So Chad and I have long been proponents of nostalgia pro stock as the next “big thing” in nostalgia drag racing. It has started to take root and there are a handful of cars out there. One of the neatest races in the country for this type of stuff is the Black Arrow Cup held at Sikeston Dragway in Sikeston, Missouri on April 12th. If you love these old cars, get there and see what is probably the best going nostalgia pro stock show in the country right now…but we digress. The point of this question is to probe the waters and see what era of pro stock most people would like to see “replicated” today, even though we fully understand that you simply cannot 100% replicate this old school stuff, we could come close.
For some it will definitely be the earliest iteration of the class (we’re going on NHRA history here, so don’t chuck bricks at us) in 1970 where the cars really were muscled up super stockers and still had stuff like traditional four speeds and were factory based cars. Granted, this would probably be the least expensive way to go (and we understand that it would still cost a small fortune) because you would start with a “real” car as a base and then make the allowed modifications per the 1970 rule book.
Others would prefer to move the whole thing up a few years to when the Lenco first hit the class, nullifying the swift shifting abilities of a guy like Ronnie Sox because yanking multiple shift levers didn’t requires the hand-eye coordination a standard shift four speed did. If we set the date at say, 1975 there would be Lenco transmissions and basic tube chassis construction cars in the class. If we had our way, this is the direction we’d go. You’d have all kinds of classic body styles in there, a mix of big and small block engines, and it feels right to us. We think going to the 500ci era is a problem because it would take one person to literally plug a 500ci modern pro stock engine in a car and make the whole thing kind of a crap shoot.
We’re kind of surprised that nostalgia pro stock has not exploded on its own already. It really seems like a natural fit to be part of the scene and perhaps the reason is that no one really knows what it is “supposed” to be. I say we pick a direction and then champion the cause! What’s your pick? How would YOU set up Nostalgia pro stock?
Question Of The Day: If You Were Creating A Nostalgia Pro Stock Class, What Era Would You Lock Into?
Outrageously easy question! 1970! . . . no tube frames (i.e. Grumpy’s Vega . .. the car that started things hurtling down the slippery slope to today’s mess) . . . no melted “football” bodies . . . no pro mod “workbench” wings hanging off the tail . . . no carbon fiber . . . bolt-on fiberglass parts only (must fit stock body and be stock appearing) . . . OEM-style manual or automatics (no $$$$ clutchless boxes, no automated “clutch management” . . . no transbrakes . . . no delay boxes) . . . streetable minimum ground clearance . . . no sheetmetal intakes (cast and welded cast only) . . . no split carburetors . . . wet sump oiling only . . . no modern hood scoops . . . .
Also easy to answer, no strut front end cars. Original front frame or sub frame. In those days I think it was mostly only a fiberglass hood. No lencos, or big dollar multi-disc clutches, original dash and mostly original floor pan, a maximum of back half aluminum, mostly out of the box parts w/minimal modification. limit on how much could be done on rear suspension installation. Maybe Dana 60 only. How about no 4 link. The only problem would be not being able to find any old Hemi 4 speeds to use. Oh yea, make it weight to cubic inch rule.
I must agree 1970 the year that started it all–real drivers ,shifting real transmissions, tuning by “Ear/Seat of the Pants”, weight to cubic inches –“No steering wheel holders” but true racers
This is an easy question… The 1970’s pintacle of drag racing!
The fact that you mention Ronnie Sox just tells me you aren’t interested in the skill set of the driver and allow technology to substitute for it . . . a damn shame.
1970 all the way!
Whatever the last year they had real transmissions was, make that your cut off.
1970. No struts, no tube frames. All cars running equal Cubic inch to weight limits.
1970 Hands Down !!! When the cars were cars . Characters like Grumy Jenkins , Dandy Dick Landy and Dyno Don ruled the roost . Genuine competition between the Big Three [ and occasionally #4 ] Those killer hood scoops ! Oddball combinations of Cars and Motors .
Damn ! No doubt about it . 1970 … with a bullet ! [ music business term ]
And damn you again Lohnes !!!! Getting me back on a nostalgia trip …. just when I’d finally recovered from the last one you dumped in my lap ! Thpppppppt … First Trudeau bringing back the ‘ classic ‘ Doonesbury ‘ strips … and now you !
