Throughout Chevy’s history, most production special-edition pace car models have been replicas of Indy 500 pace cars. However, the 1995 Chevy Monte Carlo Z34 got its own limited run of special-edition Brickyard 400 pace car models, and there’s one up for auction that’s barely been driven.
Located in Sugarcreek, Ohio, and up for auction via Kaufman Realty & Auctions, this Monte is number 250 of the 400 production models of its kind. Someone babied this car; it has less than 200 miles on the clock. Being a Z34 (the SS didn’t return until the sixth-gen model in 2000), it’s powered by a 3.4L LQ1 DOHC V6 rated at 210 horsepower and 215 pound-feet of torque. Power is directed to the front wheels via a 4-speed automatic transmission.
The Monte Carlo Brickyard 400 pace car has a graphics package that only could’ve happened in the mid-1990s. It’s a checkerboard motif in purple with gold trim and “Brickyard 400” and “Indianapolis Motor Speedway” branding on the doors and C-pillars. The wheels are painted white, and a “Monte Carlo” banner adorns the windshield.
Step inside and find special embroidery on the seats, floor mats, and even between the back seats. A numbered plaque in the woodgrain trim above the glovebox shows that this is a true collector’s item. Commemorative toys and autographed memorabilia are also included in the auction.
As of this writing, the high bid is $7,500, and the auction closes on Thursday, October 31st. Place your bids now for a rare chance to own this piece of NASCAR history.
When the Chevy Monte Carlo returned for the 1995 model year after a seven-year hiatus, it became quite a different car. It was still a sporty coupe with a reasonable price tag, but now it rode on the front-wheel-drive W-body platform and had a V6-only engine lineup.
The Monte Carlo is perhaps most famous as a NASCAR icon, which is why the then-new 1995 Chevy Monte Carlo was the pace car for the inaugural Brickyard 400 in 1994. The 1994 Brickyard 400 was significant as the first race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that wasn’t the Indy 500 since 1916.
Comments
That 3.4L LQ1 engine was a DISASTER. I had a ’96 Z34 and was nearly killed in it when it kept dying at speed. Fortunately, it was never hit and I quickly unloaded it at 10K miles. Avoid at all costs. Should NOT be a collector’s vehicle. More like a GM 1990s nightmare.
The normal 3.4L V-6 and the 3.1L V-6 that I SHOULD have bought in the LS version were fine.
I had 3 W- body cars with the 3.4 Dohc LQ1 engine and never had any real issues with them once a few known issues were resolved. The 1996 Lumina LS had factory defective spark plug wires that were known to cause driveability issues, idle stumble and stalling. New aftermarket wires totally solved that and this car ran like gangbusters until I sold it at 80K. My 1994 had 90K and just got a new timing belt done at the dealer a year before and ran great right up until 150K when I sold it. The other car was a 1995 Olds Cutlass Supreme coupe fully loaded with the 3.4 and it never had a single problem from 20K to 75K when I traded it in. Alternators were very hard to get to along with A/C compressors and intake gaskets were sometimes an issue but luckily mine never had these issues
GM made changes to the engine for 1996 and screwed it up royally. The dealer that I bought (and ordered) from was convinced the engine was defective. They never looked at spark plug wires because mine was likely the very first ’96 off the assembly line and didn’t have any guidance that early.
I’d take that car. Those 3.4L back in the day could move pretty darn well!! Friend had a white Berretta Z26. Never had issues and a sweet looking car back in 1998. Wish GM would make cool things again.
Boring lifted trucks, no real sports cars, except the Vette. And I’m not into the overpriced EV “stuff” right now
It NEVER was a Monte, just a 2 dr Lumina! The very worse version that Chevy ever called a Mont Carlo, what an embarrassment!
Jared those fwd pretender “performance” cars. Would rather have the Brickyard pace truck.
Should read “Hated”.