DRIVERS START YOUR ENGINES

The PPG Syclone Pace Truck is a unique conversion truck with a vibrant, multicolored paint scheme, and built-in roof lights. Originally, the PPG Syclone was a standard production truck produced in the sinister production mid-night black. The PPG Syclone pace truck was chosen from the three Indy Syclone support trucks used at the renowned Indianapolis 500 race. Unfortunately, it was never used for the pace vehicle at Indy, being replaced by the Cadillac Allante. The PPG Syclone would eventually see some track action on the CART circuit.

The two remaining Indy Syclones retained their original black color and Indy vinyl graphics, while the PPG Syclone pace truck was transformed into the impressive truck we see today. This was the only PPG Syclone pace truck ever produced. The PPG Syclone is truck #2268 out of the 2995 produced.

90s STYLING

The PPG Syclone has one of the more outrageous and flashy paint jobs of an Indy Pace vehicle and of course, is the most outstanding feature of the truck. Using PPG Deltron enamel, the base coat of silver foil was laid down and accented with magenta, and aqua with a purple tinted clear on top. The paint scheme does follow into the door jambs and across the customized tonneau cover. Even the stock rims got paint treatment with the insert openings being painted to match the corresponding highlight color of the side it was on. Lifting the hood reveals areas where the truck was not painted, including the firewall, inner fenders, and hood. This is also the same when the tailgate is opened to reveal the original black paint job all production Syclones were given.

Another outstanding feature of the PPG Syclone pace truck is its customized roof with raised integrated amber pace lights that contour and roll back into the cab. The rear seam along the top of the cab above the back window has been filled smooth and an antenna mount sits between the two amber lights.

Moving to the rear of the truck, the tailgate handle has been shaved. The only access point to lift the tailgate is a release lever hidden between the tailgate and bumper. When unlatched, the tailgate does not fold downward like a traditional gate, rather it follows a custom-made track built into the bed. This allows the tailgate to be lifted and stays in the upright position on the rail system, then once above the bed, it can be pushed forward toward the cab where the multi-piece tonneau cover folds along the rail system.

POWER & PERFORMANCE

Under the hood is the standard 4.3L turbocharged/intercooled V6 that the Syclone was produced with. There are no outstanding modifications done to the engine other than the relocation of the stock battery and the addition of battery cable from the alternator to junction box. The one major modification done was the addition of water cooled brakes. While stock brakes are adequate for standard street use, the water cooled brakes were an added safety feature to be able to pull track duty that comes with being a pace vehicle.

With the tailgate opened the bed of the PPG Syclone pace truck reveals the fuel cell, a water fill tube (for the water cooled brake system), halon bottle mounts with feed-lines, and batteries. The halon was a safety item required for vehicles that were intended to be used for track services. With halon ceasing production around 1994, the bottles have long been removed from the truck.

THE AUCTION BLOCK

Once the PPG Syclone pace truck had completed its track duties, it was retired to the GM Heritage Collection. For many years GM would bring it out on display at events such as the Woodward Dream Cruise in Detroit, Michigan, Carlisle Truck Nationals in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. In 2000, it was brought to the 3rd Annual SyTy Nationals held in Kansas City, MO. This would be one of the last times it was seen in public until it was auctioned at Barrett Jackson in 2009, selling for a hammer price of $66,000. This was during GM's bankruptcy where many of it's vehicles at the Heritage Collection were auctioned. Although it has a VIN, 1GDCT14ZXM8802268, it was sold with a scrap title because it was never intended to be driven on public roads. It had just 5,505 miles at the time.

The truck would relocate to Reno, Nevada to be part of a private collection of vehicles. Among this collection, more than 50 GMC Syclones and Typhoons including several Marlboro Syclones. Eventually the PPG Syclone pace truck would be sold again in 2013 to another private collector in Colorado where the truck remains today. We are told that the owner occasionally does drive the truck and attends local car shows.