| | | | | 100 for each of the first 25 years of the |
| In 1978 the great American icon that is the | | | | Corvette. However, Chevy quickly realized that |
| Chevy Corvette turned 25 years old. While | | | | the number would not fly as they were near |
| everyone was anticipating a limited edition to | | | | 6,200 dealerships nationwide. What was ultimately |
| commemorate the Silver Anniversary, no one | | | | decided was that each dealership would receive at |
| anticipated what was to come; two limited | | | | least one for the showroom which meant that |
| editions for the 1978 model year. | | | | the number of 6,200 would make up almost 15 |
| Before Bill Mitchell officially stepped down from his | | | | percent of all the Vettes sold for the 1978 model |
| post at GM he would make the suggestion that | | | | year. While it was a special edition, the Corvette |
| the Silver Anniversary Corvette be painted in his | | | | pace car replica of 1978 didn't prove to be much |
| favorite color. As it turned out that color was | | | | of a "limited" edition. |
| silver which just so happened to fit perfectly for | | | | In the same manner as the Silver Anniversary |
| the theme and thus the B2Z option package was | | | | edition, the pace car replica was sold as on option |
| born. | | | | package tagged RPO Z78. Its main distinction |
| The limited edition 25th Anniversary paint was | | | | would also be two tone paint only in this version it |
| really little more than some striping, but it would | | | | was black over silver paint all separated by a red |
| prove to be a popular option. This special edition | | | | stripe. Each pace car replica also featured a spoiler |
| Corvette would be the first Vette to feature a | | | | on the front (similar to the Trans Am) and rear |
| two tone paint job since the 1961 rendition. The | | | | to give it further distinction. The interior would see |
| silver paint of the limited edition was on top of a | | | | all sorts of silver and gray accents that blended |
| brilliant gray and separated by a pin stripe. While | | | | flawlessly to make a really nice look. |
| the option was not all that expensive for Chevy | | | | Even though the pace car replica was considerably |
| to produce, they added a nice mark-up to the | | | | more than the standard Vette on the sticker |
| buyers tab. | | | | they all sold for over list price as they looked like |
| The Silver Anniversary Vette also came with | | | | an instant classic. This prompted the imposters to |
| aluminum wheels and special mirrors that were | | | | come out of the woodworks and had many 1978 |
| referred to as "sport" mirrors. Really all this | | | | Vette owners transforming their regular Vettes |
| represented was another mark-up that need to | | | | into pseudo pace car replicas. |
| be paid by the buyer. | | | | While not the best special editions that Corvette |
| While that special edition was indeed expected, | | | | had made any means they were nonetheless |
| what was a surprise to all those who loved the | | | | considered a success, especially the pace car |
| Corvette was the fact that the Indianapolis 500 | | | | replicas. This would leave many simply chomping |
| would be paced that year by a Corvette and this | | | | at the bit in anticipation for the next special edition |
| gave GM another opportunity to cash in on a | | | | Corvette to come out and it showed the GM |
| limited edition. The plan was to make only 2,500 | | | | folks that they could indeed have two special |
| replicas of the official pace car which would be | | | | editions in the same model year. |