[RacnJsn95]

Exactly what the title says... What makes a car "Pro-touring"? I've always heard the term, but never really took much notice of it. I always though it was just lowerd with big wheels... What exactly makes a car a "Pro-tourer"? I'm doing an LSx style engine w/ t56 trans swap... Does that make my car a Pro?

Explain what you consider a Pro-Touring car.

 

[Derek69SS]

My list would include all aspects of performance:
Handling
Braking
Safety
Accelleration
Driveability
Reliability
Comfort

Size of wheels, stance, etc do not matter as long as it's built with these aspects in mind.

 

[Kimberr]

No matching numbers !

 

[Chirp08]

doesn't rattle.

 

[Robinls5]

I put 4000 miles on my 1970 SS 454 Station Wagon, Am I pro a touring?
What credentials does a pro touring car have that differs from a "Normal" ride? My silverado has 17" wheels is it a pro touring truck?
Tiger Woods is a Touring Pro. If tiger Woods was in my sta. wgn. Would it be ------#1 A Pro Touring my wagon???
------#2 A Touring Pro in my wagon?
DAAA!!!! Bob

 

[va72mlibu]

We should start a Dave's Top Ten List! I'll start:

Top Ten Signs your car is Pro-Touring:

#10 - No crybaby doll at cruise-ins

 

[Kimberr]

Just changing the wheels doesn't count,you have to have a K+N filter,a big muffler and tip,and a huge wing on the back.

 

[novaderrik]

"pro touring" means you spent $100k or more to build a pretty car with big brakes, huge wheels, and all sorts of brand name suspension goodies to make it look like it can corner fast. a stroked small block with 2 turbos and efi helps a lot, as well.

 

[73z-6sp]

Big wing on the back?? Only if its a SuperBird otherwise it has no place on a muscle car.

I would definie pro-touring as the modifying of a car with better than stock equipment including all the things listed by Derek69ss. I dont believe that bigger is better in regards to wheels and tires. 20's may look cool but I am not convinced they offer much gain over a 17 inch when the negative aspects of a 20 is considered. But many think they are the only way.

I have loved the concept of a old car with modern features since the early 90's. I had 16" IROC wheels on my 68 Camaro in 1994. I was in no way a key reason for PT but I think it has been building for a long time and there are cars out there that have drastically raised the bar as to what is considered pro-touring.

 

[Kimberr]

Big wing on the back?? Only if its a SuperBird otherwise it has no place on a muscle car.

No kidding.

 

[73z-6sp]

"pro touring" means you spent $100k or more to build a pretty car with big brakes, huge wheels, and all sorts of brand name suspension goodies to make it look like it can corner fast. a stroked small block with 2 turbos and efi helps a lot, as well.

You wouldnt build it like that if you could? Hot Rodding has always been about excess in some form or fashion. More speed. More power. More chrome. More_______.

If you ask me...it can be more expensive to restore a car to original than it is to build a really nice "pro-touring" car. But I dont build to the 100k level either!

 

[novaderrik]

You wouldnt build it like that if you could? Hot Rodding has always been about excess in some form or fashion. More speed. More power. More chrome. More_______.

If you ask me...it can be more expensive to restore a car to original than it is to build a really nice "pro-touring" car. But I dont build to the 100k level either!

nope, i would never "build" a car like that.
i'm a junkyard scrounger at heart, and making stuff work on my own is the most rewarding part of this hobby. and i HATE working on pretty cars. something about putting a scratch in a $10k paint job while attempting to change spark plugs just doesn't sit right with me..
i just remembered.. this topic was covered a little bit ago, and i remember something about your car needing a name, and Kris Horton needs to do a rendering of it.
otherwise, it's just a wanna-be.

 

[73z-6sp]

i'm a junkyard scrounger at heart, and making stuff work on my own is the most rewarding part of this hobby.

i just remembered.. this topic was covered a little bit ago, and i remember something about your car needing a name, and Kris Horton needs to do a rendering of it.
otherwise, it's just a wanna-be.

Thats cool. I got nothing against that. It takes more ability sometimes to do that than throw money at something. I've never spent 10k on a paint job, but the stress of worrying about not scratching something can be brutal!

It wasnt my car. Im not sure where that came from. But I guess being a wanna be isnt so bad. I wanna be rich. I wanna be smart. I wanna be loved by the ladies. I wanna be going to bed right now cause 0415 comes too early!

