I'm a fan of the 66 or 67 442 and over the years I've never really seen a pro tour version of these cars. Camaro's, Vettes, etc. have their pro tour versions so I was wondering if anyone has seen one in the 442 line up for 66 or 67? Generally speaking are the pro tour's worth more or less than a stock version?

 

Just my opinion, but I think value is based on the quality of the parts added, and the drivability. Plus, how many people are bidding on it. Ive seen a lot of Pro-Touring cars sell for way below the cost of the parts that have been added, and some that sell for way over the cost to build.

 

There are many different opinions on what pro-touring is. What's yours?

 

When buying cars, any car foreign or domestic, I always look for the best and complete stock car that hasn't been molested yet and start from there. Tough sometimes erasing other peoples Ideas of what is cool or correct...... Tedd

 

Good question. I would want fuel injection myself. Living here at high altitude has its issues and I think engines last longer with fuel injection. Definitely the latest in disc brakes and suspension component material upgrades. I lost a 67' 442 back when I was 20 years old due to those damn drum brakes racing a Corvette...brake fade.

 

That description is just a few bolt on upgrades, not what you would call a pro-touring car.

 

I agree. It is just my opinion, but I think a pro-touring car must have at a minimum a modernized chassis, steering and brakes. I think that most would have modern engines, too, but older engines with modern upgrades like fuel injection and HEI might still qualify. Basically, a modern car in an older body.

For my '68 Cutlass, I am planning something in between. I want the safety upgrades of modern disc brakes and a quicker steering ratio, and I want the convenience of EFI. But I really don't care about completely upgrading the suspension with tubular control arms, etc. I also want to keep the original SSII wheels. I would call this more of a restomod than a pro-touring car.

 

Sorry but putting an LS3 or LS7 engine in the car is not considered a bolt on upgrade.

 

Stock over pro tour or resto mod any day of the week unless you get really lucky. There's always the chance that you can find a buyer that wishes the car was setup exactly as you saw fit.

 

Where was that mentioned?

 

In his dreams.

Just kidding. Actually, I think OP may be onto something. Although "pro touring" is something of an outdated term (what does that even mean, anyway?), I notice that these days every time I watch a Mecum or a B-J auction, the restomods consistently outperform the stockers when it comes down to pulling down the big bids. Seems nobody wants the experience of driving these cars the way they were back in the day anymore.

Of course for every glittering modified muscle car you see enjoying a big payday at auction, there are hundreds of "projects" rotting in sheds and barns, butchered beyond redemption by guys whose dreams were bigger than their wallets or their skillsets.

 

I guess it depends on how you define "worth more". A pro-touring style car may bring more money on the auction block compared to a run of the mill muscle car, but keep in mind the initial investment is also much higher.

The "resto-mod" approach may be more applicable... not a full custom built car, but tasteful upgrades to modernize it.

Adding later model disc brakes is a huge performance upgrade over drums, but still not a budget killing set of $6000 6-piston calipers & 14" rotors.
Same goes for a nice EFI setup on the factory style engine... You may spend $2k vs. $10-20K for a late model crate engine, electronic trans etc..
You can also upgrade to better bushings & some performance springs & shocks, but not spend $3K+ on coil overs, tubular control arms & custom spindles.

All of the above can give you a more enjoyable car, while not increasing costs dramatically,. It will still give you increased comfort, safety & performance,without ruining the collect ability of an authentic muscle car. Anything that is bolted on can be removed & returned to stock. Cutting the floor to fit an 8 speed trans is a little more permanent.

These are all price vs. performance concessions, but a lot of the pro-touring cars around have way more in them then they are worth.
You can make you car handle like a Vette with a bolt-in $20K chassis.& suspension. Will it increase the resale value by $10k? I'm not sure.

Would I put a crate engine in my 442 if I had the original engine... no way. But, if it was missing the original engine, or was a standard low performance model, I would not hesitate to swap in a crate engine.

 

THIS ^^^^^^^^^^

Well said.