The best Indianapolis 500 pace cars of all time

Now it’s time to accentuate the positive. Here are some of the greatest Indianapolis 500 pace cars through the years. 

 

Earlier here at Mac’s Motor City Garage, we had some sport pointing out some of the lamer Indianapolis 500 pace cars in the 102-year history of the event. All in good fun. However, sometimes the times, the circumstances, and the planets all come into perfect alignment, creating a popular and memorable “pacesetter,” as the ceremonial vehicles were originally called.

Credit where it’s due. Here, in MCG’s view anyway, are some of the best Indy 500 pace cars through the years. How about you? Have a favorite or two?

 

1946 Lincoln Continental — The Indianapolis Motor Speedway almost didn’t survive World War II. Abandoned and rotting, the Brickyard was rescued in the eleventh hour by Terre Haute grocery tycoon Tony Hulman. For the 1946 race, the first Indy 500 in five years, Ford Motor Company stepped up with a posh Lincoln Continental pace car, while VIP driver Henry Ford II (shown here behind the wheel) supplied the event with renewed gravitas. The Speedway was back on the map.

 

1955 Chevrolet Bel Air — In May of 1955, Ike was president, the New York Giants were the World Series champs, and I Love Lucy was America’s number-one television program. What better car to represent the Indy 500 than the all-new 1955 Chevy V8? And who better to represent Chevrolet than America’s songbird, Dinah Shore?

 

1965 Mustang — The timing was impeccable. Unveiled only a few weeks earlier at the 1964 New York World’s Fair, the 1965 Mustang was a huge story in its own right when it appeared at the Speedway in May as the pace car for the 1964 Indy 500. Today, the marketing people call it synergy.

 

1991 Dodge Viper SRT/10 — Dodge snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with its 1991 pace car, the Viper. The automaker originally appointed its Stealth sports car, a badge-engineered Mitsubishi, but encountered major pushback from patriotic fans. Dodge quickly substituted the Viper, then still in development, creating one of the more noteworthy selections ever.

 

1935 Ford Phaeton — Everything about the Ford Motor Company’s epic assault on the Indianapolis 500 in 1935 was a PR disaster—everything, that is, except the classy pace car, a sleek Deluxe Phaeton, and its passenger here, aviator Amelia Earhart.

 

1969 Chevrolet Camaro — Here’s probably the most popular pace car with the collector crowd today. A desirable car to begin with, the ’69 Camaro with the RPO Z11 pace car package features attractive colors and graphics and a very distinctive interior. Home run.

 

1941 Chrysler Newport — With only six built, the Chrysler Newport easily qualifies as the most exclusive of Indy pace cars. Designed by Ralph Roberts and custom-built in aluminum by LeBaron on the long-wheelbase Imperial chassis, the dual-cowl phaetons boasted celebrity owners including Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. and Lana Turner.

 

2014 Corvette Stingray — It’s too early to say the 2013 official vehicle has pace car greatness, but it has the ingredients: new-model timeliness and relevance, check. Performance credentials, check. Great colors and graphics with classy, understated pace car signage, check. Looks like a winner. Who wouldn’t want this pace car in their own garage?

 

22 thoughts on “The best Indianapolis 500 pace cars of all time

  1. You missed the boat by not including the 1970 or 72 Hurst Oldsmobiles. They definitely should be included ahead of the 91 Dodge Viper.

  2. You should have included the ’78 Corvette, the ’70 and ’72 Hurst Olds convertibles, the ’82 Camaro and the ’23 Duesenberg. And how about the ’61 Thunderbird? ’67 Camaro?

  3. I have a fondness for the 1956 Desoto Fireflite, mainly because I just like the styling.

    I agree on the 1969 Camaro. One would think that orange houndstooth upholstery would be absolutely repulsive, but it worked. I think that’s when the corner turned on Indy pace cars. Before that they were not very different from the standard models, with just a simple graphic on the doors. After that, the color schemes and graphics became more flamboyant.

