Indianapolis 500 Pace Cars
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1971-1996
This section deals with CHRYSLER CORPORATION Indy 500 pace cars.
To see a complete list of ALL PACE CARS... CLICK HERE!

MoPar Indianapolis 500 Pace Cars
 

1971 Dodge Challenger Convertible
Arguably the most "doomed" pace car ever.
The lack of any corporate sponsorship from the "Big 3" for the 54th race, and the infamous opening lap crash of the pace car.
For more information about this legendary Indianapolis pace car... click here (COMING SOON!).



This car is a CLONE...
The real pace cars did not have the performance hood with twin scoops.
Although it looks great with this hood, it is not a correct replica (in appearance).

1987 Chrysler LeBaron Convertible

"Honorable mention" 1991 Dodge Stealth R/T (the pace car that never was...)
It never actually paced the Indy 500, because of the massive protest over it being a Japanese manufactured car.
Everything was a "done deal" (approved by I.M.S.), Chrysler had ALL of the pace cars built, imported, lettered, and actually in Indianapolis. They were replaced at the last minute, with the early Dodge Viper prototype. The U.A.W.  was the main culprit behind this "smear" campaign, upset over the Stealth's "non-U.A.W." (Japanese) heritage. It caused Chrysler to lose an incredible amount of money and time.
Mitsubishi has made vehicles that carry the "Dodge" nameplate since the very early 1970's ('71 Dodge Colt). It has continued to make vehicles for Chrysler Corporation since then. An example of a  few of the Japanese Mitsubishi made MoPars are: Dodge Colt, Plymouth Arrow, Dodge Challenger (1978-1982), Plymouth Sapporo (1978-1982), Dodge D50 pickups, Dodge Colt Vista, Dodge Raider, & Chrysler Conquest. The "Diamond Star" (Chrysler Joint venture formed in the late 1980's with Mitsubishi) MoPars were: Plymouth Laser, and Eagle Talon. Diamond Star was dropped in the mid 90's and the plant became a Mitsubishi USA operation. Some of the Mitsubishi USA cars are: Dodge Avenger 2 dr., Chrysler Sebring 2dr., Dodge Stratus 2 dr.,  and they still continue to build cars that carry both the Dodge and Chrysler nameplates to this day.
That plant, the only Mitsubishi assembly plant in this country (opened for actual production in 1988, in Normal, IL.)  IS a U.A.W. plant... unlike the many of the other Japanese manufactures operating in this country.
Question... Why didn't these union "crybabies" put up an equally big protest, when the switch was made to make the cars that actually race at the Indy 500 HONDA powered?
 

       (Click on the above picture for the full size image)



Here's a shot of all of the Stealth pace cars built, lettered, and already sitting at the track!

1991 Dodge Viper V10 (the "Official 1991 Indy 500 pace car)
(Early prototype)


Click on the image above for the full size image)

1996 Dodge Viper (so far the very last MoPar pace car)

Original Copyright November 11,1997 R. Shinn Jr.
Last revised: April 18, 2008 05:36:00 AM -0400.