Amazing Indy 500 Corvette Pace Cars Art and History by K. Scott Teeters
Indy 500 Corvette Pace Cars Tribute Art
First, a bit of Corvette pace car history by Vette magazine
artist and columnist, K. Scott Teeters:
Corvettes Pace the Indy 500 a record ten times since 1978.
(Will Corvette Do It Again Soon?)
“The Indy 500 race is arguably the most popular race in motor-sports. Early in ‘78 the Corvette world went wild with speculation when news was released that the Corvette would be the Indy 500 pace car, and that replicas would be available. Priced at what was then a mind-boggling $13,653, some buyers paid as much as $25,000 to grab a piece of Corvette history!
Eight years later, the Corvette was again chosen to pace the ‘86 Indy 500. But this time, Chevrolet trumped speculators and designated all ‘86 Corvette roadsters as “pace car replicas.” Since then, Corvette Pace Car-replicas have been limited-production cars and are highly collectible.
Many years ago, Indy 500 pace cars were performance-enhanced versions of their production cousins. Since the arrival of the C5s, stock Vettes have been more than up to the job. To date, Corvettes have paced the Indy 500 a record ten races. How fitting it is that “the greatest spectacle in motor racing” has honored America’s favorite sports car, the Corvette, so many times!”
What kind of a Corvette would YOU
like to see pace the 2010 Indy 500?
See the story copy at the very end of this post for some interesting speculation and to add your own two cents.
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Artist K. Scott Teeters Salutes the Indy 500 Corvette Pace Cars
with his “Corvette Pace Cars Tribute” Color Giclee Print Series
Over the years, automotive artist and car columnist, K. Scott Teeters has chronicled many of the individual Corvette pace cars that have celebrated the start of the famous Indianapolis 500 racing series. Check the Corvette Pace Car Category link on this Corvette Report blog to enjoy these Illustrated Corvette Series articles that have appeared in Vette Magazine. And as usual – always a part of The Illustrated Corvette Series column – you will find Scott’s beautiful pen and ink renderings – great Corvette art that Scott has created to honor the Corvette Indy 500 pace cars.
The BIG NEWS
You have come to enjoy the black and white pen and ink renderings of Corvettes that Scott has created for Vette Magazine for over thirty years. From time to time you have seen his beautiful color art renderings as well. Scott has outdone himself with his latest “Tribute” art! Scott’s company, Free Spirit Enterprises, LLC introduces a line of 12 new color giclee prints to honor the 11 Corvette Pace cars that have participated in the popular Indy 500. The Corvette Pace Cars Tribute montage first appeared as a center spread in the December 2009 edition of Vette magazine.
The “Corvette Pace Cars Tribute” color giclee series includes the 1978, 1986, 1995, 1998, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 & the two 2008 Corvette Pace Cars. This amazing color print series depicts all 11 Corvette Pace Cars – the 6 production versions and 5 one-off Corvette Pace Cars that were not offered as replica options for new Corvette buyers.
The series starts with the first black & silver 1978 Corvette Pace Car and finishes with the stunning 2008 “Gold Rush Green” E85 Z06 Pace Car. 12 prints are offered in all. The most popular color giclee print displays all 11 Corvette pace cars in one exciting montage. Color giclee prints are available for each individual Corvette Pace Car from 1978 to 2008 so that you can pick your favorite to display on your garage or car room wall!
12 Beautiful Prints for the Corvette Enthusiast!
Each vibrant giclee Corvette Pace Car print is created on high quality Summerset Watercolor Paper, is signed by the artist, and numbered in a series of 500. You may request specific numbered prints and they will be provided if still available.
Twelve stunning color giclee prints are offered in four sizes
- 11” x 17” (image size 9.5” x 12”) – $99.95 + $4.95 S&H
- 20” x 23” (image size 14.25” x 18”) – $199.95 + $12 S&H
- 25” x 30” (image size 19.8” x 25”) – $299.95 + $25 S&H
- 33” x 40” (image size 27” x 35”) – $499.95 + $35 S&H
What is “giclee”?
Giclee (pronounced gee’clay) is a French term meaning to spray or squirt, which is how an inkjet printer works. However, it is not the same as a standard desktop inkjet printer.
High quality, professional use, Giclee printers use special light-fast inks, which, if kept out of the sun, will remain true for up to 25 years. The image has all the tonalities and hues of the original color artwork.
Giclee is the finest and most expensive reproduction process in use today and sought after by true art collectors as the most accurate and valuable art prints to own. The giclee process uses digital technology printing with archival inks and paper producing the most stunning reproductions.
Each archival quality print is hand signed and numbered.
These prints will make an excellent gift for your favorite Corvette person.
The new Corvette pace car prints and Scott’s Corvette art collection are available at www.IllustratedCorvetteSeries.com.
Feel free to call 1-800-858-6670 est to place an order or to ask questions.
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The 11 Individual Corvette Pace Car Color Giclee Prints
Click on the Art to See a Larger View
The Details:
1978 Corvette Pace Car
Total Produced: 6,502
Approximate Price New: $13,653.
