[plumcrazy55]

number 254 of 500 made replica indy 500 pace trk,,, was thinking about building rr p/u, but don't know if trk. is worth more restored... also 1st year dodge made the dakota, trk is not in bad shape at all, i purchased trk brand new,,, help

[79bird]

To be honest dont build it up. Just keep it the way it is and maybe spend your $$$ on another project. Too many Dakotas made to be popular and worth money, but thats the same thing with the Mustang and they fetch big bucks.

[FmrStrtracer]

Cost more to restore than finished value, so go carefully.
Upgrade the chassis and brakes for better handling, build up a different motor(save the original). Repaint the body like original(if it needs it), and go have some fun crusin' with something unique.

[cobalt327]

I found a thread that had the photos seen here, and there are a few others- but there's just not an abundance of info on these trucks.

Seems there was the pace truck and also a LeBaron pace car that was also used at the Indy 500 in '87. It also seems from the thread that there were two versions: Trackside (top) and Streetside, shown below. I don't really see how the streetside version is a replica, though- no Indy 500 graphics anywhere to be seen, and quite a bit different than the one w/the Indy 500 graphics... but in any event, it is (or they are) rare.

Whether or not rare will ever equate to rare AND valuable, who knows. But I would keep it as original as possible because if it's going to have any real value to a collector, it will be as an unmolested original and not as a modified/hotrodded example, IMHO.

[OneMoreTime]

Just make the repairs needed and paint if needed is all I would do..make it "fresh" and keep it..

Sam

[FmrStrtracer]

The Dakota was not a Pace car in '87, the Lebaron was. Dodge was the "Official" truck of the Indy 500 that year, so these Dakota's were produced to commemerate that, but were not used on the track to pace the race.