[3tas4me]

Are the 1980 Delco radios used in the Indy Pace Car T/A unique? If so, what is the market value on a good working unit?

[TAKerry]

If its the same radio used in the Tenth Anniv. car, I paid a couple of hundred dollars for a mint stereo about 2 years ago, also got some used int. parts with it. On the other hand I had a very hard time finding a correct radio for my 77 but did get lucky after hunting for 4 or 5 years, I have seen the earlier radios sell for $500 and up.

[3tas4me]

Originally Posted by TAKerry

If its the same radio used in the Tenth Anniv. car, I paid a couple of hundred dollars for a mint stereo about 2 years ago, also got some used int. parts with it. On the other hand I had a very hard time finding a correct radio for my 77 but did get lucky after hunting for 4 or 5 years, I have seen the earlier radios sell for $500 and up.

The 10th anniversary radio is unique and sells for high $. It is a red lit unit with built in 8-track. The 1980 radio is also red lit, but has a cassette player instead. I think this radio is also unique to the Pace Car but I am not sure. If it is, it should bring comparable money to the 10th unit.

[78w72]

yes the pace car & 10th anniv radios are unique with the red LED's. some other cars of the era like corvettes & cadillacs had the same style with digital tuners but used yellow LED's.

ive owned quite a few of the 80 & 81 pace car radios & from what i was told by a reputable radio restorer was the red LED boards are not available anymore but can usually be repaired if they have issues.

ive seen some people ask $300+ for them even when needing repaired but then again ive seen them for $50-100 in working order... its just like anything with these cars, some sellers ask outrageous prices & some are fair. but these radios do have more value over the standard radios.

[3tas4me]

Originally Posted by 78w72

yes the pace car & 10th anniv radios are unique with the red LED's. some other cars of the era like corvettes & cadillacs had the same style with digital tuners but used yellow LED's.

ive owned quite a few of the 80 & 81 pace car radios & from what i was told by a reputable radio restorer was the red LED boards are not available anymore but can usually be repaired if they have issues.

ive seen some people ask $300+ for them even when needing repaired but then again ive seen them for $50-100 in working order... its just like anything with these cars, some sellers ask outrageous prices & some are fair. but these radios do have more value over the standard radios.

I sold a 10th radio that needed work and got $375 for it as it was. Considering that run of the mill AM/FM stereos from 70-77 bring more than that, I would think that a Pace Car radio in good working order should be worth $500.

[78w72]

Originally Posted by 3tas4me

I sold a 10th radio that needed work and got $375 for it as it was. Considering that run of the mill AM/FM stereos from 70-77 bring more than that, I would think that a Pace Car radio in good working order should be worth $500.

sounds like youre pretty aware of their value then... i was just saying what ive seen them sell for in the recent past needing some work & that ive seen them for for less, but im sure those days are over.

if run of the mill 70-77 radios are worth $375 or more then ive been giving them away! ive got a couple 81 pace car radios, if they sell for $500 i'd be happy to sell one or both!

[TAKerry]

Agree that they are more on the rare side, however I would think there are more people looking for pre 78 radios than a pace car radio. That being said, the one guy that needs one for his pace car may be willing to pony up the premium.

[3tas4me]

Originally Posted by 78w72

sounds like youre pretty aware of their value then... i was just saying what ive seen them sell for in the recent past needing some work & that ive seen them for for less, but im sure those days are over.

if run of the mill 70-77 radios are worth $375 or more then ive been giving them away! ive got a couple 81 pace car radios, if they sell for $500 i'd be happy to sell one or both!

I have been trying to verify if the Pace Car radio is unique, like the 10th radio is. Sounds like you verified it for me. Thank you. Value question is still not answered though. I know what 10th anniversary radios bring, but I could not find a single ebay auction of a Pace Car radio and what it brought.

Are you in agreement that a Pace Car radio should bring about the same as a 10th radio, all things being equal?

