2007 Chevrolet Corvette Indy Pace Car Replica Convertible

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What is it?
2007 Chevrolet Corvette Indy Pace Car Replica Convertible

What's special about it?
The editor in chief of a Corvette magazine once told us that his greatest fear was getting stuck in an elevator with one of the readers of his magazine. So fanatically devoted were his readers to their beloved Vette that they actually frightened him.

It is for exactly this kind of Vette guy that Chevy has created the 2007 Corvette Indy Pace Car Replica. Corvette collectors love their special editions and the Corvette's turn pacing this year's Indy 500 provides a good excuse for Chevy to go gin one up.

There is nothing new mechanically about the pace car. It will be a convertible, of course, since the actual pace car is a convertible. It will use the same 400-horsepower LS2 V8 as the standard Corvette and will be available with the familiar six-speed manual and six-speed paddle-shift automatic transmissions. It will come with the Z51 performance package, which includes a stiffer suspension tune and cross-drilled brake rotors.

Some 500 Indy replicas will be built, and they will go on sale this spring. As Chevrolet tells us, they will carry "gold-ribbon graphics that flow outward from the front fender vents" and "Indianapolis 500" door logos over Atomic Orange paint. There are Indianapolis 500 badges on the fenders and embroidered Indianapolis 500 logos on the black seats. The deal is rounded out by split-spoke wheels, a Z06 rear spoiler and orange interior pieces and engine covers.

It seems almost incidental that a Corvette will actually pace the Indianapolis 500 on May 27, 2007. This will be the ninth year (and the fourth consecutive year) that a Corvette has paced the race. The last pace-car replica of a Corvette came in 1998, and it was purple with bright yellow wheels and seats. People lined up to buy it, which should tell you everything you need to know about the depth of enthusiasm for commemorative-edition Corvettes.

What's Edmunds' take?
We like the orange paint, the spoiler and the wheels. Not an investment, if that's what you're thinking, but it will always start a conversation. — Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit