The Keith Busse Corvette Pace Car Collection we are looking at today was offered at the Mecum Indy Auction in Indy on March 19, 2018. The person who purchased the Corvettes also received two tickets to the 102nd Running of the Indianapolis 500 Race on May 27, 2018. The collection Sold for $1,600,000.
At the time of this post, America’s Sports Car, the Chevrolet Corvette has paced the Indianapolis 500 more than any other model in history with a total of 14 races under its belt. Later this month the 2019 Corvette ZR1 will pace the 2018 Indianapolis 500 making the record 15.
The Keith Busse Corvette Pace Car Collection we are looking at today will be offered at the Mecum Indy Auction in Indy March 19, 2018, and two tickets to the 102nd Running of the Indianapolis 500 Race on May 27, 2018, will also be included with each car the will be sold.
The collection will first be offered together as one complete set, however, if an acceptable offer of purchase is not achieved, each car will then be offered individually without reserve.
So who is Keith Busse? We learn from the Mecum’s website that Keith is the founder of Steel Dynamics Inc. in Fort Wayne, Indiana and he has had a passion for Corvettes his entire life. He has collected these pace cars for decades. He has “the only privately owned complete set of its kind in the world.”
Keith’s incredible collection has at least one example of every year that Corvette paced the Indy 500.
According to the auction website, we learn that this is not our ordinally Corvette Pace Car Collection. It says, “What makes this collection so assuredly singular in its existence are Busse’s 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2017 examples, as the pace car editions from those four years were never offered for sale to the public. Rather, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Chevrolet gave Busse special authorization to duplicate the pace cars from those years using the officially licensed paint schemes and pace car graphics. The official Indianapolis 500 graphics were sent directly from the decal manufacturer to Fort Wayne, where they were applied to the cars at Tom Kelley Chevrolet before Busse took delivery.”
The first year that Corvette paced was in 1978, the same year that Corvette was celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Here are some of the features of Keith’s 1978 Corvette Pace Car:
- 997 original miles
- Bloomington Gold Certified in 1996 scoring 98.2
- NCRS Top Flight award in 2016 scoring 97.8
- Very highly optioned
- L82 350/220 HP V-8 engine
- 4-speed transmission
- Factory air conditioning
- Power steering, brakes, windows and locks
- Tilt column, cruse control
- AM/FM/CB radio with 8-track player
- Glass T-Tops
- Two-tone Black and Silver paint
- Silver leather interior
- Polished aluminum wheels
- Goodyear GT Radial tires
- 1 of 6,502 Pace Car Editions built
The next car is a 1986 Corvette Pace Car. Only 732 of those were painted the same yellow as the Official Pace Car driven by retired Air Force Brigadier General and aviation pioneer Chuck Yeager.
- 4,983 original miles
- Bloomington Gold Certified
- NCRS Top Flight Award
- 1 of 732 Yellow Corvette Convertibles produced in 1986
- L98 350/235 HP V-8 engine
- Late production aluminum heads
- Tuned Port Injection
- Automatic transmission
- Factory air conditioning
- Power steering, brakes, windows, locks and mirrors
- Power adjustable sport seats
- Charcoal leather interior
- Delco-Bose stereo system
- Black soft top
- 16-inch wheels
- Goodyear Eagle directional tires
This 1995 was an Official Indianapolis 500 Pace Car, 1 of 3 Official Track-Driven Pace Cars for the 2004 Indianapolis 500.
