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  1. #1
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    Default Is it or isn't it?

    Recently, I purchased a 1979 mustang with the Pace car hood scoop, the air dam, rear spoiler and the running horses on either side. No Indianapolis 500 logo down either side. It did have a turbocharged 4 cylinder, now long gone.
    So, is this a true Pace car or not?
    What makes a true pace car?

  2. #2
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    Default Is it or isn't it?

    Recently, I picked up a 1979 mustang.
    It has the Pace car hood scoop, MUSTANG lettering on the hood, front air dam, small rear spoiler and the fading running horses on either side.
    NO Indy 500 logo down either side like I've seen on other pace cars.
    What makes a true Pace car for 1979?
    It does have the turbocharged emblem on the passenger side above the glove box door and I was told it did have a turbo 4 cylinder, long gone now.

    Like the title says, is it or isn't it a Pace car?
    What do I need to look for to determine its authenticity?

    Thanks in advance.
    Mike

  3. #3
    FEP Power Member 4-barrel Mike's Avatar
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    Default

    Show us a pic of the bucktag.

    Mike

  4. #4
    FEP Power Member Broncojunkie's Avatar
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    Default

    VIN will end in 48xxxx. The "48" designates it as a pace car and the last 4 numbers will tell you the succession in which it was built.

  5. #5

    Default

    Try This:
    Unique Features of the 1979 Mustang Pace Car
    The 1979 pace car was the only Mustang to have fog lights. This required a different wiring harness for the front of the car – these harnesses will/would be marked “Pacecar.”
    Safety belts have “Firestone” under the buckles
    The front shoulder belts have a tag saying “Indy Replica” stitched in them
    (The only way to verify this is to remove the interior backseat panel and unwind the belt.)
    Pace cars were delivered with a card in/under the dash pad that says “Pacecar”
    Pace cars have the numbers “48″ in the VIN
    All 1979 Pacecars came with Recaro Seats
    A 5.0L car will have a “F” in the 5th spot in the VIN and a 4cyl turbo will have a “W” in the 5th spot in the VIN.

  6. #6
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    Default

    The last 7 of the VIN are W481614.
    And as for the other stuff, well, it came to me as a bare rolling shell. No drive train, and no interior, except for the steering wheel, dash and dash pad. The dash pad was in the rear, all torn up. Not even the heater box was there.

    Looking at the front, it does have the hanger for the fog lights and wiring harness.

    But why does it not have the INDY logo on the sides behind the running horses?
    Last edited by mikes82GT; 09-06-2016 at 10:21 PM.

  7. #7
    FEP Power Member Fearnot's Avatar
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    According to the VIN you've got a pace car, congrats! As far as the Indy lettering, they were shipped with the car and it was up to dealers/owners to have them actually put on the car.
    88 Turbo Coupe auto
    88 Turbo Coupe 5spd
    79 Fairmont Futura 4.6
    79 Capri RS - 2.3/5spd restomod
    80 Capri 5.0/5spd project
    79 Zephyr Z7 factory 5.0 sunroof
    79 Pace Car 5.0/5spd project
    85 LTD LX factory 5spd?(not documented)
    86 GT conv 5.0/5spd
    79 Pace Car 2.3/4spd - needs new home

  8. #8
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    Default

    Where would I find the buck tag? I looked on the front of the core support and its not there like it is on my gt. Where else could it be?

  9. #9

    Default

    Does the VIN begin with 9F or 9R?
    Axle Tag Decoder
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    FEP Registries: Black Magic & Crimson Cat / Cobra / Dominator / G.T.350 / LTD LX/Police & Marquis LTS / M81 / Pace Car / Predator / Saleen / Turbo GT & Turbo RS / Twister II

    Wanted (Dead or Alive): VINs, door tags, buck tags, build sheets, window stickers, owner cards, transmission tags, axle tags

  10. #10
    FEP Power Member Fearnot's Avatar
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by mikes82GT View Post
    Where would I find the buck tag? I looked on the front of the core support and its not there like it is on my gt. Where else could it be?
    If it's not there, it's probably MIA. On the left side front of the the radiator support is the only place I've seen Mustang/Capri tags. I have a LTD that had it screwed to the bottom of the radiator support.
    88 Turbo Coupe auto
    88 Turbo Coupe 5spd
    79 Fairmont Futura 4.6
    79 Capri RS - 2.3/5spd restomod
    80 Capri 5.0/5spd project
    79 Zephyr Z7 factory 5.0 sunroof
    79 Pace Car 5.0/5spd project
    85 LTD LX factory 5spd?(not documented)
    86 GT conv 5.0/5spd
    79 Pace Car 2.3/4spd - needs new home

  11. #11

    Default

    If it was built at San Jose (VIN starting with 9R) the tag may not be high on the core support but rather low, behind the driver side headlamp, similar to where the 1987-93 Mustang tag was located.

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    FEP Registries: Black Magic & Crimson Cat / Cobra / Dominator / G.T.350 / LTD LX/Police & Marquis LTS / M81 / Pace Car / Predator / Saleen / Turbo GT & Turbo RS / Twister II

    Wanted (Dead or Alive): VINs, door tags, buck tags, build sheets, window stickers, owner cards, transmission tags, axle tags

  12. #12
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by FoxChassis View Post
    Does the VIN begin with 9F or 9R?
    The vin starts with 9R. I'll look behind the drivers headlight and report back.

  13. #13
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    Default

    It is behind the drivers side inner headlight bucket. Unfortunately, I am not able to access it to check it out. Will need to remove the bumper cover and I'm not doing that at this time.

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