And we’re just using the Chevette and Camaro for examples, mostly because I love both of them and someday hope to own one of each in my Pro Street garage of horrors. Just sayin’. But if you could only choose one Pro Street car to have? What would it be? Do you go with epic, and always appropriate, choices like a 1969 Camaro, or ’55 Chevy like Sullivan’s Cheese Whiz, or how about a 1970 Mustang like the one Bret Voelkel owns at Ridetech? None of those choices are bad. And there are dozens, if not hundreds, of other cars that would make really bitchin Pro Street machines that everyone would love and admire.
But what about the oddities? Like Troy Trepanier’s Bumongous, which arguably led the Dare to be Different movement to the forefront of everyone’s brain. And how about the venerable, and always cool in my eyes Pro Street Chevette? Or what about Ramblers? Or Yugos? Or an MG or Jag? See where I’m going?
So, answer the question! Sorry, please answer the question.
Do you go for weird or do you stick with the classic choices? Use the ones below for inspiration.
Full size late 60’s car. Ideally a ’65 Impala like the Nick Scavo one.
A British Rover P4 – the so-called “Auntie Rover” as it was a safe, dull car for the safe, dull over 40s that drove them. My dad’s last car was a Rover 110 and as he was safe and dull I would fit a twin turbo Rover-based 5 liter TVR motor and trans and Jaguar XK8 brakes and suspension. But as Pro Street is a thing of the past I would go down the resto-mod path, complete with banded steelies wearing the original hubcaps and retaining the stock wood and leather interior.
I would like Wally Elder’s Pro Street 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona, as I knew the quality of the build when Wally finished it.
Where is this Pro Street car today?
Christine with a roots blown HEMI
I know it’s been done, but that’s reet
Pro street vega with a 4spd
I’d go offbeat, but exactly what depends on the overall goal.
If I wanted some sort of fairground and car show sort of pro-street build, I want to build a Jaguar XJS in British Racing Green with a body colored Rootes blower through the hood.
If I were building a strip/street monster, I would go for a good combination of long enough wheelbase (I don’t want an uncontrollable wheelie machine) plus light weight. And I am thinking I would build a Mopar. I might go mainstream with an A-body, possibly a ’67-’69 Barracuda. But other possibilities would be a Plymouth Sapporo, or something like that altered wheelbase LeBaron you guys featured a while back.
While I love the e-body Mopars and they make great pro street cars I’s go with a blown Hemi powered early 70’s Imperial just because I’ve never seen one.
Anything AMC but my favorite would be a Hornet. Just give it a little Wally Booth flavor.
I would have loved to Pro Street my first car, a ’63 Chevy II 4-door station wagon with 13″ wheels. It had a straight 6 195 cu in that was replaced with a GMC 262 cu. in. 3 on the tree standard tranny. It was my perfect beach car. I would have been great tubbed with L60-15 Positractions on slot rims, a blown SBC and converted to a 2 door “Nomad”.
What would have done to your first car?
There is a pic floating around the net, of a 80’s S10, all black, tubbed, and 454SS lettering on the bed. That’s where I’d start. I’d have a 572, instead of the 454.
I would settle for ever finishing my MGB (custom frame, suspension, 4 wheel disc brakes, Ford rear, 4-speed, aluminum rod-solid roller cammed SBC)<< it already has all that. Am working on a style (modern gasser?, flares and fat rubber all around?) than make pretty.
Scott Sullivan’s 1955 Chevy “cheese whiz”….I loved it then and I still love it.
Definitely an AMC Gremlin with a blown 401, crazy custom 4 Weber sidedraft carbs, nutso complicated and bright paint-job. Full on pro-fair ground build. Mirrors and angel hair for miles!
the one thats in my garage, 68 Pontiac Ventura
Either a ’51 Henry J with a Hilborn-injected 392, or a ’69 Chevelle with a tunnel-ramed MK IV 402 with Holley 6464 1150 cfm dominators. Don’t say it! Every time someone says “Old School” a kitten dies….