- A Pace Car Edition was never offered to the public in 2004
- Part of the GM Heritage Collection until 2008
- Part of the Bob McDorman Collection from 2008-2010
- Part of the Keith Busse Collection since 2010
- Pace Car strobe lights still intact
- 579 original miles
- Special Old Glory Red, White and Blue paint and graphics
- Red leather interior
- White soft top
- LS1/350 HP V-8 engine
- Automatic transmission
- Dual zone air conditioning
- Power steering, brakes, windows, locks, seats and mirrors
- Driver’s memory package
- Heads up display
- Delco-Bose CD stereo system
- Chrome 5-spoke wheels
- Goodyear Eagle F1 tires
This 1998 Pace Car only has 905 miles on it. Other highlights are:
- Bloomington Gold Certified in 2016 scoring 99.6
- NCRS Top Flight Award in 2016 scoring 99.5
- 1 of 1,163 Pace Car Editions produced in 1998
- Special Pace Car Purple and Yellow paint scheme
- Special Pace Car graphics and lettering
- Special Black and Yellow leather interior
- Yellow-painted wheels, Black soft top
- LS1 346/345 HP V-8 engine
- 6-speed transmission
- Heads up display
- Dual zone air conditioning
- Power steering, brakes, windows, locks, seats and mirrors
- Delco-Bose CD stereo system
This 50th Anniversary Red with Shale interior 2003 Corvette Pace Car is a Serial No. 14 Pilot Car Indy 500 Pace Car.
- Serial No. 14 Pilot Car Indy 500 Pace Car
- 1 of 40 Pilot Cars built in early 2002
- 1 of 5 Track-Driven Official Indy 500 Pace Cars in 2002
- 1 of 4 surviving Pace Cars from the original group of 5
- The only Track-Driven 50th Anniversary Pace Car in private hands
- The only example featuring body side moldings with Indy 500 Decals applied over them
- After the race, this car traveled all over the United States as one of GM’s Ambassadors to help celebrate Corvette’s 50th Anniversary
- Mr. Busse was forced to wait one year before accepting delivery due the car’s demonstrator status
- Of the 5 Track-Driven Pace Cars: one was gifted to race winner Helio Castroneves, one was placed in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, one was given back to General Motors, one was sold to a GM executive (eventually destroyed) and this Pace Car was delivered to Mr. Busse
- 3,515 original miles
- 50th Anniversary Red with Shale interior
- Indy 500 and 50th Anniversary graphics
- Champagne-painted wheels
- LS1/350 HP V-8 engine
- 6-speed transmission
- Dual zone air conditioning
- Magnetic Selective Ride Control
- Power steering, brakes, windows, locks, seats and mirrors
- Driver memory package
- Built in February 2002
This 2004 is 1 of 3 Official Track-Driven Pace Cars for the 2004 Indianapolis 500.
- Official Indianapolis 500 Pace Car
- 1 of 3 Official Track-Driven Pace Cars for the 2004 Indianapolis 500
- A Pace Car Edition was never offered to the public in 2004
- Part of the GM Heritage Collection until 2008
- Part of the Bob McDorman Collection from 2008-2010
- Part of the Keith Busse Collection since 2010
- Pace Car strobe lights still intact
- 579 original miles
- Special Old Glory Red, White and Blue paint and graphics
- Red leather interior
- White soft top
- LS1/350 HP V-8 engine
- Automatic transmission
- Dual zone air conditioning
- Power steering, brakes, windows, locks, seats and mirrors
- Driver’s memory package
- Heads up display
- Delco-Bose CD stereo system
- Chrome 5-spoke wheels
- Goodyear Eagle F1 tires
2004 Indianapolis 500 Festival Car that was Gifted to Buddy Rice for winning the Indianapolis 500 Race.
- In 2004, White Corvettes and Red SSRs were driven during the Sponsor/VIP laps prior to the race
- 115 original miles
- LS1/350 HP V-8 engine
- Automatic transmission
- Magnetic Select Ride Control
- Dual-zone air conditioning
- Arctic White with Indy 500 graphics
- Official Pace Car licence plate #65
- Red leather interior
- White soft top
- Polished aluminum wheels
- Goodyear Eagle F1 tires
- Purchased from Buddy Rice in March 2011
- Part of the Keith Busse Collection since 2011
This 2004, Track Car No. 22, only has 442 miles on it!
