At the 1965 Indy 500, it was ironic that race winner, Ford driver Jim Clark, took his victory lap in the Plymouth Pace Car. Colin Chapman is on the left. (Ford Archive photos)
A Plymouth has paced the Indy 500 for one year only, and it was with irony.
The 1965 Plymouth Fury Convertible Pace Car, with the Commando 383-cubic-inch V-8, was painted white with a blue top and two-tone blue interior. The Pace Car was driven at the 49th running of the race by Chrysler-Plymouth division general manager P.M. Buckminster.
The occasion was ironic because the race winner was Ford driver Jim Clark. And as the winner, he took his victory lap in the Plymouth Pace Car.
The St. Louis Car Museum recently sold a 1965 Plymouth Pace Car and included this in its report:
“Plymouth launched its new 3rd generation Fury lineup for 1965, which included the new and luxurious Sport Fury model. The Sport Fury was selected as the official Indianapolis 500 Pace Car, a first for Plymouth.
“Approximately 1,300 cars were made for dealerships throughout the country, but only 35 festival cars participated at the actual track event [like the one the museum was selling.]
Colin Chapman (left), Jim Clark (center), and the tire engineer confer before practice at the 1965 Indy 500.
Commando V-8
The full-size 1965 Sport Fury was the top-line model among three other Fury trim levels that year. The Pace Car’s optional Commando V-8 had 330 horsepower and was backed by a three-speed 727 Torqueflite automatic transmission. The “727” is considered one of the most robust automatic transmissions ever built.
“Factory equipment included buckets seats, a center console with tachometer, power steering, power brakes, power top with boot cover, front and rear bumper guards, full dash instrumentation, 14-inch redline tires and full wheel covers, a glove box light, windshield washer, seatbelts, and Plymouth Transaudio AM radio.
Special features on the Plymouth Pace Car included:
- Indy 500 dash plaque;
- Red, white, and blue badging;
- Hand holds on the rear fenders;
- “Official Plymouth Pace Car” decals with the race date on each side;
- Unique front bumper guard, rear bumper flag holders, and unique floor displays holding the various race flags of a standard race.
Special ephemera with the car included an original Indianapolis 500 race day program and a framed picture of the Plymouth Pace Car making the victory lap with winning driver Jimmy Clark.
Rev up for the 2023 Indy 500
The 107th Running of the Indianapolis 500 — “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” — is “Back Home Again” on Sunday, May 28. Presented by Gainbridge, NBC will provide live coverage of the Indianapolis 500 beginning at 9 a.m. ET (Noon Pacific) Sunday, May 28. Coverage will include a bonus two hours of streaming before the race begins on the Peacock streaming platform.
Get the Indy 500 week’s schedule here.
