The 1963 Chrysler Pace Setter on display in
Arizona. (The Tomaso Collection)
Remember Pontiac’s jingle about Winder’s Better,
Y’all?
Like the Martin Auto Museum, who’s vast
collection quickly outgrew it’s original building. With proprietor Mel Martin
buying up an entire city block!
There’s just so Mucho to talk about that my
story quickly outgrew its original footprint, which is quite typical here at No
Fenders. So Y’all guessed it, I cranked out another story, Toh-Duh!
Somewhere past the one plus hour mark, my most
excellent Docent Jeff steered me past two Pace Cars sitting side-by-side. The
first peaking my Attention, being the 1963 Indianapolis 500 Chrysler 300, the
year that ‘Ol Rufus Parnelli Jones became the first to qualify at 150mph.
As the feat was celebrated by awarding Parnelli
150 silver dollars, before Jones won the race in ‘Ol Calhoun. J.C. Agajanian’s
Watson Roadster.
A 1963 Chrysler 300 convertible Pace Car was
driven in the 47th Indianapolis 500 by 1957 Indy 500 winner Sam Hanks, with IMS
owner Tony Hulman riding Shotgun. The last Pace car awarded to the team owner.
Thanks to Rick DeBruhl, who’s detailed many of
these vehicles with His Auto Evolution series, I learned that said Chrysler 300
was a Pacesetter edition. With 1,861 convertibles being sold as celebratory
models to commemorate Chrysler pacing that year’s Indianapolis 500.
VIDEO: 1963 Chrysler 300
Pacesetter
Alongside this Chrysler 300 Pacesetter sat
perhaps a Pontiac? Something that paced a NASCAR race, possibly the Day-Toner’
500? But don’t remember what race it was from.
A follow-up phone call with Martin Auto Museum
docent Gene revealed that it was indeed a celebratory 1988 Pontiac Pace car.
After a little more sluicing, err sleuthing.
From the Museo’s website I learned it was a 1988 Pontiac Grand Prix SE Pace Car
edition of that year’s Daytona 500 Pace Car. When Bobby Allison won ahead of
Davey, with the father-son duo finishing 1-2.
Although the sixth generation Pontiac Grand
Prix won Motor Trend’s 1988 Car of the Year award, the actual Daytona 500 Pace
Car was heavily modified. Since the Grand Prix came stock with an anemic 2.8-litre
transverse mounted V-6 lump’ rated at 140Bhp, be still my beating Heart!
Rick DeBruhl completely describes this W Body
front wheel drive sedan in the video below.
VIDEO: The Sleekest car of
1988 - The Pontiac Grand Prix
Photo C/O No Fenders Blogmeister’ Miguel.