    I’m getting tired of the steady stream of Camaros and Corvettes though. A return to concept cars like the 1941 Newport would be a welcome way to break up the monotony. Going back to 1911, GM has had four times more pace cars than either Ford or Chrysler. I remember the Stealth/Viper outcry and wonder what the reaction would be today as Fiats and Dodges are becoming closely entwined.

    Really looking forward to this year’s 500; hope it’s as thrilling as the previous two. Hoping that we don’t have a new four time winner.

  4. I’am trying to find out what happened to the 46 Lincoln Continental that HF11 drove in the 46 race. There’s a picture of it or one like it on the web but not sure that’s the original car. Does anyone have any further information on the car?

    • I’m not sure what happened to the car but the car was painted a special color for the occasion. It was a pale yellow appropriately named “Pace Car Yellow”. It was then made a standard color for the following years, 1947 & 1948.

  5. Being a “Camaro guy,” I confess to a certain partiality toward F-bodies. I think the ’67 Camaro is worthy to be among this exclusive group — Camaro’s pace car debut, with L-35 big-block power, helped to put Chevy’s ponycar on the map in its first year of production. Similarly, the ’82 Camaro Pace Car was a sweet package that heralded the arrival of the third-generation F-body. Tasteful (by pace car standards) silver and blue graphics, and an all-aluminum 350ci small-block under the hood. Sadly, the 6000 or so replicas were equipped with 305 V8s rated at 145 hp (carburetor) or 165 hp (fuel injection).

    Unfortunately the current marketing tie-up between Chevrolet and IMS has devalued the pace car program by producing an endless succession of Corvettes and Camaros. This year’s metallic blue Stingray is a welcome change from some of the garish graphics of the recent past.

  6. In looking over the replies here, we have quite a prestigious list of professional car guys. I can’t tell you how proud I am that you have taken the time to visit. John, Rick, everyone — Thank you!

    • In bygone days, I used to read magazines and newspapers to avoid doing productive work. Now I just surf . . .

      And I second the motion that Hurst Oldsmobiles should be included in this august group, as long as Linda Vaughn is part of the deal.

  7. 1989 Pontiac 20th Anniversary TA Turbo, fastest Firebird before the LS1. Still looks great. 140+ top end, 13.5 ET, all from a pushrod Buick motor. Honorable mention to the 1979 Mustang, set the tone for the Fox body GT. Roush’s 5.0 build for this program went a long way re establish Mustang performance.

  8. the 1989 pontiac 20th Anniv.trans am was the baddest fastest cars out next to the zr1.these cars ran between 140 all the way to 160plus in cool weather.they are still one of the fastest pace cars ever with a turbo v6.

  9. The new Corvette Pace Car looked good today. interesting race except having to finish under caution. I wonder in they would ever consider a green/white /checker finish?

    • The Fiero is an interesting choice for Pace Car, and an interesting vehicle in a number of ways. MCG hopes to do a feature soon.

      • How did it not make the list? Considering it was the fastest Pace Car of the time <84, First Mid-Engine Pace Car, and only a N/A 4 Cylinder….

  10. Definitely the 1970 and 72 Olds Hurst cars or at least the 70. These cars today are a popular collectable. Much more so than any Dodge Viper substitute.

  11. How could the ’89 GTA Turbo not be on this list? The first to go from assembly line directly to the Indy starting line without any engine/transmission/chassis modifications? In fact, I only found this site looking to see if it still holds that distinction as the only unmodified pace car. I suspect that the ’14 Vette was unmolested too, but I can’t seem to find any evidence to that.

  12. The 1935 Ford pace car is a convertible sedan, not a phaeton. The sedan has roll up windows and the Phaeton has snap along the window sills for the side curtains. Also the sills themselves are very different.

    • WOW!!! What a show! I’m 96 years old and so happy and proud to have a racing buddy to send this to me clear out here in California. My first race at Indy was when Wilbur Shaw won, I think, his 3rd, race. Man! what great memories.

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