Though some cars that have competed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans fetch very high bids at auction, that probably won't be the case for the car in question, one of the six Chevrolet Corvette C5s sent to Le Mans by the American manufacturer in 2003 to serve as the pace cars (two) and safety cars (four). The car is estimated between $25,000 and $30,000, less than a new road Corvette C7!

Yet, the C5 with its dark "anniversary red" livery is in its original condition with safety lights on top, the era's Automobile Club de l'Ouest logo at the rear and the special graphic for the 50th anniversary of the American marque. Once the 2003 24 Hours of Le Mans was over, the car immediately went into the General Motors collection which was sold by the Detroit giant when it went under.

It wasn't exactly a failure for the Corvette Racing team at the 2003 24 Hours of Le Mans, but the class win was indeed snatched by Prodrive's Ferrari 550 Maranello which finished with a 10-lap lead on the two American cars, second and third.

The safety car, eligible to be driven on regular roadways (imagine fellow driver reactions if the turn signals are activated!), was remarkably maintained by its new owner who has decided to sell the car at Auction America's annual Auburn Springs auction.

Photo (Copyright - Nicolas Dupuys/ACO): The Corvette C5, safety car at the 2003 24 Hours of Le Mans.