Are sleepers still a thing?

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by FleetsidePaul

Never judge a book by its cover.

I've been married enough times to figure that out.

llearned the first time....

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by FleetsidePaul

Never judge a book by its cover.

I've been married enough times to figure that out.

There's (many) a song about that. But one comes to mind "She's pretty as a daisy, but look out man, she's crazy!". In the interest of equal opportunity, the same can be said for guys.

[Axle]

Originally Posted by Tom

Never understood the pull of sleepers. They make faster version cars look cooler, why wouldn't you want to look better?

I guess if you race for money it would be a thing. Otherwise, I'll take the hood scoops and red valve covers and noisy cam.

When you race on the street you also want to blend in with the other cars on the road to avoid getting unwanted attention, or get you further away from the ahem... scene of the action. Loud exhaust, big flashy car all scream "LOOK AT ME". When the cop is looking for the source of the exhaust and screaming tires, the gramma mobile is going to be overlooked while the guy with the chrome rims and noticable exhaust will get a closer look at while you continue to cruise around unnoticed.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by Axle

When you race on the street you also want to blend in with the other cars on the road to avoid getting unwanted attention, or get you further away from the ahem... scene of the action. Loud exhaust, big flashy car all scream "LOOK AT ME". When the cop is looking for the source of the exhaust and screaming tires, the gramma mobile is going to be overlooked while the guy with the chrome rims and noticable exhaust will get a closer look at while you continue to cruise around unnoticed.

Not only a good explanation but probably a good evaluation criteria too.

K

[special-K]

All that is true but for me the idea of a sleeper defines cool. Not the nerdy side of sleepers, just a less obvious look on a decent styled car. Like a plain Jane 2dr sedan

Rusty Old Chevy Shows the World Who's BOSS -...

[FleetsidePaul]

Originally Posted by Axle

When you race on the street you also want to blend in with the other cars on the road to avoid getting unwanted attention, or get you further away from the ahem... scene of the action. Loud exhaust, big flashy car all scream "LOOK AT ME". When the cop is looking for the source of the exhaust and screaming tires, the gramma mobile is going to be overlooked while the guy with the chrome rims and noticable exhaust will get a closer look at while you continue to cruise around unnoticed.

Yup. Just look at the old moonshine cars. Nothing to see here.

[Andy4639]

I tried the whole time we owned the 56 to get dad to put some nice wheels & tires on it. He wouldn't even think about it. We lost 2 hub caps on our trip to Mississippi in the 56 and he made me find more and put on it. He said it was just what he wanted it to look like. A boot leger car! As he put it.

[57taskforce]

Gm has made 2 of them of sorts in the last 5 years... the SS sedan doesn’t overly scream bad ass unless you know exactly what it is. It is LS3 powered after all. If your not paying much attention it could be mistaken for a malibu.

Also the LT1 Camaro that is identical to the base model 4cyl LS trim level with the exception of the 450 hp Camaro SS and base Corvette LT1 power plant. It looks like just another higher production 4cly Camaro... but it’s not at all. Note it doesn’t even come with a spoiler. I bet many a mustang guy, challenger guy, ricer etc has been surprised by either of these.

[special-K]

I like this factory sleeper

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by special-K

I like this factory sleeper

I like it too! One of our neighbors had one when I was younger. Metallic blue with a 283 and a P/G. My uncle who was career Army bought out from under me, and wouldn't sell it to me when he was getting rid of it.

[ChevyRacefan]

Originally Posted by Axle

When you race on the street you also want to blend in with the other cars on the road to avoid getting unwanted attention, or get you further away from the ahem... scene of the action. Loud exhaust, big flashy car all scream "LOOK AT ME". When the cop is looking for the source of the exhaust and screaming tires, the gramma mobile is going to be overlooked while the guy with the chrome rims and noticable exhaust will get a closer look at while you continue to cruise around unnoticed.

Not only that, day to day driving. The arrest me red, lol. flashy cars, are an easier "sell" to a judge when a police officer writes a ticket, like it or not, there will be a bias, that a guy/gal in a flashy car was more than likely speeding.

The sleeper look also, keeps the riff raft from checking out what you got, and liking it more than you, and jacking it.
No one touched my 1984 caprice wagon,the 4 years I owned it , with Camaro 6.2 ls . wider steel wheels with 1986 Chevy fake wire wheel hub caps.
Nice stereo system. and other parts to help it turn.
The guy with his mid 80's Regal with ls and fancy wheels was not so lucky. it got jacked, 3 times.

