1979 Pace car

[jcash1995]

I have the chance to pick up a 1979 Pace car for cheap. $500 cheap. It needs a bit of body work (the lower front cover is missing, and the floor pan has a crack behind the driver's seat) and the original turbo-4 is gone. I plan on rebuilding this car specifically to sell.
I have several different routes I could take with this:
-Completely restore (engine, trans, new paint, etc)
-Restore the body and interior and resell as a roller.
-Build this as a kind of "Tribute" car. I would be keeping all the original Pace car parts, except for updating the engine (5.0), trans (T-5) and mechanically make this car more fun to drive.
Would deviating from the Turbo-4/4 speed hurt the value of the car or should I really focus on making this as original as I can?

[82mustang]

-Build this as a kind of "Tribute" car. I would be keeping all the original Pace car parts, except for updating the engine (5.0), trans (T-5) and mechanically make this car more fun to drive.

That one gets my vote, they are rare but not enough to make me keep one stock(if i had the chance to own one), i would do a 351w, maybe with a hairdryer or two(yeah, i wish), T5, disc 8.8, etc.. but keep it looking otherwise stock, some nice wheels, stock interior, etc.. I wouldent buy this car to sell, but rather keep and pass it on to my kids

[2manycars]

i would do a 351w, maybe with a hairdryer or two(yeah, i wish), T5, disc 8.8, etc.. but keep it looking otherwise stock, some nice wheels, stock interior, etc.. I wouldent buy this car to sell, but rather keep and pass it on to my kids

One of my friends/customers is building a Pace Car similar to what you describe. it currently has a 351w, T5, coil-over suspension, and a turbo coupe 8.8 w/3.73 gears. Next will be a roll cage, and then some road racing fun.

It still looks like a stock Pace Car, but should handle like it's on rails.

[BAD5oh]

How much of a profit do you see yourself making on this??? Just curious

[eeprete]

This sounds more like a car to buy if you were to keep it and enjoy. Unless its a numbers correct car, the resale value likely won't be near what the enjoyment value may be (if you are into pace cars).

I have seen a couple of #1 cars get between 15-18K, but with less than 100 miles. Most driver type cars its tough to crack the few thousand dollar mark, but one never knows what the future holds.

As for their rarity, its tough to find nice ones of these anymore. There were roughly 11000 in total, but most have gone to the crusher (as with many cars through history).

[pacecarman]

MY opinion, the car would be a money pit to try to restore to sell. Parts are hard to find and if you find them there extremely high priced. Plus having lived in Illinois for 30 years I would suspect that the undercarriage is most likely rusted bad. Plus there is no market for the pace car's really. I don't think I would even buy one that cheap to try to restore to sell. I'd buy it and fix it up as say a daily driver. They still turn heads 28 years later.

JUST MY 2 CENTS.

[jcash1995]

I just got my own body shop and haven't got any other business going. My wife is encouraging me to resurrect older cars as my full-time job (we don't want me to have to go back to factory work). Next in line after this car, I have a 1980 hatch (nothing special until I get ahold of it), then possibly a 1987 Monte Carlo SS (Nascar style?). All are getting cosmetically restored, then some mechanical improvements. My goal is to profit $500 per week of build time. So, if I get this down to a 6 week build, I need $3000 for labor. This means the car needs to sell for $3500 + plus cost of parts. My budget for this car is $3000 in parts. This car would have to sell for around $7000.

This will by no means be a #1 car. Like I said, a few parts (engine, trans) are missing. These missing parts will keep it from ever being a #1 car.

But, by doing all the mechanical and body work myself, with my wife stiching up the interior (she's a bit excited about getting to stich up those old Recaros) and using more common and reliable parts, I stand a better chance of making a higher profit and expanding my business. Not to mention, I get the satisfaction of saving another rare Four-Eye.

Now, I need to pull that cowl and three piece spoiler, so I can make a mold and start producing a few fiberglass copies.

[pacecarman]

Hope it turns out good when done. Post some before and after pic's.

[gregpro50]

I plan on rebuilding this car specifically to sell.


I wish you luck.

[dburdyshaw]

That one gets my vote, they are rare but not enough to make me keep one stock (if i had the chance to own one), i would do a 351w, maybe with a hairdryer or two (yeah, i wish), T5, disc 8.8, etc.. but keep it looking otherwise stock, some nice wheels, stock interior, etc.. I wouldnt buy this car to sell, but rather keep and pass it on to my kids

x2