1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass Pace Car #76...This car has HISTORY!

Description

1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass Pace Car"The Most Storied Pace Car In Pace Car History"
Let me start off by saying this is one of the "nicest", most well documented Pace Cars in Pace Car History....
On May 3, 1970 Cutlass Pace Car #76 was delivered to Winston Churchill, no not THATWinston Churchill, but the Chief of Police, Indianapolis, IN...that Winston Churchill, to be a part of the Indianapolis 500 race that year. You'd really have to read the history on Chief Churchill to understand..."the situation". The short version is that Chief Winston Churchill was fired from the City of Indianapolis for many vices against the city, including narcotics, bootlegging, bribery, etc. This course of conduct followed over to the Indianapolis 500...and this car is a victim of those vices. You see, Churchill wanted a "442" Pace Car, and not a Cutlass Pace Car. He ran the show in Indianapolis at the time and lets just say "What Churchill wanted, was what Churchill got". In a slight of hand...GM was out of Pace Cars...Churchill was the last to pick his up. So, the car took a quick "trip" to Rice Oldsmobil, andreceived all the "442" trimmings, including badges, grills, cutout bumper, etc. The only thing Rice "couldn't" remove was the Cutlass emblem around the trunk lock...because it would leave 2 small holes in thedeck lid.
So, Churchill got his "442" on May 6th, 1970...just as he requested. Hereceived it with a solid "7" miles on the odometer. The car was likely more extensively used "on the track"...more than any other Pace Car...making a 100 laps on the day before with then Vice President Spiro Agnew, to name one of the 100 notable people to ride in the car that day.
In early June, 1970...Churchill was to deliver the car to Rice Oldsmobile, in Indianapolis...henever returned it when he was supposed to! The problem was...he wanted to keep it! After bantering with the Oldsmobile brass to "get the car" for free...Churchill enlisted his old friend and crony...Alexander "Lexy" Demetroff...to buy the car...in name only. To make things look good on paper, a crashed 1961 Fiat and a sunken "Amphicar" whichwere worthless at the time...were traded in...but Oldsmobile made him happy.
A short time later...Churchill discovered his "442" was a Cutlass Pace Car...and vowed to never allow Oldsmobile to Pace another race at Indy! Churchill kept his promise...in 1971...a Mopar...1972, GM was out...instead enlisting "Hurst" to pace the race...using...a Oldsmobile. By the next time GM paced a race...Churchill had already been investigated heavily by the FBI and was fired by Mayor Lugar, and GM was once again allowed to be in Indy...
The car was then traded in to Rice Oldsmobile by Demetroff, onChurchills' request...on a Corvette...about 2 weeks after he bought it new.
The car was then sold to a local businessman and automotive historian, who owned the car from 1970, until he passed about 5 years ago. The car never seen rain, was always garage kept because of its' history not only to the City of Indianapolis, but the Country as well. The car currently was 46k 2 owner miles on it, and underwent a VERY high dollar restoration about 10 years and 500 miles ago.
A well sorted out, excellent show quality car with all numbers matching drivetrain, correct in almost every aspect, as delivered to Chief Winston Churchill, for a second time...on May 6, 1970. The car needs nothing, absolutely everything works, and was always a excellent car, just brought up to another level.
Now, what a great story! Wouldn't it be nice to back up some of that story with some facts? Documentation? What about LOTS of documentation? OK, I've got that covered!
First off, if it were up to the Churchill family...this carwouldn't exist...and after listing the car for a shortperiod of time last fall...I ended up intosome "legal wrangling" with the Churchills...I decided it was best to not sell it. But, as of today...I've changed my mind...facts are facts...and we've proven them. This car changed history,embarrassed a City, but...at the same time...is a piece of history...and HIGHLY documented.
SomeDocumentation (but in no means limited to:)
*Bill of Salefrom RiceOldsmobile dated 6/12/70 to A.T. "Lexy" Demetroff...this was Churchills friend and "front man"showing the burned out Fiat and sunk Amphicar "trade ins".
*Envelope from Oldsmobile Styling stating the "changes" made to the car.
*1970 Pace Car Information packet for the race.
*Indiana State Police Accident form and mailing envelope given to all Pace Car Drivers in case of a accident.
*"500" Pace Car Replica Oldsmobile Release, showing it was Festival car #76...signed by Winston Churchill
*May 6, 1970 Parking GarageReceipt, where Churchill picked up his "new" Pace Car, in South Bend, Indiana.
*Three page "Pace Car" driving instructions, dated 3/9/70. (Really humorous reading)
*Protect-O-Plate, plastic "new car" Oldsmobile Envelope.
*Warranty Book from Rice Oldsmobile, Inc. to "Winston Churchill"....ooops!
*Filled Out OldsmobileMaintenance Folio
*Indiana State Inspection Report dated 4/2/1970
*RegistrationReceipt for $18.50 dated June 15, 1970
*Original "Pace Car Location" map, for Festival Car #76
*Notarized Letter from Rice Salesman Jackson Murphy, who had to take the sunken junks in on trade and then buy the car back when they discovered it was "rebadged".
*Pictures of the car during the race, after it was sold "back" in June, 1970...and many, many photos of the car over the past 50 years.
*Newsarticles from the "Pancake Breakfast" and the car being driven around the track for over 100 VIPS, the day before the race.
*Emails from the President of the Pace Car Registry...saying this is one of only 3 known Pace Cars...with ALL the documentation from the race...
$70,000 worth of no expense spared restoration receipts. Carhasn'tbeen driven much in the past 4 years...could use a very nice interior detail...all the service has been done!
Ok great...now that I wasted 10 minutes of my life reading that....what about the car....
1970Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Y74 Pace Car VIN # 342670M295987
Option List:
D-C (Dealer Changes)Tinted WindshieldAir ConditioningHeavy Duty Power BrakesPower SteeringRadio, push button, with AntennaHeavy Duty Cooling and GeneratorConsoleTurbo Hydramatic TransmissionClockConvienence GroupY74 Pace Car package
Overall, this car is one of the most well documented, and sought after Pace Cars with a "ironclad" pedigree, it drives better than it looks, and is ready to be "enjoyed"...When the car was painted...the "Pace Car" decals were not reapplied...a original set are still in the trunk!
This car is for sale on other venues, and this auction can be ended at anytime...in the event of a sale on another venue. Real buyers call...and my cell # is (630) 273-7595...I travelextensivly for work, but please...leave a message...I will call you back! Please...only qualified buyers...are you ready to step up to the plate?
I have a shipping brokerage account with Central Dispatch...and can get this car to your door faster than your wife can get her Amazon order.
My reason for selling? I had dozens of GTO's and 442's ofsignificant historical value and/or justexcellent cars. I have no time to enjoy them...rarely utilize them...and just need to move on. I know these cars better than most people do. Idon't own junk, sell junk, and as always, if I mis described it...just send it back. This is a hobby, and its' supposed be fun! Lets' keep it that way!
Please do not call me and ask "what else are you selling"...when I decide to sell something...I'll post it on eBay...and very few of my auctions runtheir course...the early bird...gets the worm. But then again...the second mouse gets the cheese!