1986 Corvette Pace Car
Total Produced: 7,315
Approximate Price New: $32,032
1995 Corvette Pace Car
Total Produced: 527
Approximate Price New: $46,481
1998 Corvette Pace Car
Total Produced: 1,163
Approximate Price New: $49,464
2004 Corvette Pace Car
Total Produced: No Production Version
2005 Corvette Pace Car
Total Produced: No Production Version
2006 Corvette Pace Car
Total Produced: No Production Version
2007 Corvette Pace Car
Total Produced: 500
Approximate Price New: $68,245
2008 Corvette Pace Car
Total Produced: 500
Approximate Price New: $68,160
2008 Corvette E85 Pace Car
Total Produced: No Production Version
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Did you know–
Corvette Pace Cars do not need engine enhancements to be up to the high-speed challenge of pacing Indy 500 cars.
Unlike the olden days of Indy 500 pace cars, from at least 1995 forward, Corvette Pace Cars did not need any engine enhancements to be up to the high-speed challenge of pacing Indy cars with a street car. The only changes made to Corvettes for pace car duty is the addition of a roll bar, strobe lights, and a few other very minor details.
Corvettes don’t only pace the Indy 500. Corvette Pace Cars have worked the Daytona 500, All State 500, and many other races. Once in a while those cars show up at auction, but it’s not often because unlike the Corvette Pace Car replicas, the other pace car Corvettes usually number less than a handful, making them quite rare.
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For more Corvette history, insights and art from K. Scott Teeters, check the categories on this blog or visit The Illustrated Corvette Series website at www.illustratedcorvetteseries.com.
Save the Wave – K. Scott Teeters
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Corvette Pace Car Links, Websites, Blogs
and Videos for You to Enjoy…
- The Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car Registry is intended as a gathering place for owners and enthusiasts of all Corvette Pace cars.
- Visit our eBay store, Corvette Gear for Pace car prints and other cool Corvette merchandise for the Corvette Enthusiast.
- The website, IndyPaceCars.com is devoted to all the cars that have paced the Indianapolis 500 over the years. Known as The Greatest Spectacle in Racing, the Indy 500 showcases the very best in automotive technology.
- CorvetteBlogger.com has a sweet article called Corvette Values: 11mile 1978 Corvette Pace Car.
- Go to RogersCorvette.com for another nifty article, this one on the 1995 Indianapolis PaceCar Covertible – Festival Car #106.
- Cool 2007 Corvette Pace Car photos here at the Barrett Jackson Autoblog.
- Pace car facts from Indy500.com.
- K. Scott Teeters, color giclee pace car prints available in all sizes at The Illustrated Corvette Series website Pace Car page. Or call 1-800-858-6670 with any questions.
- Fun Youtube Video salutes 10 years of Corvette Pace Cars at Indy 500. Hear Dinah Shore sing the See the USA in a Chevrolet song. Very hip!
- More Youtube Videos on the Corvette pace car listed on our Squidoo Pace Car Page!
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What kind of a Corvette would YOU
like to see pace the 2010 Indy 500?
2010 Indy 500 Corvette Pace Car Pace Car Speculation
Score another accolade for the Bow Tie Boys at Chevrolet for the 2010 Camaro Indy 500 Pace Car at the 2009 Indy 500 race. Now that all the fan-fair has died down, the question naturally arises, “What will pace the ‘10 Indy 500?” Chrysler announced last month that it is ending production of the Dodge Viper, so the snake is out. Pontiac is going off to Summerland, so don’t look for a new Trans-Am Firebird. (Bummer! MAJOR bummer!) There are several hot Mustangs that could handle the job. And then, of course, there’s the Corvette.
Hmmm… Let’s see, which Corvette might pace the 500 next year? The production model has already proven itself more than capable. Perhaps a Grand Sport Pace Car? (Think of the collectability!) Another Z06, maybe? Or might there be an all-wheel-drive ZR1? (OH WOW!!!) Given the challenges GM is currently facing, it’s not likely that we’ll see an AWD ZR1, but you never know. It’s also possible there might be a larger displacement engine for the ZR1. (“anything” is possible, right?) Granted, the LS9 ZR1 engine was limited to 376 CID so that the compressed engine would survive durability tests. However, a 427 ZL1 “could” be made. After all, three years ago, who would have imagined that Chevrolet would build and offer a supercharged Corvette?
And we might not have to wait much longer. Chevrolet product planners and Indy 500 organizers announced the ‘08 Corvette Pace Cars a full six months ahead of the annual race. If another Corvette pace car is in the works, they’re probably working on it right now. (mid-August ‘09) So, we might have our answer as early as December. As they say, “Hope springs eternal.” So cross your fingers, say your prayers, and stay tuned.
What kind of a Corvette would YOU like to see pace the 2010 Indy 500? Let’s hear some cool ideas. – K. Scott Teeters
ADD YOUR TWO CENTS!