1970 is the only answer.
Though are we all saying that the body styles could be no newer than 1970?
As to that, I would say the ONLY modification to that rule is “no newer body style than 1975”. Or maybe 1977 at the most.
And I totally agree with “no carbon fiber, no computers or telemetry, no strut front ends, no aero mods beyond a stock spoiler or air dam” etc…
As to transmissions; what about ones like the “clutch flight”?
They were racing those pre-1970.
Sorry but I am all over Grumpy’s tube chassis Vega like stink on poo! It would have to before Lenco’s came in 75′. Must be 4-speed, no slush boxes!
The 1970’s Pro Stockers when it was based on actual production cars without the tube chassis, Lencos,etc.
70-74, before the lencos-BUT in the interest of what is actually AVAILABLE now, the jerico/Gforce stuff is going to have to be considered. no amount of engine rule is going to keep power at the 1970 level-Wade Owens has a 283 66 chevelle in stock running low 11s at full O stock weight-todays engine technology will make mush out of a hemi four speed and quickly make it oboslete. The expense of having 3 transmissions just to complete one weekend of racing will turn most guys off. That said, everything prior to Grumpys vega IS IT! and Grumpys Vega is my all time favorite-but-as stated above, it began the loss of the true street catr based reacecar.
Early 70s of course. These were closer like you’d buy off the showroom floor than any other time. Specially today.
I’d like to see any of today’s hotshot pro stock drivers try to handle an early 70s pro stocker.
All I know is that I want to clone the “Tijuana Taxi”, more doors for the win! so, yeah, 1970-72 does it for me.
1970-72 also….real cars, real trannies 4-SPEEDS………some of the “modern” nostalgia cars are already running autos in the name of “reliability”…YUCK!
Also-do you let a caged/back half vega/pinto run?
70-72 for sure, the later stuff was great but somehow the “stock” in “Pro Stock” disappeared. Watch the real early 70’s videos, the dry hops, listen to wailing through the 4 gears. If that doesn’t make you tear up….you don’t have a heart.
1981…just before 500ci limit was introduced.
Pre-500 ci. how many cars were produced with them?
1970, the only true Pro Stocks. Let body styles go up to 74 or 75 but keep the ’70 rules. No 4 bar cars, no carbon fiber, cast intakes, full lights, full interior. Keep the first set of rules.
pre-500ci–1 lenco would be cheaper than 10-20 4-speeds it would take to really race–tube frames are way safer than anything- must be a consideration–cars would be way faster then back in the day–great idea though
1970! No tube chassis, shift and clutch operated by the driver. Small blocks!
First gen. Takes a real driver to shift a real 4 speed.
75 and earlier. No tube frames. No transmisions that came out after 75. Lencos but no air shifters.
1970, when the cars were basically Super Stock cars with the hottest motor by the same manufacturer. I see a trend here.
1970 and NO Lencos. Learn how to drive folks.
A few things I forgot in my earlier comment, newer year car might be used, maybe into early 80’s, provided the early rules were followed. Perhaps limiting to a single 4 barrel with CFM limits kinda like what A,B,C/SM used years ago and out of the box intakes with no modifications. Maybe also limit cfm intake runner size to keep HP down. Also limit rear tire size. Lots to look at and talk about. Hope it happen though. Would be something to see 75 show up at Bakersfield and instead of a 16 or 32 car field, let all of them run.
the first tube frame cars were the best….more car than a super stock but not the 500 ci cookie cutters we have now…
im on board with 1970 (grump runs 9s) but isn’t that basically the same as the copo and new mustang class cars are now? Factory creations that don’t exist on the showroom floor?
Maybe give big weight breaks to smaller cubic inch cars with non pro stock style heads? Maybe keep tire size limited to 10.5 inches and no lencos. Let the new copos and stuff in would keep the class current and much like what drove pro stock in the first place?
I’m building a 71 pinto nostalgia pro stock style. Weight to cu in equals variety.
definitely 1970, it was pure and how it was intended to be. It was a showcase of the factories best. Where it went wrong was when the best was no longer available and NHRA did not want to slow the class down, by competing smog small block cars. Interestingly we live in a great time to let them compete with new offerings once again.