Pro-Touring a rare car

[Little Bob]

I was wondering what everyone thought about Pro-Touring a rare car. My car is 1 of 432 68 GTO convertables made. Now what makes it so rare is that is an original 2bbl, 265 horse car. My dad bought it from a sales man in 1972 with 32,000 original miles on it. It ended up having some problems and my dad never fixed it. Eventually he gave it to me. The main reason that I'm not restoring back to original is, just before he died in 2000. He made sure that I would make the car my way and enjoy it. My dad was 52 years old and he was told that he had cancer in his liver and died 3 months later. Sorry it still bothers me to think about him. I guess what I saying is, life is to short to worry. I hope at least some of this makes sense.



If anyone is wondering why I came up with this thread. It's because of my thread in "Multimedia" section called (My all time favorite dyno run video). I saw a responce that made me think. Because I was going to go with a Ponitiac turbo motor but, I think it will be easier to come up with a Chevy combination. I also want to do alot of custom things to the car.

I look forward to all comments.

Thanks

[69speed]

I say it's your car, have at it if that's what you want. Keep all the original parts you can just in case you change your mind later. Your engine choice shouldn't really matter as it's not original anyway. Any build GM engine should seem right at home in there.

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Rob,

As a tribute to your father, I would follow his wishes, and build the car YOUR way. Do not worry about the purist or nut and bolt resto guys that will have something to say. It is your car, being built for your enjoyment. Do what your heart tells you, and build it so that it suites your needs.

[YoungGun]

I agree that you should do what you wish. But if you wanted a kind of median, there is the "dont change something you cant change back" method. You can swap engines, tranny, suspension, interior...everything pretty much. Just dont cut anything you couldnt make original again one day, save the old parts, and enjoy it.

Like I said, I agree you should do what you want, but that was just a suggestion so one day you could go original again if you want.

Tim

[rockdogz]

Yep, I would say do it your way. If anything, the hard core resto guys with one of these cars should be happy that there's one less fully restored original... makes theirs that much more valuable!

[YoungGun]

Hey, I just noticed...Manchester CT!!!! I live in Somers! You should check out the post on our August NE gathering. Come join us!
Any local shows you go too...I am around at alot of them.

Tim

[vanzuuk1]

Do it the way you want.

Bring it to the NE cruise.

[Little Bob]

Hey, I just noticed...Manchester CT!!!! I live in Somers! You should check out the post on our August NE gathering. Come join us!
Any local shows you go too...I am around at alot of them.

Tim

Tim,

Thanks for the response. I go to Marks alot. The other cruise nights just don't have the assortment of cars. I would like to join you guys for the gathering. Even if it's in my Integra.

Thanks

[Steve Chryssos]

Plenty of good bolt on mods available for A-bodies. If you decide to dig a little deeper, I'll be right over with my Sawz-All. Besides, maybe one of the other 437 guys would kill for a numbers matching 2bbl Poncho.
/Steevo

[Little Bob]

I would like to just thank all of you for the good advice. Your all a great bunch. I'm glad I get to talk to people with the same interest as I do.

Thanks Again

[WS6]

i daily drive and have a 132k miles(72k in 27 months) on a car that is 1 of 27 ever built or one of 524 if you want to just break it down by model. ill be building the motor up one day to something much more powerful. may not even be the same engine. i say do what you want with your car. if you think you may want to return it to stock one day save all the parts you take off. I would save the parts anyway as you never know what they will be worth one day. also maybe not defiate too much from stock in the way the car initially looks. by that i mean if theres something special about the outward appearence of the car, be it a stripe package or color, keep that stock or very close to stock and change whatever else you want to. that way if anyone who knows what makes it special sees it, they will know its not just a pro-touring GTO. its something a little more special.

and i vote for a turbo poncho for power. that would be killer.

[ProdigyCustoms]

Sad story about your dad, that would hurt. As far as pro touring a rare car. If it was a ZL1, A Stage One convertible GS, A W30 442, or a Ram Air 4 judge, I would say no, sell it and buy another car to start with instead of wasting a rare car, or the money it is worth. In the meantime, while your car is rare, being rare because it is low horsepower does not really equate to collector valuable. For example bench seat, 6 cylinder Camaros are rare, but do not command any speciaol value or desireability for being striped version and no performance.

I really am not trying to hurt your feelings in any way as it is obvious your car hads much sentimental value, which I respect a lot. Buld it like you want, and keep it forever.

[Charley Lillard]

If you restore it stock, buyers will be telling you it is not worth much because of the low hp engine. Modify it, enjoy it and don't look back.......

[Nine Ball]

I agree with Frank and Charley, the low HP versions typically don't see the same return value on the fully restored market.

Before my Grandfather (another gearhead) died, he told me to enjoy my cars and drive them like I want to. He got caught up in that "I don't want to modify it, it will be worth something someday" routine when he was younger, and didn't race his cars or modify them. Looking back as an old man, he never ended up keeping any of those musclecars, and always regretted not enjoying them like he should have.

Build it how your Dad would have wanted you to. It can be a tribute project, with his spirit riding shotgun.

Tony

[MrQuick]

Great advice from all. It is your car and you will be keeping it so I agree, build the way you see fit...im sure your father would be happy either way.:icon996:

[Jim Nilsen]

Just think, you might have 1 of 437 cars or whatever number convertible GTO PT cars if none of the others change. I say go for the rarest and the most controversial. Nothing to lose everything to gain.

Jim Nilsen

[chicane67]

Rob,

As a tribute to your father, I would follow his wishes, and build the car YOUR way. Do not worry about the purist or nut and bolt resto guys that will have something to say. It is your car, being built for your enjoyment. Do what your heart tells you, and build it so that it suites your needs.

I'll definately second that !!!

[Hrod382]

Do what you think is cool to it, paint it pink for all I care...

[Jagarang]

"dont change something you cant change back" method.

This is what I'm doing with my 396 70 SS Chevelle. In fact the suspension is going all Global West as I write this, and what will happen next is that I'll have all the original susp. parts cleaned and painted up proper for future "just in case" cases!

[69boo307]

If it was mine, I'd try to update it's handling, braking, power, but keep it as original looking as possible in the process. The car could be worth alot of money some day, they ain't making any more of them, so you might not want to do anything to it that can't be undone. Store the original engine and transmission and hang on to it! Keep the original suspension configuration, but maybe update with new parts. Keep any original parts that you take off (such as control arms), unless they're just trash like an old bushing or something.
I personally think it would be a shame to go buck wild on a rare car like that, but there's certainly nothing wrong with updating it to be comfortable and safe in modern traffic.
I guess in the end, it's yours, do what you want with it.