- In 2004, Corvettes and Colorados were driven by dealers from Chevrolet’s North Central sales region in a ‘Dealer Drive-Away’ parade lap. The Colorados were Red or White and the Corvettes were white or Blue and hauled the celebrities and nearly 100 members of the military from all branches
- 442 original miles
- Le Mans Commemorative Edition
- Special LeMans Blue paint with Shale interior and soft top
- Special Indy 500 graphics
- Official Pace Car license plate #522
- LS1/350 HP V-8 engine
- Automatic transmission
- Magnetic Select Ride Control
- Dual zone air conditioning
- Delco-Bose stereo system
- Polished aluminum wheels
- Goodyear Eagle F1 tires
Six of the 2005 Corvette Pace Cars received a Silver painted stripe with Red Bowtie on the hood as well as the Indy 500 Graphics and seat embroidery. This is No. 6 of 8 Corvettes designated as Track Cars and was Track-Driven Indianapolis 500 Pace Car in 2005.
- 1,384 original miles
- LS2/400 HP V-8 engine
- Automatic transmission
- Victory Red with Black leather interior and soft top
- Polished aluminum wheels
- Navigation, heated seats
- Power convertible top
- Dual zone air conditioning
- First year for push-button start in a Corvette
- This was the Indianapolis 500 track debut for the C6 Corvette
Our next Pace car is a 2006. Here are some of its highlights:
- 1 of 5 Corvettes finished in this paint and decal scheme
- Three Pace Cars were built for the 2006 Indianapolis 500
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Chevrolet authorized only two people (Keith Busse and Roger Penske) to duplicate 2006 Corvette Pace Cars with their licensed paint scheme and decals
- The paint scheme is an abstract U.S. Flag design with Victory Red and Cobalt Blue ribbons over Arctic White
- Chevrolet Red Bowtie on hood
- 7,210 original miles
- 2LZ Z06 Preferred Equipment Group
- LS7 7.0L/505 HP V-8 engine
- 6-speed transmission
- Dual zone air conditioning
- Heated leather seats with Red stitching
- 6-piston front and 4-piston rear disc brakes
- 14-inch front and 13.4-inch rear cross drilled rotors
- 19-inch rear and 18-inch front Z06 wheels
- P325/43ZR19 rear and P275/35ZR18 front Goodyear Eagle F1 tires
- Curb weight of 3,132 pounds
With only 160 miles on this 2007 Corvette Pace Car, it is 1 500 Indy 500 Pace Car Editions produced in 2007 and painted Atomic Orange with Indy 500 graphics.
- Black leather interior and soft top
- Special Indy 500 headrest embroidery
- LS2/400 HP V-8 engine
- 6-speed transmission
- 3LT Equipment Group
- Z51 suspension
- Navigation, heads-up display
- Power convertible top
- Dual zone air conditioning
- Heated leather seats
- Goodyear Eagle F1 tires
- Silver 2008-style split-spoke wheels introduced in 2007 on the Pace Car Edition
- The Z51 package included heavy-duty springs, shocks and stabilizers, larger cross-drilled rotors and engine oil, transmission and steering coolers
Next is a 2008 Corvette Pace Car:
- 1,767 original miles
- Track Car #7 at the 2008 Indianapolis 500
- 1 of 60 Black/Silver Pace Car Editions shipped to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to be used as Track Cars or Festival Cars
- Special Black and Silver design to honor the original 1978 Corvette Pace Car
- Green accents and Indy 500 graphics
- Two-tone Black and Titanium heated leather seats
- Indy 500 headrest embroidery
- Gray soft top
- LS3/430 HP V-8 engine
- 6-speed paddle shifted automatic transmission
- 3LT Equipment Group
- Z51 Suspension
- Power convertible top
- Rear Z06-style spoiler
- Q9V optional 5-spoke chrome wheels
- NPP dual-mode exhaust system
- Autographed inside the center console by 2008 Pace Car driver, Emerson Fittipaldi
- 1 of 266 Convertible Pace Car Editions produced in 2008
- The Official Pace Car (1) in 2008 was a Z06 Corvette powered by E-85 and painted ‘Gold Rush’ Green
- The backup car to pace the race was a Black/Silver/Green Convertible
- Includes two tickets to the 102nd Running of the Indianapolis 500 Race on May 27, 2018
This 2013 Corvette Pace Car is the ZR1 and it was not offered to the public in 2013. Here are its features:
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Chevrolet authorized Keith Busse to duplicate the 2013 Pace Car with their officially licensed Indy 500 graphics from the decal manufacturer
- The graphics were applied at Tom Kelley Chevrolet in Fort Wayne
- 138 original miles
- Supercharged LS9/638 HP V-8 engine
- 6-speed transmission
- Carbon Fiber spoilers and ground effects
- 60th Anniversary Design
- 60th Anniversary Silver Blue stripes
- 3ZR Premium Equipment Group
- Navigation, Bose stereo system
- Dual zone air conditioning
- Heated leather sport seats
- Optional lightweight aluminum wheels
- Michelin Pilot Sport tires
- The 60th Anniversary Package included Arctic White exterior, Blue Diamond leather interior with blue stitching, suede steering wheel, shifter, park brake and armrests, gray painted calipers and exterior/interior identifiers
This is another Pace car that the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Chevrolet authorized Keith Busse to duplicate because a Pace Car Edition was not offered to the public in 2014.
