Factory installed. I recall it on our '66 Newport (initial production). The dealer operative was supposed to write on the plate with a ball point pen, when the oil was changed, basically, to ensure compliance with the 5/50 factory warranty. In a time before computerized dealership records, it put the information in a standardized location/place on the vehicle. Back when oil change stickers were on the lh door posts or doors.
Typically, there would be a group of pace cars for each race, two of which would go to the Indy Track's on-site museum. These would have certain modifications to them to so they could beter do their job on the track, usually, depending upon the particular car that year. The rest of the pace car group would be disposed of by the manufacturer (to dealers for sale or otherwise), not unlike Cadillacs would be used for golf tournament participant "courtesy cars" and then to the reginal dealers via prior agreements.
THEN, there were the replica pace cars which the dealers could order, with a total limited number, typically. They'd usually come without the decals installed, in the particular equipment package, in the particular color combination. There was a '65 Fury III convertible locally from new. The buyer could have the "Official Pace Car" decal set installed, if desired.
CBODY67
