Is Dare To Be Different Dead In Pro Touring?


Is Dare To Be Different Dead In Pro Touring?

I don’t care how many ways you build a Camaro, Mustang, Corvette, C10, Challenger, or whatever, they are still just what they started out as. No matter how much work you put into them, and how nicely they are built, the immediate reaction when seeing them is going to be “That’s an awesome (insert whatever it is you built here)”. Remember in the early 1990’s when the Dare to be Different movement really started shining? Pro Street was king at the time and guys like Troy Trepanier built cars that had the big tire but that were otherwise a body style nobody would expect. Like Bumongous, the 1950 Buick that was one of the first cars to put him on the map.

So with Pro Touring becoming the crazy world it is, with everyone trying to outdo the others, and with copy cat syndrome going nuts, what is next? What does someone have to do in order to turn the world on its ear? Will anyone build something really unique this year and actually come out and race it?

The little truck trend has just started taking off, with several under construction. This is cool, but at the same time annoying for my 15 year old Cole as he bought his LUV truck just over a year ago and is building it on a budget. So he might get beat to the punch on showing up in something cool and small. We’ll see.

Datsun 620

The little car trend is not catching on in pro touring circles however. Considering how many Miatas are out there kicking ass, you’d think that someone would step up and build a hot rodders version. Crosby and I were talking about this the other day as a result of seeing a $1000 obo listing for an MG on Craigslist. I said Turbo Pinto 2.3, my go to little engine, and Crosby said Rotary. I couldn’t care less about an MG, so I would not feel bad at all about cutting and flaring and doing whatever I needed to it to make all the suspension and steering just how I wanted it. And when it was done it would look cool I’m sure. But nobody in the pro touring world is hot rodding these things.

MG Midget

And what about the odd balls and imports? Some check both boxes actually. Cars like the Volvo 122 or Amazon, which is an awesome looking car and has so much hot rod styling it’s insane. And earlier Volvos too actually. And what about Toyotas and Datsuns? The ones that aren’t Z Cars. How about an AMC Matador? There is one of those for sale on Craigslist too. I’m confused as to why someone hasn’t taken a BMW 2002 and put some real power into it? Those are cool cars and they have tons of racing history. Why not do one like a hot rodder and have some fun with it? Or how about an Opel GT? Or a Volkswagen Beetle?

Opel GT Toyota Celica Toyota Corolla

I bet I could come up with 100 cars that nobody has built just by looking through Craigslist. And I’ll bet there are more that we could all think of.

I hope someone reading this is saying ” But Chad, I AM building a (insert name of anything weird and cool here)!”

If you have cool projects that are a bit outside the norm, or WAY WAY WAY outside the norm, email me some info. Maybe we’ll show the world what you are doing so we can keep the Dare to be Different trend alive, or bring it back as the case may be. [email protected]

 

 


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11 thoughts on “Is Dare To Be Different Dead In Pro Touring?

  1. Chevy Hatin' Mad Geordie

    A Jensen Interceptor as it comes with a Chrysler engine and even a six-pack 442 on the SP. Tune the hell out of it ,lower it and fit 17″ wheels and sticky Hoosiers, Paint it grabber orange and if the purse can stand it even swap in a Hemi.

    That’s if you can find one that hasn’t rotted away…

  2. Gary Smrtic

    But Chad, my daily driver (normally) is a 1908 PLYMOUTH ARROW pickup, with a 360, 904, narrowed 83/4 beater that was in Hot Rod in Nov of ’14 (had a brake issue rescue fixed for me).
    Truth is, NOTHING is new under the sun, or in hot rodding. It’s ALL been done. It’s just how the new guy that wants to draw attention to him or herself is trying to market it. Whellstanders on the street? Done! Allison aircraft powered street cars? Done! It’s all been done, done, and done again! Can’t we all just get along and enjoy our cras and trucks? Except the ricers. Screw the ricers, they don’t count…:)

  3. Scott Liggett

    Still waiting to see another mid ’60’s Impala on the autocross besides my own.

  4. russell

    1978 camaro rally sport built “back in da day” style. using common off the shelf bolt in mild modification parts, no ridiculous fabrications, tubs, no 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 inch NOTHING for wheels, blah blah. like Bro said above, its been done & done do death. name it. name the car its been done. over and over and over and over,,,,,,,,,,,trends come back over and over and over, to the point all of this is stupid. the magazine/media types try to influence things, but again, been done over and over. So as mentioned by Gary, cant we all just get along and enjoy whatever it is makes us happy car guy speaking? seriously. stop taking ourselves so, well, seriously.

  5. jerry z

    A 50’s or 60’s Nash/Rambler would be a cool Pro Touring vehicle.

    Come on, a Nash Metropolitan would be a cool ride!

  6. Chuck

    But Chad, I’ve sent you pictures of my 3/4 finished MGB, SBC, T-10, full frame, custom front and rear suspension, no MG under the body. MG midgets like the one above have had everything put in them from 426 Hemi’s to rotaries, Google modified MG and you will find hundreds of V8 MG’s’. At the Alameda car last year there was a nice mid 70’s Corrolla with a complete Lexus SC400 (V8) under it’s little body.Lliked the But Chad line in your article. MGBCHUCK

  7. Matt Cramer

    I’ve seen a Triumph TR6 that made me do a double take when I realized it had a BMW inline six under the hood. That checks a couple of those boxes.

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