Let's face it: Pro Touring really got it's start in the latter part of the 1980's. It was started by enthusiasts who wanted better handling cars they could drive every day. Car Craft's "Real Street Eliminator" focused on this sort of vehicle, and many of them were G bodies. Street Rod guys have Rat Rods, so why not start a nostalgia movement of our own?
The rules would be simple, and the cars cheaper to build than full on Pro Touring show rods that have six digit budgets and are no more usable than Pro Street cars were. For wheels, 16's would be the right size to go with as 17+ in rims were not really available in the 80's. Mesh wheels like Enkei 92's or GTA wheels would be the right style, as would Ronal 5 spokes and IROC-Z rims. Since the 80's are the target, the engine could be carburated, or fuel injected with that new fangled TPI system GM just introduced in 1985. No need for an LS1 swap, just simple, bolt in Gen 1 SBC's, Olds 350's, and Turbo Buicks. Extra points for a stock looking engine bay and working comfort options. Body mods would be limited to what most people would do with a relatively new car back then, so it would be pretty cheap and not really require anything more than a decent paint job in a stock type color. The interior could stay the same, but old school Recaro seats could be substituted for the originals. Modern "Cobra Head" seat backs need not apply. A nice stereo would be fine as long as it integrated well with the car. The 1980's were, after all, the decade when huge stereos came into vogue. Extra points for using an 80's head unit too, but I think it would be hard to find one that still works and has a CD player. A 5 speed swap would also work well. GM even did one on the Cutlass FE3-X show car of 1985. You could upgrade the brakes with factory parts from other cars, or in a pinch use a good aftermarket kit with PBR calipers as they were used in Vettes and 1LE F bodies. For the suspension, some simple, bolt on parts would do the trick. No air bags allowed either as they were not used on the original Pro Touring cars of the 80's.
The best thing of all is that this could still be done cheaply. The parts are not unreasonable yet, and they still abound in junkyards compared to 60's stuff. Best of all, these cars were the genesis point for well engineered bolt on upgrades like cat back exhausts, etc. Most of which you can still buy new. Plus, these were comfortable cars with their plush interiors and loads of power options all of which can stay and be maintained with stock parts. If you adopt this trend, you are no longer behind the times with regards to style either. No, you would be a trend setter in a new ironic automotive movement. As for me, the street rod guys can have the rat rods, I will enjoy my stereo in air conditioned nostalgic style while sitting in a plush, velour interior and kickin' it 80's style!
The rules would be simple, and the cars cheaper to build than full on Pro Touring show rods that have six digit budgets and are no more usable than Pro Street cars were. For wheels, 16's would be the right size to go with as 17+ in rims were not really available in the 80's. Mesh wheels like Enkei 92's or GTA wheels would be the right style, as would Ronal 5 spokes and IROC-Z rims. Since the 80's are the target, the engine could be carburated, or fuel injected with that new fangled TPI system GM just introduced in 1985. No need for an LS1 swap, just simple, bolt in Gen 1 SBC's, Olds 350's, and Turbo Buicks. Extra points for a stock looking engine bay and working comfort options. Body mods would be limited to what most people would do with a relatively new car back then, so it would be pretty cheap and not really require anything more than a decent paint job in a stock type color. The interior could stay the same, but old school Recaro seats could be substituted for the originals. Modern "Cobra Head" seat backs need not apply. A nice stereo would be fine as long as it integrated well with the car. The 1980's were, after all, the decade when huge stereos came into vogue. Extra points for using an 80's head unit too, but I think it would be hard to find one that still works and has a CD player. A 5 speed swap would also work well. GM even did one on the Cutlass FE3-X show car of 1985. You could upgrade the brakes with factory parts from other cars, or in a pinch use a good aftermarket kit with PBR calipers as they were used in Vettes and 1LE F bodies. For the suspension, some simple, bolt on parts would do the trick. No air bags allowed either as they were not used on the original Pro Touring cars of the 80's.
The best thing of all is that this could still be done cheaply. The parts are not unreasonable yet, and they still abound in junkyards compared to 60's stuff. Best of all, these cars were the genesis point for well engineered bolt on upgrades like cat back exhausts, etc. Most of which you can still buy new. Plus, these were comfortable cars with their plush interiors and loads of power options all of which can stay and be maintained with stock parts. If you adopt this trend, you are no longer behind the times with regards to style either. No, you would be a trend setter in a new ironic automotive movement. As for me, the street rod guys can have the rat rods, I will enjoy my stereo in air conditioned nostalgic style while sitting in a plush, velour interior and kickin' it 80's style!
