1979 Indy 500 Pace Car tribute

at SEMA 2017

 

 

 

 

The Goodguys Rod & Custom Association's newly-built 1979 “Fox body” (third generation) Mustang Pace Car was on display at the association's booth at the 2017 SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show. Built to showcase the coming wave of next-generation muscle cars, Eric Brockmeyer penned the design which was executed by the team at Jonathan Goolsby Customs.  

 

1979 Ford factory photo of the Pace Car replica sold to the public

 

1979 Ford factory photo of the actual Indianapolis 500 Pace Car

 

The brand-new 1979 Ford Mustang was selected as the Pace Car for the 63rd running of the Indianapolis 500-mile race. Ford had three specially built Mustangs available during the month of May which were easily identifiable due their T-tops, an option not available to the public.

The 1979 Pace Car Mustang powered by a custom engine built by Roush Engineering was driven by Jackie Stewart for the flying start of the race which was won by Rick Mears in the 'Gould Charge' Penske PC-6 who was awarded a copy of the Pace Car.

 

  

This radical build had its original turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine replaced by a Ford Performance Aluminator “Coyote” XS crate engine equipped with Mahle hard-anodized forged pistons and Manley H-beam connecting rods. The new engine is conservatively rated at 500 horsepower which passes into a Bowler-prepped Tremec T56 six-speed transmission. The spent exhaust gases pass through custom headers, 3-inch exhaust and Flowmaster mufflers.  

 

 

The car rides on a custom, fully independent suspension Roadster Shop Fast Track chassis fitted with Baer brakes and 18×10- and 19×12-inch Forgeline center-lock wheels shod with Michelin tires. To accommodate the ultra-wide wheels and tires, custom “mini tubs” were built for the rear wheels before the bodywork was finished in a custom yellow mix of PPG Vibrance colors with the paint scheme that uses the striping colors of the 1979 Indianapolis 500 Pace Car.  

 

 

 

Photos by the Author except as noted