[TAKerry]

I would think so. FWIW I think for a mint, working radio $400 range would be a good price. I dont know how many people actually put them in for service though. The original radios were not all that good to begin with. First thing you did when you bought a new car was put in a Pioneer supertuner! I know in the case of my 77 I just wanted a radio and 8 track that was correct.

[78w72]

Originally Posted by 3tas4me

I have been trying to verify if the Pace Car radio is unique, like the 10th radio is. Sounds like you verified it for me. Thank you. Value question is still not answered though. I know what 10th anniversary radios bring, but I could not find a single ebay auction of a Pace Car radio and what it brought.

Are you in agreement that a Pace Car radio should bring about the same as a 10th radio, all things being equal?

yes they are unique & i would agree they should be worth about the same, my comment on what ive seen them sell for was more about the fact that that the same part can sell for quite a bit more or less depending on timing, condition & current market values... & a little luck.

& technically based on production numbers the 80/81 pace car radios are rarer than 10th radios & could possibly bring even more money. especially the 81 with only 2000 cars produced compared to 5700 1980's & 7500 10th's.

[3tas4me]

Ok, thanks all for your thoughts on this.

[Randy_Handel]

Old thread, but I hate starting new threads and making more clutter on forums.

I've got an 80 Pace Car that the radio screen is going bad. For example, if you are listening to 97.9 the middle digit isn't showing up.

Is there a go to place or person the forum would recommend to repair a 20+ year old radio?

[78w72]

Originally Posted by Randy_Handel

Old thread, but I hate starting new threads and making more clutter on forums.

I've got an 80 Pace Car that the radio screen is going bad. For example, if you are listening to 97.9 the middle digit isn't showing up.

Is there a go to place or person the forum would recommend to repair a 20+ year old radio?

I have used a long time well known place called Precision Radio out of TX for delco radio restorations/repairs, not sure if still in business, I heard he may have retired but Im sure there are others out there, a quick google search for vintage delco radio repairs should turn up a few places.

What I was told by the place that did work on some delco radios for me recently was that the LED board itself is very reliable, its the solder joints for the wires to the board that go bad, all that was needed was to re-flow or re-do the solder joints & 99% of them will work fine for 40+ more years.

The original radio in my 81 pace car works but the LEDs only come on in hot summer temps, spring/fall cool temps & the lights are dead. Im pretty good with soldering and plan to try & re-do the solder joints some day to get them working again. I have another 81 PC radio I havent tested yet, hanging in to that one for now since the prices mentioned above have almost doubled, ive seen working 10th & PC radios sell for $750-$900, I sold a non working untested 81 PC radio a couple years ago for $400.

[Held for Ransom]

Originally Posted by Randy_Handel

Old thread, but I hate starting new threads and making more clutter on forums.

I've got an 80 Pace Car that the radio screen is going bad. For example, if you are listening to 97.9 the middle digit isn't showing up.

Is there a go to place or person the forum would recommend to repair a 20+ year old radio?

I recommend Kevin Wagner out of Nebraska. If you're a Facebook member, look for Wags Klassic Electronics page. Or on eBay search and message seller wagsklassics.

[68ragtop]

Originally Posted by Randy_Handel

Old thread, but I hate starting new threads and making more clutter on forums.

I've got an 80 Pace Car that the radio screen is going bad. For example, if you are listening to 97.9 the middle digit isn't showing up.

Is there a go to place or person the forum would recommend to repair a 20+ year old radio?

Mine does the exact same thing. in addition, sometimes when I store it for a long duration without a battery, I'll put a battery back in & the display on the radio will light up & flicker with the key off for 20 minutes or longer.
Then that will settle down. But always missing some of the red characters that make up the digits. That started about 6-8 years ago

In this picture, I think the "1" is not illuminated? Must have been on AM

[burd]

There’s a guy in St Louis area, for around $60, he goes through a radio, and adds a plug on a pig tail to plug your phone in.

[MO Olds]

Anyone have a part number for the Pace Car radios?

I believe I have one since it has a red LED display and cassette as well as looks like the picture online but want to confirm...

[TAKerry]

No idea how they differ but the TATA radio is.
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