[Greasey Harley]

I haven't seen a lot of (what I would consider) sleepers in this thread. I was expecting stuff that looked more like this:

[ChevyRacefan]

Originally Posted by Greasey Harley

I haven't seen a lot of (what I would consider) sleepers in this thread. I was expecting stuff that looked more like this:

There is a guy With the Pontiac clone of these, no idea what Pontiac called them, but he is trying to stuff a 4.3 v6 and Astro van AWD under it, and a snail or two. He had to raise the floor under the 1st & 2nd row bench seat, to help fit some of the Parts under it. Should be interesting .

[72c20customcamper]

Haven't seen sleeper in a while

https://youtu.be/VDC1SUlXuGI

[72c20customcamper]

I took this picture at the Goodguys show York PA . I'm sure hes caught a few unsuspecting people.

[FleetsidePaul]

I never thought I'd say "Cool Pacer" But that's a really cool Pacer.

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by FleetsidePaul

I never thought I'd say "Cool Pacer" But that's a really cool Pacer.

Is there such a thing?

[Keith Seymore]

Found this while looking for something else:

Nick Scavo's Impala:

Bench seat
Nitrous activation: power on by hitting the horn ring; one stage by hitting the dimmer switch and second stage by hitting a button
Column shifter(!) reworked for manual shifting
Dummy bottom portion of a stock fuel tank to hide the fuel cell
Gages hidden inside glove box
Platform style trailer hitch for (a) ballast (b) chute mount and (c) wheelie protection
Full interior, including back seat, stock appearance, 10.5" tire
Eight second ETs in the quarter

The Hot Rod article was entitled "While you were Sleeping"

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/4355...t-impala-drag/

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Found this while looking for something else:

Nick Scavo's Impala:

Bench seat
Nitrous activation: power on by hitting the horn ring; one stage by hitting the dimmer switch and second stage by hitting a button
Column shifter(!) reworked for manual shifting
Dummy bottom portion of a stock fuel tank to hide the fuel cell
Gages hidden inside glove box
Platform style trailer hitch for (a) ballast (b) chute mount and (c) wheelie protection
Full interior, including back seat, stock appearance, 10.5" tire
Eight second ETs in the quarter

The Hot Rod article was entitled "While you were Sleeping"

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/4355...t-impala-drag/

Nice car but the tubbed rear is a dead giveaway

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

Nice car but the tubbed rear is a dead giveaway

Not tubbed.

K

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Not tubbed.

K

Sorry no way to fit those tires in a B body without tubs . Those are a hell of a lot wider than my 275/60r15 in my Abody and I had to lift mine to get them in. Specially with the offset he definatly has a narrowed rear in it . Mine is a 9 inch with a 1/2 shaved off each tube from the stock 14 bolt. Calling bs on the not tubbed he may have disguised mini tubs but its tubbed

[CG]

To me a sleeper is a car or truck that is going to really surprise me with its performance ... Wow, I didnt see that coming!

But these days nothing surprises me. Ive seen a zillion (give or take) online videos that show any and all types of cars, trucks, and motorcycles with crazy performance. If I see some underwhelming car bust loose on the street now, I think thats cool, but its hardly a surprise anymore when anything seems to go when it comes to performance mods.

[67 twins]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Found this while looking for something else:

Nick Scavo's Impala:

Bench seat
Nitrous activation: power on by hitting the horn ring; one stage by hitting the dimmer switch and second stage by hitting a button
Column shifter(!) reworked for manual shifting
Dummy bottom portion of a stock fuel tank to hide the fuel cell
Gages hidden inside glove box
Platform style trailer hitch for (a) ballast (b) chute mount and (c) wheelie protection
Full interior, including back seat, stock appearance, 10.5" tire
Eight second ETs in the quarter

The Hot Rod article was entitled "While you were Sleeping"

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/4355...t-impala-drag/

No disrespect intended but I don't think a 25 year old article can answer the OP's question. Are sleepers STILL a thing.

[FleetsidePaul]

Originally Posted by 67 twins

No disrespect intended but I don't think a 25 year old article can answer the OP's question. Are sleepers STILL a thing.

I would say absolutely. Catch the other guy off guard and open up a can of whoop azz on him.

That never goes out of style.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by 67 twins

No disrespect intended but I don't think a 25 year old article can answer the OP's question. Are sleepers STILL a thing.

Holy crap! Has it been 25 years?!?

This is becoming nearly a daily occurrence for me.

K