why don't we have a protouring / streetfighter AWESOMENESS thread???

I like the idea of a Pro-Touring C10 because it combines a few different things I don't use often, but would like to have around.

• big loud V8
• truck
• classic vehicle

^Love that blue one.

In reply to Tyler H:

I am not going to disagree with all of your points because some of them are spot on, except I can't see spending 3k for a BARE subframe then a few more bucketfuls of cash to complete it just to make a roller and on and on and on, which is DSE's niche. Then you get the nitpick comments of how you didn't buy the 1k billet hood hinges that save 2oz of weight or how come you didn't buy the giganto Forgelines or CCW's, at 1k/each? It is the same thing as the 80's and 90's prostreet scene, just redone. Maybe it has toned down since I last really looked at the protourer's, which has been a few years, but I haven't seen it happen yet.

PHeller wrote:

I love a low dollar looking truck that can turn.

I would love to see some one tow a challenge car with a cheap protouring style truck and then run them both.

Appleseed wrote: Sorry, this is what comes to mind when uttering "Street Fighter."

Yeah that's the only kind of street fighter I know of, other than this:

TeamEvil wrote: I think that the ghetto Blazer and Caddy sort of say why not right there . . .

Butch King's Blazer more than belongs here. If there was one guy who epitomizes grassroots it's him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-WMA1s6Gw0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcspqh-CAaI

Also a hell of a guy.

Ranger50 wrote: 99.999% of the completed pro-touring cars out there are afraid of hitting a cone and ruining their $6k paint job with a scuff. it is nothing more then the prostreet craze of the 80's and 90's. Glorified show cars that fit a certain segment of "static hot rodding". Posers.

You could say that about just about any car "theme", actually. Street rods, restorations, pro street, import/hot hatches, etc, etc.

Ranger50 wrote: In reply to Tyler H: I am not going to disagree with all of your points because some of them are spot on, except I can't see spending 3k for a BARE subframe then a few more bucketfuls of cash to complete it just to make a roller and on and on and on, which is DSE's niche. Then you get the nitpick comments of how you didn't buy the 1k billet hood hinges that save 2oz of weight or how come you didn't buy the giganto Forgelines or CCW's, at 1k/each? It is the same thing as the 80's and 90's prostreet scene, just redone. Maybe it has toned down since I last really looked at the protourer's, which has been a few years, but I haven't seen it happen yet.

Agree on bucketfulls o cash. That's why it isn't my personal flavor. ;) But it would be unfair to characterize protourers as trailer/show queens. That element is definitely out there, and I get to see it every year due to my proximity to Pigeon Forge, TN. The Rod Runs are populated with thousands of cars, complete with matching folding chairs and undercar mirrors...legions of 68-69 Camaros.

The protourers are wealthy and beat on their cars. They're the antithesis of the Porche 911 guys that also beat on their cars.

Both groups get an unfair shake sometimes...and there are 'weiners' in every group. I'm trying to shelve some of my personal bias against the 'haves' just because I can't afford the price of admission.

They're just a bunch of car guys that happen to be able to afford to play with toys I can't afford.

Right, just like in every crowd there is a guy who insists on watering his lawn, buying his wife implants and having a spotless house, there are guys who insists on chrome this and that and showing off to the Jones's.

Good thing I could care less.

Now you guys want me to Street Fighter my damn P71... Who wants to come help?!

This is the blazer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq3hqtfIUEA blazer vid The driver Butch, is about the nicest guy you'll ever meet.

Whoops, Dave beat me to it.

Tyler H wrote: These guys drive the piss out of their cars, both on-track and at autocross. They are being built to handle and stop.

Those two things don't necessarily have a causal relationship, as many hardparkers will attest. However, I agree, I have seen a number of this type of car at local and regional autocrosses.

Including this one, built by friends of mine who run a Mustang shop:

Ranger50 wrote: 99.999% of the completed pro-touring cars out there are afraid of hitting a cone and ruining their $6k paint job with a scuff. it is nothing more then the prostreet craze of the 80's and 90's. Glorified show cars that fit a certain segment of "static hot rodding". Posers.

Can't argue with that, but have you seen the Optima Challenge? Or the Good Guys autocrosses? There's a growing trend to create cars that actually perform at a high level. My problem with it is that the cost of making some of these old cars handle "almost" as good as new ones far exceeds the original value of the car. A suspension package for my Mustang from Detroit Speed and Engineering is something like $14k! There's a point where it makes more sense to let old cars be old and new cars be new. Then that begs the question - What's wrong with making them look a certain way? And what if that way is Pro-Touring? Is that any different then building a car to look like a drag car, but never dragging it?

