Pro-Touring cars appreciation

1/7/2013

Classic muscle cars look great and exciting, and they have as much presence on the road as would an exotic Italian supercar. Their carbureted V8s and less restrictive exhausts means that they tend to sound good as well. However, the harsh reality of owning a classic muscle car, especially in the 21st century, is that you realize how much they lack in the handling department.

The truth is that they aren’t that good at anything else other than going fast in a straight line. Sure you can carry some friends and family, but soft suspension, low-grip tyres, and slow steering means that they are easily outperformed – around twisty circuits – by cars with a lot less horsepower. Which one is more likely to be faster around Cadwell Park? A modern Ford Focus ST with 250hp or a 1970 Dodge Charger R/T with 375hp? My money is on the Ford.

This is where Pro-Touring comes in, essentially combining the looks, sound and aura of classic muscle cars with better suspension, brakes, steering, and a better chassis. It’s like giving Clint Eastwood the skeleton of Usain Bolt. Many people also decide to stick modern powerplants under their hoods too, with many of them offering more power yet being more fuel efficient. To see a car that’s been made in the '50s, ‘60s, or ‘70s beating modern machinery is always thrilling, which is why SOC has searched for and compiled a list of 10 videos of various Pro-Tourers. The first video in the list shows exactly what the Pro-Touring concept is all about, and the videos that follow are equally cool.