Lateral-g Forums - So, Who started Pro Touring?

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for me it was the Mule..seen it in popular hot rodding and it was all over..

Shoot, someone beat me to the 'Al Gore' answer. I'm not sure Big Red should be considered a pro-touring car, but it definitely had a big influence in terms of appearance and performance. I think it's safe to say Big Red got the idea going and then others came in and added modern interiors, modern engines and fuel systems, misc refinement, etc, to come up with the 'pro-touring' idea we know of today. The Mule is a great example of that. Big Red is actually the reason I own and built the car I have today. It got burned into my grape-sized brain the first time I saw it featured in a magazine as a teenager and caused me to think about building a 69 RS ever since. Now I'm dead broke. Thanks Big Red!

Quote:

Originally Posted by 72tunaboa (Post 214046)

From what I've read, most people will credit Big Red or Mark Steilow's First One Lap car. I remember a A nova that Lil John Buttera built in the mid 80s, 'Novette'.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/f...at/buttera.jpg

yep.. Corvette front clip- lots cool stuff- a VERY slight update and that car would turn heads today- Chris

Gotta be Steilow's first one lap Camaro currently owned by Jeff (screen name jeff-san),car is local and I still see it occasionally.

I remember when that issue arrived at my house in '85... I was blown away by the NoVette. That one did it for me.. glad you posted it! Still have the issue, or what's left of it, anyway...

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicane (Post 214001)

1966... Dick Guldstrand... along with Dana Chevrolet and a few other cats in the LA basin. Although... Dick shoulud actually be credited with its roots in the late 50's with the Corvette.

Agreed.

I see a lot of credit going to the Mule. I love that car, read every article about the build, multiple times. That's the build quality and functionality we're all going for now, but guys have wanted to go fast, corner well and stop quickly since way before the Mule. The car's a great example, but it didn't start P/T. Trans Am racing, British Touring Car Championship, rallying, all HUGE in the sixties.

Check this out...

I don't know when it was built, but looks to me like early '70s. That pre-dates most of the stuff mentioned here by quite a while. This isn't a new concept, we're just taking it to new levels.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamaroPat (Post 214181)

when the mule is mentioned by people they arent say it started pro-touring they say it started the obsession for them... i agree with you though o think all lot of what "we" like goes back to the trans am era cars!
my faviorate I might add.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricochet (Post 213979)

So earlier this week I was down at Ironworks and Rodger and I got talking about 69 Camaro's and the whole Pro Touring movement. Something was said about who started it and what car really set the stage. The first car that I saw that just left a huge imprint in my head was a 69 Camaro built by Freeland Tanner that I saw at the Oakland Roadster show back in 1980. I did some digging the net around and was able to find these pics I thought I would share. Now remember this car was built 30 yrs ago. Love it or hate it - this guy was way ahead of the curve IMO.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2583301

My Mom and Dad used to hang out with Freeland and his brother In Napa when they were in their 20's. My Mom said he was one of the most talented guys, both of them really, and way ahead of their time. We were just talking about them the other day, wondering what they're doing. Nice to see the photos of one of his Camaro's he built (from what I heard there were a few), I've only heard of them but no one's ever found the photos to show me. Small world.