Edit - Ashamed as I am, I didn't read every post here before posting, so I apologize if any of my statement is the equivalent of beating a dead horse.

That's why Pro-Touring trucks are so cool. You can't build many modern trucks to handle or accept a huge engine like you can some older trucks. The SVT Lightning, and some 90's mini-trucks (Ranger, S10, Tacoma) are probably the only examples of "modern" trucks that can be made to perform like a car.

That's the draw of the Pro-Touring truck.

The Pro-Touring Land Barge, yea... I could care less. Given the choice between an older Mustang or Camaro and a modern one, I think I'd rather have the modern car.

bravenrace wrote: Can't argue with that, but have you seen the Optima Challenge? Or the Good Guys autocrosses? There's a growing trend to create cars that actually perform at a high level. My problem with it is that the cost of making some of these old cars handle "almost" as good as new ones far exceeds the original value of the car. A suspension package for my Mustang from Detroit Speed and Engineering is something like $14k! There's a point where it makes more sense to let old cars be old and new cars be new.

Cause you can have awesome looks of an old muscle car instead of the bloated looks of a new muscle car but still have close to the same performance.

Some of the Pro Touring guys drive the wheels off of their cars. We had a few awesome creations compete in our 2011 Ultimate Track Car Challenge, and they did surprisingly well on track. There was a 65 El Camino out there that must have done 100 laps throughout the weekend....without ever missing a beat. That guy was having a blast!

It has always been easy to make an older V8 car fast. Now it's possible to have their handling and braking match the power---- pretty cool in my book. This is especially appealing to those (many) folks that don't find new cars attractive, or "cool". Besides, you can actually SEE out of the older cars, and drive without feeling like you are in a bathtub!

I love the work that these shops do:

http://schwartzperformance.com/

http://www.performancerestorations.com/

I agree with 93EXCivic... I could get a lot more speed for the money with a newer car, but most of them just leave me cold. Hell, my E30 kinda felt too big and plush and insular...

For apples to apples, I'd still need to try driving something newer which had been swapped for urethane bushings and had some sound deadening removed and so forth. Maybe I could get back some of the mechanical feel without losing the modern performance aspects.

If that worked, it would be mostly down to style, which I care about more than I want to when I start looking at throwing huge amounts of effort and/or money at any vehicle, new or old.

Joe Gearin wrote: Besides, you can actually SEE out of the older cars, and drive without feeling like you are in a bathtub!

This is huge for me. New cars with chopped rooflines and raised belt lines are awful. I hopped into that Fairlane immediately after getting out of a new Camaro, and it was like a breath of fresh air. The new Camaro has to be the worst new car I've driven in terms of visibility. Hard to just get in one and drive confidently.

Yes, to each his own.....but I find Brent Jarvis's Chevelle irresistibly cool:

And Jeff Schwartz's cars are no slouch either:

http://schwartzperformance.com/the-gremlin/

93EXCivic wrote:

bravenrace wrote: Can't argue with that, but have you seen the Optima Challenge? Or the Good Guys autocrosses? There's a growing trend to create cars that actually perform at a high level. My problem with it is that the cost of making some of these old cars handle "almost" as good as new ones far exceeds the original value of the car. A suspension package for my Mustang from Detroit Speed and Engineering is something like $14k! There's a point where it makes more sense to let old cars be old and new cars be new.

Cause you can have awesome looks of an old muscle car instead of the bloated looks of a new muscle car but still have close to the same performance.

So you're saying that you'd be willing to shell out $14k for a suspension? Then another $5-6k on brakes, $10k on the engine, and about $2k on wheels and tires, in addition to the relatively high cost of the old car, just so it can look better than the new one while performing "almost" as well? I love my old cars, and I love driving them, but it makes a lot more sense dollar wise to buy something like a Miata or FR-S for daily driving, autocrossing and track use and have the old car to cruise in. Don't get me wrong, I love a lot of these pro-touring cars, but I wouldn't spend that kind of money on my Mustang. For some reason, I don't think you would either.

In reply to bravenrace:

If I had that kinda money to play with yeah sure. Unfortunately I don't though (or fortunately not sure which). Although I would try to build a Protouring TR6 or Spitfire instead like this.

Has anyone built a protouring van?

93EXCivic wrote: Has anyone built a protouring van?

I desperately want to. Early 60's Dodge.

mazdeuce wrote:

93EXCivic wrote: Has anyone built a protouring van?

I desperately want to. Early 60's Dodge.

I would love to an A-Team GMC.