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Words: Tommy Parry
Chris’ intentions were to build a strong street machine which could also hold its own in autocross and on track days. He picked up the 1972 Cutlass from a college kid who'd gleefully abused the transmission and original 350. A shame — but the cost of the buy was appropriately low for the age of the seller.
Unfortunately, the interior had already been cheapened with low-grade seats and Autozone gauges. The redeeming aspect of the build was the pristine body, which was better than most - a strong foundation for a capable multi-tasker that could blend the abilities of a track car with a comforting cruiser.
Finding that middle-point would require a long list of choice parts. Fortunately, Chris is well-connected, and he procured every part that would do the dream justice. First, he built a 455, bored .030 with C heads, and planned on mating it to a 4L80E using a Simple Shift Standalone controller. A set of Dynomax headers and a Magnaflow 3" Exhaust freed up a few more horses and ensure the neighbors were notified when he came and went. All the power was sent to a Moser 9" floater housing and axle package. Unfortunately, this powertrain wasn’t going to remain in the car for long.
The suspension is perhaps the most appealing part of the build, utilizing ATS/AFX spindles, SPC front upper and lower control arms, adjustable upper trailing arms, UMI boxed lower trailing arms, Hellwig front and rear sway bars and Ridetech Coilover shocks for incredible poise and control. Connected to Rushforth Rated X Wheels measuring 18x9” and 19x10” front and rear, respectively, there’s plenty of rubber to support the heavyweight Cutlass. Plus, with C6 Z06 Corvette brakes, the car stops surprisingly well.
Inside the machine, a set of tasteful additions make it an interesting place to be. A set of ‘06 GTO seats in the rear provide the passengers support and comfort in equal measure, while up front, a set of custom wrapped Recaros, complete with Corbeau retractable harnesses, keep Chris and a co-pilot secure during autocrossing. A simple Momo wheel, as well as a custom center console, make the interior an interesting place to be. With a subtle Vintage Air system, the cabin is also comfortable on warm Mid-Western summer days.
Just when his project was gathering momentum, his friend’s shop suffered a break-in, resulting in the theft of Chris’ entire drivetrain. With his father, then 71, asking when he would get to ride in that car, he was at first crestfallen, but soon came upon a new powerplant that put some wind back in his sails.
After dipping into his paint fund, he picked up an LS2 from a 2007 Trailblazer SS, then attached a set of Doug’s headers and a T-56 Magnum. With a coat of Duplicolor gold, the engine looked astounding — and gave Chris all the motivation he needed to push forward.
After an emotionally draining two years, the Cutlass was moving under its own steam.
For those considering a build, use this build as a motivator; it demonstrates what creating a Pro Tourer of this caliber entails — and the heartache it can cause. For continual updates on this inspiring Cutlass, you can follow Chris’ build thread here.