- The graphics were applied at Tom Kelley Chevrolet in Fort Wayne
- 77 original miles
- LT1/460 HP V-8 engine
- Paddle-shifted 6-speed automatic
- 3LT Preferred Equipment Group
- Carbon fiber roof panel
- Magnetic Ride Control
- Multi-Mode performance exhaust
- Carbon fiber interior package
- Suede microfiber upper trim package
- Power heated leather and suede seats
- Dual zone air conditioning
- Navigation, Bose stereo system
- Optional Laguna Blue tintcoat
- Optional 19-inch front and 20-inch chrome wheels
- Michelin Pilot Sport tires
This 2015 Corvette Pace Car is a ZO6. Here are its features:
- A Pace Car Edition was not offered to the public in 2015
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Chevrolet authorized Keith Busse to duplicate the 2015 Pace Car with their officially licensed Indy 500 graphics from the decal manufacturer
- 90 original miles
- Supercharged LT4/650 HP V-8 engine
- Paddle-shifted 8-speed automatic
- 2LZ Preferred Equipment Group
- Z07 Ultimate Performance Package with ceramic Brembo brakes, special tires and Z07 suspension
- Performance data and video recorder
- Carbon fiber hood, roof panel, rear spoiler and front splitter
- Carbon fiber visible package
- Carbon fiber interior package
- Magnetic Ride Control
- Multi-Mode performance exhaust
- Black Z06 wheels, Red calipers
- Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires
- Arctic White with Red interior
This 2017 Corvette Pace Car is a Grand Sport! It too is another Pace Car Edition that was not offered to the public in 2017.
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Chevrolet authorized Keith Busse to duplicate the 2017 Pace Car with their officially licensed Indy 500 graphics from the decal manufacturer
- 57 original miles
- 3LT Preferred Equipment Group
- Z07 Ultimate Performance Package with ceramic Brembo brakes, special tires and Z07 suspension
- Competition sport seats
- Body-color dual roof package
- Carbon fiber interior package
- Grand Sport Heritage Package with Red hash marks
- Carbon fiber hood, rear spoiler and front splitter
- Performance data and video recorder
- Heads-up display, curb view camera
- Black Grand Sport wheels with Red stripe
- Custom ordered Red brake calipers
- Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires
- Arctic White with Blue-painted center stripe and Red interior
So, which one do you want…or are you going to buy the whole collection? Remember each car will receive two tickets to the 102nd Running of the Indianapolis 500 Race on May 27, 2018.
I also want to remind you that you can bid by phone! To register as a bidder for this and all Mecum auctions, visit www.mecum.com, or call (262) 275-5050 for more information.
Auction Schedule
Dana Mecum’s 31st Original Spring Classic
May 15-20, 2018
Indiana State Fairgrounds
1202 E 38th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46205
Admission: $20 in advance online, and $30 at the door and online after May 15-per person, per day; children 12 and younger receive complimentary admission
Preview: Gates open daily at 7:30 a.m.
Auction: Vehicles begin at 10 a.m. daily
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