71 Challenger Pace Car - Value?

[thunderbeach]

The car was advertised at 65K but when a friend called they told him it was supposed to be $165K but the car was sold. They could have just been playing games with him. I just talked to the owner of this car and he is asking $40K and would like to see around $35K.

[Andy]

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I just talked to the owner of this car and he is asking $40K and would like to see around $35K.

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That sounds like a fair price for a convertible e-body. Especially one as special as this one.

[StealthBird]

The 1971 Challenger Pace Car was famous, but not in a good way. It was always be remembered as the Pace Car that nearly killed a dozen reporters at the Indy 500. It will the recklessness of the driver (local car dealer) that changed the policy for the selection of the Indy 500 Pace Car and Pace Car Driver forever. From 1972 on, the Pace Car would be driven by an experienced driver, and local dealers would no longer be involved in promoting or sponsoring the race. In fact, the 1971 accident scared away the Big 3 from sponsoring the 1972 race, but George Hurst saw an opportunity to promote his new 1972 Hurst/Olds, and that became the 1972 Pace Car.

This backstory of the 1971 Challenger Pace Car doesn't have anything to do with its value today, but among Indy 500 Pace Car fans, the 71 Challenger Pace Car will always be remembered as the most embarrassing Pace Car incident in Indy 500 history.

Here's the footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTNDPmIO4Lw

[njsteve]

Actually it was not the pace car driver Eldon Palmer of Palmer Dodge that caused the wreck - It was the track people who caused it.

During the weeks before the race he had been practicing with a disc brake equipped car. He knew exactly where to start braking by the placement of specific braking marker cones/flags on pit road.

On the day of the race, the track people replaced his disc brake car with a four wheel drum brake equipped car. To make matters worse, the braking marker cones/flags were removed after the race started.

He came down pit road hard and fast, noticed too late that there were no cones, started braking, and if you have ever driven a Chrysler with 4 wheel drums you know what happened next...the brakes faded out to nothing. He actually had a clear shot to roll out onto the apron at the end of pit road but the track officials stood in the pit lane exit giving him the choice of killing them or going under a grandstand.

You can actually see in the film footage the track people standing in the exit lane, directing him right into the media stand. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTNDPmIO4Lw

The actual pace car was not very heavily damaged. It had some fender and hood damage and was purchased a few years back from Mr. Palmer by a collector.

[Chevy454]

Never heard about any of that...that is WILD!

[MosportGreen66]

wow. was anyone hurt?

[njsteve]

A bunch of the reporters were thrown around and injured, but not seriously.

Imagine the final scene in Animal House when the Deathmobile crashes into Dean Vernon Wormer and friends perched on the grandstand. That's basically what happened.

[Hylton]

[ QUOTE ]
The car was advertised at 65K but when a friend called they told him it was supposed to be $165K but the car was sold. They could have just been playing games with him. I just talked to the owner of this car and he is asking $40K and would like to see around $35K.

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Pretty sure that very car crossed hands a few years ago for 55K. Not bad a price at 35K.