1979 'non dealer prepped' 76 mile Pace Car for documentation

[Bryan Knebworth]

OP, is that the Charlotte 30th Show PC with the 17 orig. miles...

[79mustangcobra]

OP, is that the Charlotte 30th Show PC with the 17 orig. miles...

No its a different one.

[79mustangcobra]

Wiper motor stamp comparison (in that I just did a wiper motor restoration):

this car:




NPD's low mileage 79 red coupe:




I have not added this "stamp" nor the end-of-motor lettering, yet.

Hi Bob

Here are a couple more of a '300' Mile Pace Car

[roush235]

And note the front control arms are dipped in paint up to the ball joint just like a 60s Mustang.

So............... that is what I am working on today. This will be the third go-round for my front control arms. First time, I did them in black, just assuming they would be black like most of the undercarriage. (At this point in time, they were simply a rusty mess, like everything else underneath). Second attempt, I did them in the gray paint color I use to replicate unfished metal. They actually looked pretty good. Now, I learn that they are in fact 'two-tone'!!! So, this is where I will end up (after some additional de-rusting..... rust never sleeps......).

[roush235]

Every time I look at the pictures I see new details.

Me too. Like those cool yellow stripes on the big bolts holding the front control arms. I took a look at my car, and yep, I can faintly see one. So after I get some more nearby work done I will add that detail.

[79mustangcobra]

Here are some more pictures I was sent

[4eyes]

Thanks for sharing. The more details for each model year we can collect the better! I don't know if we already have an image library on the site for documenation, if not it would be a great addition. Set it up by year and model/engine/drive-train...

[FUKAZ28]

Truly awesome. Thanks so much for sharing it with us.

[79indypace]

I am the original owner of 486029, I'll pass along some history of the car.
I was working at a Ford dealer in Indianapolis at the time when the Pace cars
were coming in to the dealership, we ended up getting about 10 or so of them.
I went to the Indy 500 race that year and saw the T-top Pace car leading the
race cars around the track thats when I decided that I had to have one!
This particular car came in after the race, it was fresh off the transporter
and was waiting there when I came back from lunch, made the deal and it was mine.
Right from the start I had planned on not driving it at all other than taking it out for
a short drive each year, after the first year I decided not to drive it at all but did
start it up every year until I had moved out of state in 1995, from that point on it
sat in the garage covered up on jackstands. It sat in the garage that way until just
recently when the new owner purchased it.
Since working at the dealership I was able to get the dealer packet which had the
dealer invoice, delivery slip from the transporter company, salesman comission
voucher (he made $35 for selling the car!) and a few other neat items.

[chelms]

Thanks for the post, I'm on my 3rd one and they all have some great stories if you dig a little in their past, thanks again.

Pace Car #7632

[79indypace]

Another question; what's hiding in all of the boxes in the hatch? NOS replacement parts?

The main thing is the box that the front air dam comes in, also the box the wheel center caps come in,
NOS seat upholstery I bought, some dealership window posters and a few other misc items.

[hcmclean]

Great pics!!! lots of good info.

[79indypace]

For those of you wondering "How could you not drive the car and just store it?"
I took care of that problem. I met a guy that bought a Pace car also at our dealership
that was equiped exactly the same way and was one serial number higher so I had
486029 (new) and 486030 that I bought when it was 3 years old from the original
owner. I drove 486030 in parades and around the Indy 500 tarck as the Pace car
for our Mustang clubs annual show at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Also drove
486030 up to Michigan for the 20th anniversary show and drove on Fords test track
through the hairpin turn at full speed, what a thrill! Still have 486030 that has 74,000
miles and is original unrestored condition.

[roush235]

Thank you 79indypace for joining in and supplying the additional information. Very cool back story around your involvement with 'two' Pace Cars.

[Snow Wolf]

WOW!!! you can't get any better unless you get into a time machine.
amazing!!!!!!!

[grabbergreen84]

Still have 486030 that has 74,000
miles and is original unrestored condition.

That is cool!
Could you post a pic of the buck tag, for comparison's sake?

[Snow Wolf]

Underneath

i knew i seen them pics before. you posted it in the "underside paint color? " thread.
http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...ighlight=paint

[eric5oh]

Interesting that the factory workers were lazy and didn't snip the ends of the zip ties! As somebody that use to do A/V and Data interconnect wiring....major pet peeve of mine. I'd snip them anyway

Also appears there was a second Build Sheet taped to the front core support by the hood latch.

I looked under Daniel Carpenters last year but didn't take any pictures. I seem to recall it being about the same as this. It too was not dealer prepped and had all the boxes in the hatch area.

You don't snip the ends of cable ties, not unless you want them super sharp to slice the next guys hands. You twist them off with lineman's pliers! Pet peeve of mine. LOL. About the car, I wouldn't have anything around it. It would be in a climate controlled bubble. The flash rust would tick me off.

[sowaxeman]

Very cool story. I live in Indy and curious what dealer you worked for and purchased this car from back then? Thinking back I believe there was only Jack Smart, Don Hines and Ed Martin....not sure if Capital City was around yet?

[sowaxeman]

You don't snip the ends of cable ties, not unless you want them super sharp to slice the next guys hands. You twist them off with lineman's pliers! Pet peeve of mine. LOL. About the car, I wouldn't have anything around it. It would be in a climate controlled bubble. The flash rust would tick me off.

If you use a nice pair of side cuts, cut directly against the end, and cut perpendicular to the tie it cuts off smooth and flush....no rough edge. I know exactly what you are saying, which is why were taught that way in the communication/data field.

[79indypace]

Very cool story. I live in Indy and curious what dealer you worked for and purchased this car from back then? Thinking back I believe there was only Jack Smart, Don Hines and Ed Martin....not sure if Capital City was around yet?

I bought the car from Foxworthy Ford were I worked, it was located on the northside of Indy, today it is Tom Wood Ford.
There were several Ford dealers in the Indianapolis area back then, Foxworthy Ford, Jerry Alderman, Chuck Calahan,
Paul Harvey, Ed Martin, Sharp Ford, Jack Smart, Don Hinds and the Lincoln Mercury Dealers as well.
I believe Capital City Ford came later on.
From what I remember Sharp Ford dealer preped the parade cars that were used around Indy the month of May before
the race, they were all 302 automatics no A/C and were early serial numbered cars.

[79indypace]

That is cool!
Could you post a pic of the buck tag, for comparison's sake?

I'll have to get pictures of the buck tag etc and post them.

I have the original order sheet when from my dealer ordered the car, it showed that they ordered "3 Pace Cars"
all with the same options, 302 4spd, A/C, tilt wheel, cruise control, power door locks, tinted glass,
rear defogger and AM/FM 8 track. The three cars were 486029, 486030 and 486032.

[79mustangcobra]

I'll have to get pictures of the buck tag etc and post them.

I have the original order sheet when from my dealer ordered the car, it showed that they ordered "3 Pace Cars"
all with the same options, 302 4spd, A/C, tilt wheel, cruise control, power door locks, tinted glass,
rear defogger and AM/FM 8 track. The three cars were 486029, 486030 and 486032.

Thanks Steve for giving us the information! We all appreciate this

[JTurbo]

Even better pictures with the back story from the original owner. Too cool, thanks for posting!

[79mustangcobra]

Here is the battery with the 79 year only battery heat shield. Not sure why they did not carry this forward?