Pro Street in Pure Vision

Builder Steve Strope weighs in on the Pro Street look and what he would build today.

- JOHN MCGANN

Never one to mince words, pro-car-builder Steve Strope says of the Pro Street look, “Everything just looks better with Mickey Thompsons and ’tubs.” He’s obviously a fan. Steve recalls many happy days at various iterations of the Car Craft Street Machine Nationals and HOT ROD Summer Nationals throughout the ’80s and early ’90s. Way before he moved to California and became known as a pro builder, Pro Street was his thing. He added, “We’re talking about something that’s an aggressive piece of machinery. It commands attention.” Whatever your aesthetic opinion of the Pro Street look is, there’s no denying the truth in that statement. Pro Street is brash.

Steve grew up in upstate New York and regularly attended both the HOT ROD and Car Craft summer car shows, first as a spectator, then as a participant when his El Camino got tapped for a photo shoot by Jeff Smith. Little did he know at the time, that photo shoot would propel him down a path that led him to California to build cars professionally. Within a few years, his shop, Pure Vision Design, was up and running, and he has turned out some incredible work in the intervening years, landing several magazine features and cover articles.

Pure Vision has built everything from Pro Street cars to Pro Touring, Street Machines, and even exotic-inspired muscle cars with Euro flavor. Through it all, Steve has reserved a large part of his heart for the Pro Street look and the legendary cars that first inspired him to go into business on his own—ironically enough, the guy known for subtle modifications has a soft spot for these over-the-top styling assaults that you just can’t look away from.