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

xflowgolf wrote:

SWEET!

xflowgolf wrote:

I've had pretty much this (and/or maybe the previous body style...'60-'66) kind of build going in my head for a deacade now. It's already got state of the art NASCAR rear suspension technology*

Clem

*yes...I know better.

\

bravenrace wrote:

This. This is the exact way I want to go with my 67 LeMans. Flares, splitter, stance, lines... except I'll skip the trunk spoiler and maybe do a NASCAR-style trunk lip, and I'll probably try to find some panasport-type wheels.

The original:

bravenrace wrote:

Gah! my eyes! Those wheels SHOULD NEVER BE THAT BIG!!!!!

My choice:

Or this:

That's certainly one definition. Rational and frugal would have all of us in beige mobiles.... probably Corollas on 600 treadwear tires.

Here's to enjoying a car because you simply WANT to, not because it necessarily makes "cents".

This ain't rational by any normal metric. I love it.

PHeller wrote:

njansenv wrote: I don't know if you got the memo, but this automotive hobby is hardly about doing the rational thing...

GRM is all about being rational...and frugal...and budget oriented...and cheap, and kinda hillbilly.

I wonder how much of the "bigger wheels" aspect of this "style" debate is due to the fact that you simply can not find decent performance tires in a size that would be appropriate for these older cars. At least for street use, the Camaro with the wing on the back appears to be wearing nascar wheels and tires. Not really street friendly.

Growing up this is how all the cars I dreamed of building developed. It's only been recently that tires capable of handling all the performance these cars produce have become avilable. Just not in smaller sizes.

did i hear shameless self promotion?

my caddy was so awesome i am not sure words could describe it. i actually went out trying to find it but found the guy i sold it to no longer lives in the same place. i actually believe he passed away a few years ago. i was hoping to see my car sitting in his driveway ready to come home but it was not to be.

i like my stuff old, fast, and able to go around corners. and trucks. i love trucks.

more more more!!!

I've had the good fortune to at a track day and bud and his chevy II were there,love that car.Here it is at targa newfoundland. http://youtu.be/xziCZ-zc5sI

In reply to curtis73:

Cheebus, Curtis, you're killing me. I have a '67 LeMans convertible in the garage that needs a bunch of lovin.

I say all power to it - especially when its stuff like Pat's car above. My only objection are the market-tested-hype-king names. "Protouring" and "Streetfighter"? Please. COCTH works better for me (cool old cars that handle)

curtis73 wrote:

bravenrace wrote:

Wow! What an incredible looking car! That deserves a drool icon.

Sorry wrong magazine, a friend of my brothers built this car (http://www.hotrod.com/featuredvehicles/67759_1968_chevrolet_camaro/) that he had since he was 14. It's been built so many different ways but I called it the grin machine since you just can't stop grinning. I'm all for cars that serve a purpose, no matter how they got there.

My favorite Mustang ever

Apparently they're good at it. This car has a Roush NASCAR V8 and a TON of cool suspension work

Also, why do the Firebirds always looks way cooler than the Camaros?

wow, what a bag of mixed emotions, down to not liking the terms to describe the "style" of the kind of cars and what people build them to do, i just like the whole minset behind fast powerful manly great handling cars/trucks...

I think GRM needs to run another enlightening article on the current state of Pro Touring. There seems to be some misconceptions about the vehicles that fit into the category and their owners.

PT cars are loosely defined (on the PT forums) as old musclecars with improved abilities to go, stop, and turn. Many have additional modern creature comforts. PT trucks have really gained in popularity just the past couple years as restored trucks in general have risen in popularity.

Show Touring is the term used for the small group of people with pieces of art they're afraid to hit a cone with. The average PT owner looks forward to driving their car even if they never hit any type of track with it.

Slow Touring is for the land barge type and although there's exceptions like the Schwartz Caddy their size and weight keeps them from being competitive even though the owner may attend races and other events and run the car.

PT guys are not necessarily wealthy. Most are regular guys with varying levels of disposable income. Most PT builds take years and years while the owner dedicates time and money to the project just like the average restoration or track car build. Sure there's a few high dollar builds done quickly by shops for wealthy owners but every aspect of the car hobby has cars like that. If we were rich we might do the same thing knowing we can't build all the cool toys we'd like ourselves just because of the time involved. Imagine if one of us won Powerball Lottery.

As far as financial sense goes would any of the non car people think our CL lust of the day purchases make sense? Most of the PT guys are building their "dream car" and like any hobby some have more disposable income than others. Sure the GRM forum members are likely to be more frugal than people in other segments of the car hobby. They buy new so we can buy used. Is there a problem?

Is a PT car a sensible car? Well if you like old cars, want to drag race, Land Speed Race, Auto-X, go to road track days, Open Road Race, Hill Climb, or use the car for other race activities while still being able to drive it to work, hit a cruise night or show, drive to the beach or take it on vacation then a PT car might seem to make sense. As long as you aren't really serious about winning something that requires a dedicated type of build to be at the top of the standings.

I constantly fantasize about turning my medium tan, slightly rusty, humbly 305 powered '88 GMC 1500 work truck into the sleeper-est, pro-touring-est build possible. Fiberglass tilt nose, built LSx/T56, boxed frame, tube front subframe, full cage (hidden by the utility cap), giant-ass wheels, ridiculous suspension, lowered only enough to turn well but not too slammed... All done as stock and naturally worn-out looking as possible. Something between pro-touring and the infamous Farm Truck drag car.

Yeah, I'm seriously going to spend too much money on this as soon as I have money to spend on cars again.

I see Ron's blue Mustang has appeared several times in this thread. Like many of the PT guys he drives it hard on track and it got bruised at one of the Pro Touring events. It's been fixed and back on track.