Project "Lime Rock" ? Maybe.....

Popular Hot Rodding's "Project Talledega"-A 1975 Chevelle Laguna built like a '70's Nascar racer is wildly popular with readers. I was thinking of doing a similar theme-building a street car like a '60s or '70s Trans-Am racer. But a Firebird or Camaro or Mustang would be too cliche'. I was thinking a 1971-74 Pontiac Ventura. I have a 428 Pontiac engine in my garage. A lot of suspension and brake upgrades that fit a Camaro or Firebird also fit the "X" bodies-i.e.-Nova,Ventura, Omega etc. WS6 suspension, a snarling 428 inch engine-how cool is that. For bodywork I'd go '60s Trans-Am style-radiused and flared fenderwells, Mini-Lite Wheels or American Racing Torq-thrusts with fat tires. Front and rear spoilers, maybe even use a "Shaker" hood scoop like the Ventura-based '74 GTO had. It wouldn't be hard-buy a used or replacement 1970-76 style Trans-Am shaker, and cut a hole in the hood to clear it. Add a bunch of decals-or race-style graphics- numbers, and stuff like "STP" emblems, Bardahl, Sunoco, Hooker Headers stickers etc. Or you could go monochromatic-solid black, with blacked out trim and bumpers, black Nascar-style steel wheels, or all white-with white-spoke steel wheels, side exit exhaust painted with white or black VHT. Or maybe a red, white, and blue scheme like Mark Donahue's Javelin. You could do a Nova with a hot small-block, or an Omega with a 350 / 403 Olds. I like the Pontiac idea because I already have the engine, and with 428 cubes it'll have more power than a small-block Chevy or Olds, and if I used aluminum Edelbrock or Kaufmann heads it will handle better too. Doing a 'Cuda / Challenger would be too cliche' as well, but a Duster / Dart with a 360-based 408 stroker done in Trans-Am style would be unique and cool, as would a Maverick / Comet with a hot 302  or 351W. But none would be as badass as a Ventura with 440 inches ( 428 bored .060 over ) of thundering Pontiac power! A Rat powered Nova would be as fast or faster in a straight line-but wouldn't handle nearly as good-it would be too nose-heavy. Maybe I should start looking for a rust-free Ventura.....Mastermind