Photos of the originals from the track

one more

Cool Pics!!
Has anyone ever outfitted their car with that that awesome strob?
Wouldn't that make a great third brake light?

Matt Murphy added that light to his 1993 Festival car #29. The same car he changed to a 6-sd.

Where would youget that strobe light housing or were they custom made for GM?

I am pretty sure they were custom made for GM, they were fiberglass and fit over top of the the stock roof band. Someone had to custom make them originally so whoever that was had a mold that they probably held onto. They used the same housing on the 1993 Indy Pace Car and the 1996 Brickyard Pace Car. I have never seen one of these offered for sale any place...but like everything else...if you know who to talk to you could probably get one even today.

The rear ends on these were a little unique also. They had a fiberglass filler panel between the rear wing and decklid that was painted black and also had a bank of lights built into it.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: indyzdanny,

This shot verifys that there were at least 3 of the T-top versions of the pace car. Two in the forefront and one in the background. That background group included one of each of the camaro pace cars up till that time.

Here are the cars in the background of that last shot.

Is Matt Murphy a member of this site?

WOW Danny, GREAT photo's indeed, THANKS!!!! Myself, Greg Jackson, & his son Ryan installed an 8 bulb 90 watt strobe light package on my 97 tribute car. It looks so AWESOME when they are all going at once especially at night!!!! We installed 4 bulbs up front (high beams & amber side markers) & 4 bulbs in the rear. (reverse lights & amber turn signals) I have spoken with the man in charge of delivering the GM Pace Cars to different events on several occasions & he told me that they did get rid of the mold for the roof lightbar on the 96 & 93 Pacer. He also told me that he was going to try & get me into the GM Museum to measure the mold of the 93 that they still have on hand so that I could FINALLY look into getting a roof lightbar fabed up. I would also measure while I was there, the rear piece between the spoiler & deck lid to fill that in as well with the amber lights. I will pass on the info. once I hear back from him (his name doesn't come to me right now)if you are willing to go further with your 97 tribute car like I am! Then lastly, I would have to get a strip of lights for the front air dam. Then it would be a perfect tribute car & wouldn't even be able to tell the difference! Thanks again for ALL the info. & photo's! Keep em coming,r Brian

quote:

Originally posted by indyzdanny:
Along with the two actual T-top coupe Pace Cars, GM also made one HARDTOP Pace Car. GM brought that car to the Camaro/Firebird Gathering in Bowling Green at the Corvette Museum one year. I seem to remember it being car #3 on the windshield. Some of you who attended may remember that they had it displayed inside the museum along with other cars they brought for that show. GM did sell their t-top car at Barrett Jackson, but the Indy Motor Speedway still has theirs and bring it out every year at the Brickyard 400 for a lap of the track along with all the other year Brickyard Pace Cars.

Do you have a picture of this hardtop that you are refering to? I would LOVE to see it! I didn't know that GM made a hardtop for that race.Thanks Danny.

quote:

Originally posted by indyzdanny:
Here is one other interesting thing about the two t-top actual Pace Cars from the 1996 Brickyard 400. Even though they called those two cars 1997 Camaros, I have been told that they were actually 1996 Camaro Z28's with upgraded cosmetics to make them look like what the 1997 30th Anniversary Models would look like. I have been told that they did this because when they started getting the cars ready for race duty that the 1997s were not available yet. In fact when GM sold the one a couple years ago at Barrett Jackson, they listed it as a 1996 Camaro. If you do a search in the sales archives of Barrett Jackson you have to find that car under the 1996 year instead of 1997. Anyone else know anything about this?

Yes Danny, all of the "official track cars" were 96 Camaro's along with the GM one that was sold at Barrett Jackson. That's why when you see one in person and look at the dash board, it is a 96 dash that's totally different than the 97 Camaro dash. The 97's were not ready for race duty just as you stated.

This sounds interesting. If you should get as far as making the 'roof strob', perhaps others, myself included,('93 festival car) would be interested in getting one and share in the expense.

Will do Heather!