Hi all, I enjoy driving my older cars, not the best handling, stopping or acceleration compared to modern cars, but the feel like your doing all of those things, you feel the body sway, and tires squealing as you head into a S-curve at twice the yellow caution suggested speed, and then you downshift and mash the gas and no modern car will take you back to the first time you did that, in the first ill handling car with questionable brakes. And that smile comes across your face as you get onto the straightway. Most of my cars have had some updates, pertronix ignition, bigger cams, 3 series gears, guess you could say day 2 type upgrades, but none are actual muscle cars, 65 Special 300/4v/4speed, 65 Skylark 401/2x4/4speed, and my latest a 65 Cutlass 455/4v/200r4, all were little old lady cars that got upgraded to my liking and what was available, all still sport drum brakes and 14 inch rims, though that may change to 15's. If you want a 13 second car that rides on rails all with the AC going and GPS, get a new car, if you want to feel like your doing all the above, and will feel everything the car is doing then get a classic, if your lucky it might have AC, and your smartphone will have GPS, and also be a bit of a time machine back to the first time you saw or drove the particular car of your dreams. Just my opinion, but until someone else is financing your build, do what you want, rather see a car saved and someone getting into the hobby as most of us are getting long in the tooth. Regards,
I think the restomod / Pro-touring idea is cool. I would probably not do it to an original numbers-matching car. But, what do you do when you want to drive them, and they just aren't safe or reliable? Take my '63 for example. It's a really clean and complete original car. It has an oddball 2-speed transmission mated to a leaky 215. There is a 2-piece driveshaft with carrier bearing and a weak rear end. The 4 wheel manual drum brakes are just bad. it has odd 4-lug 13" wheels for which there are very few tires available. Sure, I could fix everything and drive it occasionally, but I don't like the idea of dealing with old car issues and oddball parts. So, I decided to pull the original drivetrain and replace it with something that meets my needs. It's getting a narrowed Ford rear, disk brakes all the way around, '64 Buick 300 and probably a TH350. I will likely have to reconstruct the tunnel to get the trans to fit, and I plan to slightly mini tub it to get a little more rear tire under it. I would like to fuel inject and turbocharge the 300 in the future, to the tune of 400-500 hp to get to the 11.50's range (I won't put a roll bar in it). I intend to paint it all black (original color) and keep it looking mostly original (other than the wheels). But, I want it to stop, go, and ride in a much more modern way. With the idiots on the road, I just can't see not having the performance to stay out of trouble. All of these things, with the exception of the rear end, trans tunnel, and rear fender wells, are easily reversible, and it will still have a period Buick motor. That's my take on it. I have a clean '69 roller in pieces that I would really like to go full pro-touring on: tube chassis or highly modified suspension, 17's, big brakes, custom interior (it has none right now), and maybe a twin turbo 3800 II mated to a 6 speed. Would be a fun ride.
Your logic makes sense. Your point about the tires, brakes, wheels, two piece shaft and power of the stock drivetrain are valid. Keeping it all Buick (later model) is cool
Dave, there was no mention of interior parts swapped for the conversion? Post some interior pics of the conversion I would like to see how that was done.
I like restomods if they’re done well, but ‘done well’ is the key. If the chebby ls or sb is in there because the owner is too lazy, cheap or ignorant to build a Buick or Pontiac and make it run right, I think it’s being lazy. If an ls swap gets 700-800 hp in an easy driving street car then that’s different. Patrick
That's what I like. If you see my 70 Stage car, it looks pretty simple. The major obvious things are a rear wing and front spoiler. Some will notice the 8" wheel vintiques out back. As you look closer, you might notice the smaller, padded steering wheel or the PRNOD21 on the console shifter. If you are really paying attention, you might see the LED headlights. If you are following me, you might see the LED taillights. If we pop the hood, the aluminum heads and headers are apparent but most people will never notice the 200-4R, TrueTrac diff in the 8.5 rear with disc brakes.
I leased a new Ram 4x4, I tried to launch my boat and the brakes kept locking up, rear camera said somethings too close to you. No ****, I'm launching a f'n boat. My buddy had to get in the truck to read the small print on the dash display (didn't think I needed readers to launch my boat), I can't stand that crap......
LOL, Yep, most of the "safety systems" are a joke! The Jeeps we get in at work you don't need to use the brakes to stop, just open the door while yer moving, ERRRRRRRRRRRRR! E-brake applies, its hilarious/stupid THE CAR KNOWS WHATS BEST FOR YOU, JUST SIT AND LICK THE WINDOWS
The Caddy wagon is cool. I like the use of colors on the Chevy, I think its a Chevy, the blue and violet with tan interior one.
It is your car and your dream. I like them to look, sound, feel and drive like they did when I dreamed of having one. I was young and so was the car. Saying that, I really covet some of the upgrades now available for these cars.
stock cars are just that stock unless they are something rare they are a dime a dozen. i do like it tastefully done. im not a fan of custom seats door panels dash all that jazz however. i think it takes away what make it an old car in the first place. im also not a fan of cutting the car up all crazy. the blue pontiac is a great example of a tastefully done car. no crazy body mods no crazy interior. just clean looking.
I can't wait for self driving cars. GPS get you lost as it is what happens when the car makes you take a turn that isn't there any more and you don't have a steering wheel to get you out of the ditch. There are some electric cars I can get behind but the range and recharge time isn't good enough for me.
