The beginnings of Pro Touring?

[406ben]

Well, maybe not quite, but...

I was thumbing through some old photos from 1987 and found these shots of my first Nova, a 73 4 door. Back in high school I got sick of the air shock and fat tire look, and all the rage was lowered mini trucks, so I figured what the heck I'd join 'em. The car had a 3" drop via blocks and cut coils, 215-60-14's up front and 235-60-14's out back, moon discs on factory steelies, a .040 327 with an Ebrock Performer style induction, 64cc camel humps, headers, TH350 w/shift kit, and 2.73 factory 10 bolt. On the street tires I ran a 15.0@94 mph, spinning out of the hole. It would do 133 on the top end and that was it, peak power and nothing else to give. It was a fun ride and got a lotta looks because at the time lowered cars other than a few latino style Impalas and the custom cruiser older guys were unheard of in my area of south Florida. Eventually I raised it back up and built a sleeper street racer out of it, driven daily as my only car, and ran a 12.06 @ 109, 1.63 60' right off the street with slicks. Although a 4 door, it was a fun car.

[WS6]

haha looks awsome and the fact that it would haul ass, even better

[Bill Howell]

Ben,
"old pictures, highschool in 87"
that is not old my friend :bsjerk:
Nice ride though, I love being different myself. I am sure you really turned some heads when you "left" redlights. I can remember back then saying to the kids with all the loud stereos that if you can't make it run-buy an Alpine and some 15's. Can't do that these days cause some of the riceburners fly too now.

[Steve1968LS2]

Ive got you beat... I think this is from late 1986..

My 2nd car..


People thought i was nuts to run HUGE 16" wheels (with gatorbacks).. I even had Corbeau seats.. dang that thing was low.. (note, had to run the back rims on the front and front rims on the back..)

[Bill Howell]

Steve,
I am really going to date myself here but I can remember having those same IROC wheels on a 78 elcamino in 1982. They gave it that "SS" elko look. I had to put spacers on rear to make them work. Back then everyone used those wheels because we did not have the options we have now. Yeah, 16" on something that came with 14" was really stepping out there then. I know that was the right year because that is the vehicle that my oldest daugther came home from the hospital(birth) in. That's right- sans seatbelt! I was young and dumb then. I had put a 454 in it but never changed the saginaw so needless to say I spent alot of time swapping "bad" trannys .
To me Pro-street always meant dragracers with tags. I never liked the narrow front tire look on the street.Plus most of them never had things like insurance, w/s wipers that worked and cornering was out of the question. I guess those of us that always had wide tires up front were Pro-Touring and did not know it.I glad we are finally in style.
Sorry,no pics but thanks for jogging my memory. :icon996:

[TonyL]

I can remember having those same IROC wheels on a 78 elcamino in 1982

actually thats not possible as IROC rims didnt exist until 1985.

[Bill Howell]

Tony,
I stand corrected. In 82 the elcamino had 81 z/28 wheels that are similar but were 15". Then it got a set of 79 or 80 vette slotted wheels. Finally there was a set of IROC but that was probably 87. I owned it 8 years and things run together when you get my age It was a Black Knight edition and is the reason I picked a malibu when I decided to build a p-t car. Sorry for the confusion(senelity is a b*t*h).

[derekf]

When my old 65 hardtop was recovered after it got stolen, the thief had put those IROC wheels on it (the goldish ones from the 'gold edition' IROCs) - that would have been late '88.

Looked sharp with the goldish wheels and the Crocus Yellow body. Actually thought about getting another set for this 65.

[406ben]

You guys are too funny. I had a friend that did the same thing to his El Camino back then as well. He also added a small front air dam as well. Neat looking car for back then. In 2000, I worked for Super Shops in Florida and had a guy come in with an Iroc for new rims. At the time I was driving a '65 Nova wagon. I got a wild idea and tried the Iroc wheels on my car but the rear wheel wells just wouldn't stretch enough. Dang! ;)

[Tom Welch]

In 1982 my 67 firebird 'roadracer' as I called it ran on 245/60r14's all around. springs were sagging so lowering was already done. 400 and a 4-speed turning a pegleg 3.08 rearend allowed me to beat most challengers easily. But that was the early 80's. A bored out 428, 700r4, 9-inch rear, 17x8and 17x10 wheels motivate me now.

[Restomod]

Here is a pic of a pic of my 67 Firebird from about 1998.If you look sharp you can see the "Pro Touring" banner on the windshield.It had a .060 over 400 sbc with a M-22 4spd,3.73 gear with 17" Center lines and 275/40's on the rear and 225/40's on the front.....https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/at...tid=1594&stc=1

[Tom Welch]

Thats the ticket, mine is being painted silver (1CO Lexus paint code) all emblem holes filled. body color front bumper. It is an all consuming sickness that I wont ever be rid of. At least my mom and dad and wife believe something along those lines. It's in my blood man.

[zman1969]

Back in 87-88 i had a 70 R/S camaro with 4 rear Iroc 16x8 wheels and trans am sway bars although it wasnt lowered it handles really well compared to the 14" wheels that came on it I had added front and rear spoilers and looked good - it was even used on a TV show for a episode of Unsoved Mysteries
I was cool then!

[vanzuuk1]

boy have times changed ! in 1990 i had a lowered green 69 camaro with an rhs motor and rally wheels painted black . now i have a lowered dark green camaro with an rhs motor and ... rally wheels .. painted .. black.
the only difference is the heavy metal hair is gone and i didnt use a spray can on the rally wheels

[c.schulz]

Here is a 78 el camino I had with IROC wheels around 1987?? At least the car had 454 BBC with a grandnational axle.Was a ton of fun.
Chris

[Bill Howell]

Here is a 78 el camino I had with IROC wheels around 1987?? At least the car had 454 BBC with a grandnational axle.Was a ton of fun.
Chris

Chris, Thanks for posting that picture!Was it a 4speed? It was impossible to get any traction with the bbc, but man what a burnout king. I hate to think how many saginaw trannys I put in mine. I owned a wrecker service/impound yard at the time so no impounded Vega with a 4sp was safe because that was a simple bolt in swap. I finally took the time to retrofit a borg-warner.
Tony, Paint that elky black,add gold "Black Knight" logo on hood and that is my car mentioned above,down to the cargo cover, spoiler and bolt on hood scoop!(No cowl hoods back then.)