The 1995 Corvette was Brickyard bound May 1995 to pace the 79th running of the Indianapolis 500. This is the fourth time the Corvette has snared the pacing honors and the eleventh Chevrolet product since 1948 to be selected. The Corvette paced the Memorial Day classic in 1978 and 1986. Ending the speculations and hopes of Corvette enthusiasts and collectors everywhere, Chevrolet indeed decided to produce a very limited number of Corvette replicas to coincide with the Memorial Day festivities.
Option Z4Z delivers a nearly identical car to the actual Pace Car that was driven by Jim Perkins. The only thing missing is the strobe-equipped light bar. The Z4Z options also receives some unique treatments. The two-tone paint scheme starts with code 05U Cyclamen (a variation of Purple Metallic) for the upper and code 10L (white) for the lower. The factory painted the cars Cyclamen first and then added the white to the lower body.
The 79th Indianapolis 500 exterior decal package features a flowing ribbon that that extends across the nose panel and along the front fender line, ending with a flowing American flag with stripes trailing off beyond the doors. Official Indianapolis 500 insignias also grace the car in strategic spots on the fiberglass. A "date line" insignia, which includes the Indy 500 logo, for each door, as well as a "CORVETTE" windshield decal are part of the appearance package but aren't installed at the Bowling Green plant. The graphics package will be applied prior to shipment to the dealer, but the window shield decal and the event logo that is applies to the lower door will be packaged separately with the car, to be applied by the dealer if the customer requests.
Option code Z4Z. That's the order number for one of the 527 Indy Pace Car replicas that were built. Production of the 527 two-tone convertibles were completed in two runs. The first run of 30 cars were built the week of December 5th to accommodate the immediate needs of Indy 500 officials and for the Pace Car's official unveiling at the Indianapolis Auto Show December 28, 1994. The balance of production took place between mid-March and mid-April at the rate of 20 cars per day.
All Z4Z Pace Cars will have black interiors with a special package that includes black and purple trimmed seats with the 1995 Indy event logo embroidered in the headrests. The remainder of the interior is basic black and each car will be equipped with the Delco/Bose Cassette/CD player.
The Z4Z will be shod with special wheels borrowed from the ZR-1. The five spoke ZR-1 front wheels (which measure 17x9.5 inches) will be mounted on ZR-1 coated rotors and will be wearing 275/40ZR-17 Goodyear CS-Cs at all four corners. The wheels will receive a special finish.
The Pace Car's basic equipment includes the 300-horse power LT1 and 4L60-E automatic transmission. Even the actual Pace Car will be equipped with the 4L60-E, as Indy's own rules stipulate an automatic transmission. Mechanically, no changes are made to the actual Pace Car; the LT1 is plenty stout to get the Vette quickly up to about 120 mph. The 3.07:1 rear axle is standard.
In all, the Pace Car replicas are luxurious and unique; just what is expected in a commemorative edition Vette.
Next
Page
Last modified: Wednesday May 16, 2007 12:46 AM