IMSA/Group 5 inspired cars?

[The Stickman]

Does anyone else but me like the cars inspired by these racing series? I remember back in the early 80's there was a fad that resembles what Protouring is about. They were called canyon or Cafe racers. Cars that dared to stick large wheels and tires not only on the back but the front too. Cars that actually begged to be driven hard into a corner. Cars that mimicked those on the track. I will give you all some examples of both race and street versions and ask wether any of you would like to see something like this in the pro-touring arena. First is a car of my own and the race version.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/12/myIMSA-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/12/Watkins_Glen19840708084-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/Road_America19850825055-1.jpg
A Greenwood Vette
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/08367-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/untitled-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/197919801981fordmustang20-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/197919801981fordmustang19-1.jpg
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
Chevy Monza
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2005/02/DekonMonza1-1.jpg
And there are many others but you get the idea.

[killer69]

sorry but it looks like your the only one??? hahahah

i think the look had it's time, of all the examples above the only one that still looks ok is the orange Mclaren mustang. my .02 worth

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

i for one love those cars...

and does anyone know why they were called CAFE racers?

did they race from cafe to cafe?



mocha latte?

[The Stickman]

sorry but it looks like your the only one??? hahahah

i think the look had it's time, of all the examples above the only one that still looks ok is the orange Mclaren mustang. my .02 worth


I suppose this does nothing for you either then.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qb6QBvRp-FQ
It is a IMSA March for the street. There is also a company that makes the Corvette GTP

[go-fish]

I love the wide body Mustang. I like them all really.....except the vette GTO thing.

[Ron S]

I'm kind of partcial to wide bodies too,that whole era of cars was just cool and is what inspired my Mustang.Somebody here needs to do a Monza!! Ron

[Rick Dorion]

I like those cars too. Bob Sharp's Z cars were 'sharp'.

[Twentyover]

i for one love those cars...

and does anyone know why they were called CAFE racers?

did they race from cafe to cafe?



mocha latte?

Term is from 50's British bike culture. So named because they congregated at eateries (Most well know is the Ace Cafe in London).

These were essentially street bikes usually equiped w/ clip on handlebars and loud pipes, or specials (Norvins- Vincent engines in Norton featherbed frames, Tritons- Triumph engines in Norton frames, etc), and they would 'race' from point A to point B and back topoint A, trying to make the distance while a single record played on the jukebox.

Big deal was to do the 'ton', exceding 100 mph during the race

[k7king]

I love the wide bodys also

[JEFFTATE]

Hell yeah !
I remember the "cafe racer/ canyon carver" build style.
That was cool.
Kinda' like the Big Red Camaro.
Or some of Herb Adams creations.

There used to be a BF Goodrich Tire ad in all the magazines of the 80'S that had a '69 Camaro that had fat tires all the way around.
I always remember that from the 80's.
When I first had the bug to build my car , the Cafe racers were what I looked at for inspiration.
That was before pro-touring came into being.
They were kinda' like street fighters.

[Shiro666]

I don't know if this belongs in the Pro Touring Fouls page, but I love them crazy flared Corvettes.

I was trying to get my buddy to do his Monza IMSA style. He went .25 mile instead.

[wendell]

There's a great thread on this topic already. Full of great pics. I'm a BIG proponent of 14" wide slicks, fender flairs grafted onto fender flairs and GIANT wings.

Turbo big block train wreck. I love it.
http://www.racingsportscars.com/photo/1978/Watkins_Glen-1978-07-09-082.jpg

[The Stickman]

I like those cars too. Bob Sharp's Z cars were 'sharp'.


Like this one? Paul Newman droves these.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/ZCCNE20036-1.jpg

[Norm Peterson]

Does anyone else but me like the cars inspired by these racing series? I remember back in the early 80's there was a fad that resembles what Protouring is about. They were called canyon or Cafe racers. Cars that dared to stick large wheels and tires not only on the back but the front too. Cars that actually begged to be driven hard into a corner. Cars that mimicked those on the track.
I'd guess most anybody who is into earlier cars and is at least semi-serious about autocross / open-tracking / Tail of the Dragon sort of stuff.

Once you're committed to putting ≥100 mm more tire than stock at all four corners, you have to modify something and there really aren't too many options to choose from. Narrow the chassis, wide-body the sheetmetal around the wheel openings, or do some of each. 4" more tire eats up a lot of space.

F'rinstance, 245 is about as wide as you can go on a '79 Malibu before the simple tricks for getting clearance are not enough. And that's 70 mm or so less than what it needs once you get serious at only a regional Street Prepared autocross level.