 

[novaderrik]

well, the "your car needing a name" wasn't directed at you.
it was more of a general statement.. i meant to say "THE car needs a name"..

 

[sinned]

I would definie pro-touring as the modifying of a car with better than stock equipment including all the things listed by Derek69ss. I dont believe that bigger is better in regards to wheels and tires. 20's may look cool but I am not convinced they offer much gain over a 17 inch when the negative aspects of a 20 is considered. But many think they are the only way.

Bigger is NOT better once you get to the 17/18" mark. Adding bigger than 17 or 18 simply adds unsprung weight and more rotating mass for the brakes and suspension to control. There is no lateral grip improvemnt so the trade off is simply bling for poorer (is that even a word) performance.

PT more or less requires;
at least 17" wheels
upgraded brakes (no not stocks instead of drums)
upgraded suspension/increased spring rates/real shocks
improved powertrain for both reliability and performance

 

[sick65]

I love these Pro-touring threads. I LMAO everytime I read them. I find it funny that my car has almost everything listed above; however, I do not consider my car pro-touring. I just built it to satisfy my taste. :beers:

 

[Mondo454]

If I remember correctly when all this came about, I recall that the word "Pro" came from Pro-Stock, meaning a big engine and lots of power. "Touring" simply meaning drivability. That's how this Classification, if you will, of "Pro-Touring" came about.

Since then, it's morphed into what it is today. As it gained popularity and the baby boomers came in with their big bucks and the street rod and custom shops stepped in, now you have the big dollar builds and equipment.

You also have the other variations or maybe just other monikers for the same type of car, like, "restification", "Resto-Mod", "Low-Rod".

 

[ak 67SD]

sick65, nice car, very very nice! ...restomod and protour are not the same, imho, but its subjective... like saying what makes a 'drag race' car... does it have to have 700+ hp, or a roll bar? or can a $100 2.2L k-car be a bracket car? Can a prostreet not be tubbed? i've seen a guy selling a chevelle that he called prostreet and it had 4" cowl hood on it, not tubbed, and maybe 350hp!

I think mostly updated suspension, engine, braking, driveability...creature comforts and technology more resembling a new sports sedan...makes a pro-tour

a

 

[radz]

My list would include all aspects of performance:
Handling
Braking
Safety
Accelleration
Driveability
Reliability
Comfort

Size of wheels, stance, etc do not matter as long as it's built with these aspects in mind.

Definitley, the only thing I would ad, would be that it has to be able to compete with (if not beat) "modern muscle cars" in all aspects. But that is just my opinion, and a major consideration in my build since I plan to rag the **** out of my car when its done.

 

[1966_L78]

I have been thinking of some names for my car...

Mule

Twin Spin (I've got a posi rearend)

Red Witch (except mine will be painted Blue)


IMO, there are some bad ass P-T cars out there... But once you go naming your own car, its kind of dorky... Someone else (magazine, etc) names it, then thats cool...


The Pro-Touring name is somewhat subjective (just like everything else)...

I tend to agree with Derek; IMO, P-T a car in which all aspects of performance are increaed over stock, with added comfort and driveability/reliability of a "newer" car... Many cars that can fit this descriptions, and many more can't but are on their way (the goal of the builder)...

You car doesn't have to out-handle every other car on the road (thats a road racer or G-Machine), but GREAT handling should be a goal. Same thing with Braking... the goal is to improve the braking, not necessarily to maximize it... Many people try different combinations, testing and altering and testing again... Tweaking for the best performance... You might have 16" rims, B-Body spindles and stock upper arms with offset shafts... Doesn't mean you are not P-T...

BUT, the goal is increased overall performance... Putting on 22" wheels is NOT going to increase your performance (kind of along the lines of shackles and airshocks, great looking for the current "trend", but not for someone trying to increase performance)...

Many Pro-Touring guys seem to focus ONLY on handling... IMO, if your car pulls 1.2 G's on a Raod Course, but has a loud interior, uncomfortable seating/roll cage, its hot, lacks A/C, etc... Its really no more Pro-Tour than the guy that slaps on a set of 17" wheels, torches the springs but swaps in a later EFI motor... There are all kinds, but P-T embodies the improvement of the entire car...

Its not necessarily about maximizing ALL aspects of performance, but rather a balanced increase across the board...

But, IMO, the most important aspect is the look... It is a style, it implies performance, actual or percieved...