing its history back to Taylor now- it seams like the Bill Taylor the GM had fun with it for all most 1 1/2 years before it was first titled in PA on Sept 1970

I had 5 Pace Cars in my wedding in 1985.....marriage didn't last but the cars did.!...

[BigD69]

Is there a current 1969 Pace Car Registry? I also owned several and kept the vin numbers to all of them. Guess I wonder if my first one is still around I had in high school?

[Hotrodpaul]

I saw an original L-78 pace car, Automatic at Camaro Concepts in Houston some years ago when I was there shopping for parts to my L-78. White with orange houndstooth interior I believe.

[ssl78]

This was my L78 pace car it was all original and was also sold at Taylor Chevrolet Like Freds car. Pretty strange a small time dealer would of had 2 L78 pace cars

[Steve Shauger]

John, Fred called me tonight and he has made contact with key people at dealer and what the two l78 pace cars were used for. Confirms what i had been told by Bill Miller who i purchased our car from. Fred is relentless and it's paid off. I'll let him share his findings!!!!

[ssl78]

Thanks Steve cant wait to hear this.

[L78 Fred]

Further detailed explanation to follow as I collect all the bits of information that I have now
Thank you to Steve Shauger /John/Joe D as well as Brian Henderson for all of their information/Clues on the other Taylor L78 Pace Car as well as NJ Steve who introduced me to Al of Als Auto Care in Flemington who has been a great help leading me to a great group of old motor heads from the 60's and 70's who have lead me to all of the salesmen from Taylor Chevrolet

And a big "Thanks" to "Pete Leathersack" I finally pieced together enough clues to track down the former General Manager of Taylor Chevrolet and had a great first conversation with him today and this is what I found out from him directly..

Bottom line John both your car and mine were ordered for promotional events and to Pace the Flemington Motor Speedway Races during the Summer and fall of 1969, your car had some paint work done by Taylor Chevrolets Body shop to the full extent I'm not 100% sure yet- I do know the dealers name was painted on the rear,panel near/under the tail light
My car from what I believe was a factory Undercoat car which made sense for the type of oiled dirt track that Flemington was, and due to the length of the track and the need to get up to speed quickly is why the 396/375 engine 4.10 gears were ordered
Both cars when not being used to pace the race were extensively cleaned and on display in the showroom of this small dealership located on the RT12 Circle Flemington Near RT 202 when my car wasn't in the showroom it was the General Managers ( Bill Taylor now 88 years old)personal car that he enjoyed till September 1970, his daughter drove another one ( Not clear if it was an L78 or L48) for quite a while as well
I am working on documenting more facts and hopefully track pictures as soon as possible and will post more in members rides as I can
40 years almost to the day- NEVER GIVE UP!