1978 Corvette Pace Car to Hit Auction in Greensboro

The low-mileage collector vehicle spent nearly five decades in a dealer showroom before heading to the block.

Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Car Culture

A 1978 Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car replica with only 57 miles on its odometer will be auctioned in Greensboro in November 2026. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Is it better to preserve a classic vehicle in a showroom or drive it regularly?

A 1978 Chevrolet Corvette L48 Pace Car replica, featuring just 57 miles on its odometer, is set to go under the hammer at a local auction in early November 2026. The vehicle remained in a dealer showroom for nearly five decades after its production.

Why it matters

This rare survivor offers a look at a piece of automotive history that has remained untouched since the late 1970s. Collectors and enthusiasts often value such low-mileage examples for their preservation of factory-original condition.

The vehicle is a 1978 Chevrolet Corvette L48 Pace Car replica with 57 miles, well below the 1,000-mile standard for survivor status. The engine is a 350-cubic-inch V8 producing 185 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque.

The players

Chevrolet

The American automotive manufacturer responsible for the Corvette, a long-running sports car line first produced in 1953.

GAA Classic Cars

The auction house facilitating the sale of the 1978 Corvette Pace Car replica in Greensboro.

The details

The 1978 Corvette Pace Car replica was produced to commemorate the 62nd annual Indianapolis 500. This specific unit is finished in the iconic black, red, and silver livery and carries the official race graphics. Chevrolet identified genuine replicas by placing a 9 in the eighth digit of the VIN, distinguishing them from standard models of that era.

1978: The Chevrolet Corvette Pace Car replica was originally produced.
2025: The vehicle was finally removed from its long-term Chevrolet dealer showroom.
Early November 2026: The vehicle is scheduled to be sold at auction.

The Home Front

This rare auction item sits within the broader market of high-value survivor vehicles that have been largely untouched by road wear. Such cars often serve as benchmark examples for collectors tracking the appreciation of specific 1970s American sports car production runs.

If you are storing a classic vehicle in a home garage, ensure you maintain a climate-controlled environment to prevent interior degradation. Owners of vintage cars should keep original documentation, such as the window sticker or dealership records, to maintain maximum potential value.

The takeaway

This auction provides a rare look at a near-mint vehicle that has spent nearly its entire life in a showroom. Owners of vintage cars should prioritize consistent indoor storage and document retention to preserve the collector status of their own vehicles.