3.1 Liter V 6 EFI 5 Speed/actual Pace Car/excellent Exterior/safety Lighting
The inaugural Daytona 500 was held in 1959 coinciding with the opening of the speedway and since 1982, it has been the season-opening race of the Cup series. The Daytona 500 is regarded as the most important and prestigious race on the NASCAR calendar, carrying by far the largest purse.
For consignment, a verifiable 1988 Daytona 500 Pace Car. With a more powerful engine, racing suspension and the badging and lighting to go with it, this Motor Trend Car of the year Pontiac Grand Prix has track time and then some, for post-race activities. 10 years later, in 2009, one of 100 GM heritage cars in a collection being sold and bought by a GM dealership owner who put this car in a NASCAR showroom display. In 2014 the cars in this display were put up again for auction, and our current consigner acquired it.
Exterior
Original white, with Daytona 500 decals on and safety lights atop, the car presents very nicely. Low actual miles, it is a collector car more than a daily driver. The car is a stock bodied 1988 Grand Prix. 15-inch wheels in white are on all 4 corners, and it’s off to the high banks.
Interior
Inside a stock interior in gray tones, with broadcloth bucket seats, and a slightly darker dash upfront. This dash is a digital display using orange LED’s in conjunction with analog displays with pointers. The middle of the dash has been slightly modified for safety lighting toggles in their separate panel next to the radio. A center console is seen and on the back of it a litany of toggles for various seat adjustments. In back more broadcloth buckets with a second center console, presumably installed because typically these cars were also used to give test drives to VIP fans by actual drivers lapping the speedway with VIP’s inserted. Very clean gray carpet floods the floors and a tight gray headliner is above.
Drivetrain
A specially modified 3.1 Liter fuel injected V-6 provides the power NASCAR required for sustained high-speed race car performance. This car was specifically tuned to run without a catalytic converter, so it was deleted at the factory. A 5-speed manual transmission is on back of this bigger engine.
Undercarriage
Very clean and totally rust free, a race suspension has been put on. All is very solid underneath, and barely shows any road dirt. Power disc brakes are all around. Headers and a free flow exhaust are also seen.
Drive-Ability
Not your usual 1988 Grand Prix. Just a bit more power, slightly better handling and plenty of stickers and safety lighting to play with. Smooth acceleration, and snappy steering, as well as nice overall interior comfort has this car all buttoned up.
A rare example of an actual Daytona Pace Car. These cars were somewhat difficult to get because of their special VIN status. This car has been cleared and assigned its original VIN thru the state of Florida, however, check with your local DMV to verify that all the paperwork is acceptable.
Price: Auction
More info: Listing has ended. Click to search on eBay for similar 1988 Pontiac Grand Prix (Affiliate link)
Location: Morgantown, Pennsylvania, United States