Norm

[Restomod]

I like this style a LOT!! The Mustangs and the red Monza are killer!

[69stang]

Love the monzas! Always liked the McLaren mustang and the Greenwood vettes.

[killer69]

I suppose this does nothing for you either then.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qb6QBvRp-FQ
It is a IMSA March for the street. There is also a company that makes the Corvette GTP

yea can't argue with that but i didn't see it in the first set of pics.

[gtoroadracer]

I have always been a fan of the wide body race cars as well. I guess you can tell that. :)

[BossaNova]

Remember and still love the Monza.
Wish I had one of those body kits.

[jeff s]

I dig em, Of course I was an IMSA driver from 1983 to 1986.
The reason I built my Ultima GTR was it reminded me of a GTP car a bit.

[NOT A TA]

I've always wanted one of the IMSA Monzas they sold for the street. Only one I've seen for sale in recent years had low miles and needed a new front fiberglass section and I couldn't find one anywhere so I passed on the car. The only new car I ever bought for myself was a Monza Spyder in 80 after they'd already stopped making the IMSA model.

[JV69z/28]

I don't know if this belongs in the Pro Touring Fouls page, but I love them crazy flared Corvettes.

There were several versions of the Greenwood wide body C3s. The GTO versions being the most over the top and not being that close in appearence to the race car. The Sebring GT is a bit cleaner looking and might lend itself much better to being modernized with current tire and wheel technology and a lowered stance. Here's a link to the Greenwood C3 site. http://www.greenwoodcorvettes.com/Streetcars.html

[Van B]

My dad had one of the street version widebody Monzas back in the early 80's. I would like to have one again. If I remember right, it had some trick shocks you could adjust from inside the car.

[Bjkadron]

I wasn't even arround in the eighties(wasn't even thought of for that matter)... But I think these cars are AWESOME! Some of My favorites actually. And big inspiration for how I'm building my Duster. I do think that they could use some updating in the aesthetics and paint departments though... Some modern examples would be the DTM cars that they race in Europe.

[poormans69]

The Audi quatro race version was the one I drooled over. That car was bad a$$.

[The Stickman]

The Audi quatro race version was the one I drooled over. That car was bad a$$.


like this one cresting the hill at LimeRock before they reconfigured it?
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/AudiGTO-1.jpg
How about a 426 Chaalenger?
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/998893-1.jpg
Or a Mercury Cougar?
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/Laguna_Seca19891015009-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/2448287216-1.jpg

Or Camaro's?
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/Brno19810614004-1.jpg
At LeMans
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/Le_Mans19820620080-1.jpg
AMC Javlin/AMX
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/Daytona19791125039-1.jpg
The Cobra II Mustang
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/IMSA20Kemp20Cobra20II2012-1.jpg

[Restomod]

I remeber seeing the Audi do that, they were the fastest things on the track IIRC! The Cougars look sharp to.

[CanAmNova]

Here's one for the Monza fans:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLt7DWbtAWw

I love the way that car puts the smackdown on those poor little Porsches. :)

Oh, and here's the website for that Hemi Challenger shown in the above post. You gotta check this out--it's a great read and a cool as hell car!

http://glennbunch.com/

[The Stickman]

Here's one for the Monza fans:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLt7DWbtAWw

I love the way that car puts the smackdown on those poor little Porsches. :)

Oh, and here's the website for that Hemi Challenger shown in the above post. You gotta check this out--it's a great read and a cool as hell car!

http://glennbunch.com/

Now that is one sweet vid. Thanx for sharing.

[Roger M]

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/mirage76brochure001-1.jpg

This is a great thread! Always liked these old Monzas. Who would have thought a mustang II could look so good.

[454bug]

Another cool video of a 1985 Buick Somerset IMSA GTO car at my favorite vintage track, Laguna Seca... (I've raced it SO many times on my Playstation Gran Turismo I dream of having a chance to race in real life...)

q4xLIUmr290&NR=1

[poormans69]

Yes, that was the Audi. All wheel drive made that thing awesome for Pikes Peak.

[Norm Peterson]

Oh, and here's the website for that Hemi Challenger shown in the above post. You gotta check this out--it's a great read and a cool as hell car!

http://glennbunch.com/
The Hemi Challenger wasn't Glenn Bunch's first "widebody". He ran a Jaguar XKE before that (that I saw in the Bunch family business's shop a couple of times).

http://www.scaleracing.info/Slotcar%20Jaguar%20XKE%20IMSA.htm


Norm

[wendell]

Here's one for the Monza fans:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLt7DWbtAWw

I love the way that car puts the smackdown on those poor little Porsches. :)

Oh, and here's the website for that Hemi Challenger shown in the above post. You gotta check this out--it's a great read and a cool as hell car!

http://glennbunch.com/

Fastest lap was a 1:35 something. Group 10 is brutal. Those guys know how to have fun (and spend money).

