So, Who started Pro Touring?

[CamaroPat]

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.

[CamaroPat]

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.

[L-Janne]

Originally Posted by CamaroPat

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.

The black Charger was featured in the very same issue of Hot Rod that had Stielow's Red Witch in it. It ran 191 MPH with a 505 hp 440 big block. Nothing exotic, just simple and cool. And fast. Love that car

I'd say it was Stielow's Red Witch that started the pro touring craze. I still remember the first time I saw the car on the pages of Hot Rod. How perfectly the ZR-1 wheels fit the classic body and how menacing it looked. First main stream car with classic muscle car looks combined with modern wheels and tires, had a stereo and A/C and amazing performance. I still have that issue of Hot Rod and I think I need to get a reprint some time in the future because I must've read that issue thousands of times and it's starting to come apart

[Rellim51]

Stielow, in my opinion, was the creator. Red Witch was and still is one of my favorites. That car just has the look. I know the Mule was a much better car but the Red Witch just got everything right for me. I probably had more time invested in staring at it in that issue of Hot Rod than Stielow had in building it. You've got to remember, he was building these cars when there was no where near the after-market support we have today. His cars were fabricated, not bolt together cars like most of the ones built today.

[rjp71]

I don't know where it fits in the pro-touring timeline but Detroit Speed's Twister Camaro definitely influenced where I wanted to take my Camaro. It may be that it helped begin the pro-touring aftermarket. (again, I don't know if thy were the first to mass produce pro-touring parts but they were the first I stumbled upon).

[CraigMorrison]

It's much older than you think - The Amish started it to get more cornering and braking performance from their wagons so they could impress the ladies.

They are also to blame for the Donk fad when they put 26" wagon wheels on their buggies.

[youthpastor]

The Hudson Hornet

[FreddieCougar]

Craig, do you remember Chris Bondy's 67 Convertible from back in the Renton Honest Performance days? Fat tires, looooow (for the time) stance, road-face style cage...this was 20+ years ago. It was the first car like that I remember. I had big'n little Centerlines at the time....
Tim

Originally Posted by CraigMorrison

It's much older than you think - The Amish started it to get more cornering and braking performance from their wagons so they could impress the ladies.

They are also to blame for the Donk fad when they put 26" wagon wheels on their buggies.

[skatinjay27]

Originally Posted by CamaroPat

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.

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.