[TwinSting]

Even Rad Rides by Troy is getting in on this look now. That is sure to push it back into the mainstream. They are building a 88ish Camaro with 5" IMSA style flares front and rear!

[cheapta]

The wide-body Monzas are the balls!! I can remember the sound out of those sidemounts from Al Holbert's big block Monza when he backed off the gas entering turn one at LimeRock-awesome!!

[BossaNova]

That's what I'm talking about!
Thanks for posting this pic.

[quote=72tunaboat;493696]https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/02/mirage76brochure001-1.jpg

[DarkBuddha]

Some personal favorites (Merkur XR4TI):

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/198820MidOhio201-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/2615125492_0860660d25-1.jpg

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2009/03/2353261568_606cbe9a56-1.jpg

[JEFFTATE]

The 426 Hemi Challenger is pretty awesome !
I'm going to the Mitty at Road Atlanta this year.
I hope he's there.

[showa]

What motor did the XR4TI run ???

[shortrack]

What motor did the XR4TI run ???

I remember them back in the day......seen them run at Mosport......they had a inter cooled turbo 4......pretty sure it was a Cosworth 4 cyl that was avail in the European version of the car.....things had enormous i-coolers

[MonzaRacer]

Wish I could find good price on IMSA Monza parts and m 77might go IMSA.

[DarkBuddha]

I remember them back in the day......they had a inter cooled turbo 4......pretty sure it was a Cosworth 4 cyl that was avail in the European version of the car.....things had enormous i-coolers
You're correct that the XR4TI didn't get the Cosworth 2 liter YB. Instead they got the same 2.3 Lima turbo motor as the SVO Mustang and Turbocoupe Tunderbird, except without an intercooler. Stock, unintercooled, the 5 speed cars made 175hp, making them high 15 second quarter mile cars. Of course, the IRS doesn't help with drag racing, but helps 'em handle pretty good. But old road tests show they were the quickest cars on the market at the time between 40-70mph (turbo baby!), even quicker than the turbo Porsche of the day.

Ask me why I know all this crap:

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[BossaNova]

I wish you could too. I would love to see a street version of one of these cars. Definitely wouldn't pass another on the highway.


Wish I could find good price on IMSA Monza parts and m 77might go IMSA.

[shortrack]

You're correct that the XR4TI didn't get the Cosworth 2 liter YB. Instead they got the same 2.3 Lima turbo motor as the SVO Mustang and Turbocoupe Tunderbird, except without an intercooler. Stock, unintercooled, the 5 speed cars made 175hp, making them high 15 second quarter mile cars. Of course, the IRS doesn't help with drag racing, but helps 'em handle pretty good. But old road tests show they were the quickest cars on the market at the time between 40-70mph (turbo baby!), even quicker than the turbo Porsche of the day.

Ask me why I know all this crap:

my buddy has an 85' all hopped up.....wastegate mods, ported head some other stuff in the motor.....got a full suspension kit with shocks/ struts/swaybars etc.....wow! one of the best handling most neutral cars I have ever been in.....he was worried about blowing the stock tranny then the engine blew and it sits in the garage now:bsjerk:......I give him a hard time about it whenever I can :)

[DarkBuddha]

my buddy has an 85' all hopped up.....wastegate mods, ported head some other stuff in the motor.....

......I give him a hard time about it whenever I can :)
Get him to sell it to you instead and rebuild the motor. I've popped 3 head gaskets now and no damage to the head or motor at all. The pistons are forged from the factory, rods and crank are heavy duty, heads are big hunks of iron, and they're non-interference motors so no problem if the timing belt snaps. The stock short block is good to a proven 750hp and the motors are cheap and easy to upgrade. So just buy it.

[clarkman]

I'm diggin all the wide body love. And I thought I was the only one that loved fat cars. Fat cars need love too, lol. :smoke:

Any updates on the duster?

[Scott Parkhurst]

Wish I could find good price on IMSA Monza parts and m 77might go IMSA.


When do you figure you'll have that thing running? I've been on this site for awhile and you've been talking (and talking and talking) about it, but it hasn't happened yet.

[Bjkadron]

I'm diggin all the wide body love. And I thought I was the only one that loved fat cars. Fat cars need love too, lol. :smoke:

Any updates on the duster?


On my Duster?

[blown9746]

i never thought i'd say this, but that monza actually looks pretty cool