RESTO-MOD BUILDING BLOCKS: Start at the Base with an Aftermarket Chassis
November 20, 2024
Posted by Barrett-Jackson
Chassis for the 1958 Chevrolet Corvette custom convertible.
Building anything great starts with a solid foundation, and this is especially true in automotive projects. A sturdy base is essential to anchor every component and ensure the success of the entire build. In the rapidly evolving world of Resto-Mods and custom cars, an aftermarket chassis has become a go-to for top-tier builders ‒ and it’s something any serious car enthusiast should consider when crafting their dream machine.
Consider that the stock chassis on your collector car was engineered over 40, 50 or even 60 years ago, and has likely endured miles of rough roads. It’s easy to see how an aftermarket chassis can elevate your vehicle to meet today’s driving standards. Many original designs ‒ like C-channel and basic X-frames found in classic cars ‒ simply can’t harness the full performance potential you’re building into your ride, regardless of the engine you choose.
The OEM frame might be steel and built to last, but metal isn’t immune to time. It bends, cracks and fatigues, especially after decades of wear on rough highways and exposure to the elements. When you compare an original frame side by side with a modern aftermarket chassis, the improvements become instantly clear. Many older vehicles came with stamped steel frames and open-channel crossmembers, riveted or spot-welded at the front and rear, leaving minimal support between the suspension points for rigidity. Those OE frames rely heavily on the car’s body for structural integrity, merely serving as mounting points for the engine and suspension. An aftermarket chassis, by contrast, provides the strength, precision and stability needed to handle modern performance upgrades and deliver a superior driving experience.
Chassis for the custom 1968 Chevrolet C10 short-bed pickup.
Modern aftermarket chassis are engineered to minimize deflection, maximize stiffness and achieve the highest strength-to-weight ratio possible. As an added benefit, they’re designed to attach seamlessly to the body of your collector car, just like the original frame, eliminating the need for extensive cutting and fabrication. Of course, depending on the extent of your customization ‒ or if you’re building a hot rod ‒ some fabrication may still be required.
Older frames can be plagued by chassis flex, which prevents your suspension ‒ upgraded or not ‒ from reaching its full potential. When a chassis flexes significantly, it throws off the suspension geometry at the moment of flex, which in turn impacts steering response, tire grip and overall handling. To counter this, today’s aftermarket chassis are built with advanced design parameters and engineering specifications that didn’t exist in the past. The enhanced rigidity allows them to support modern suspension systems, delivering the ride quality and handling that most hot rod and muscle car enthusiasts dream of but rarely achieve with an original frame.
Aftermarket chassis from companies like Art Morrison, Roadster Shop and Chris Alston’s Chassisworks represent just the beginning of what modern chassis designs can do to transform collector cars into high-performance, road-ready machines. If you’re looking to elevate the ride quality and handling of your classic, upgrading to an aftermarket chassis can be a game-changer, whether your plans involve hitting the drag strip, tackling a road course or cruising around town.
2025 SCOTTSDALE AUCTION – 1968 CHEVROLET CORVETTE CUSTOM CONVERTIBLE – NO RESERVE Built by Joe Clevenger. Powered by an LT1 direct-injected 460hp engine backed by a 4-speed automatic transmission. Features an Art Morrison chassis with independent suspension and one-off custom wheels.
2025 SCOTTSDALE AUCTION – 1968 CHEVROLET C10 CUSTOM PICKUP – NO RESERVE Powered by a Don Hardy supercharged 427ci LS3 V8 engine and 4L80 automatic transmission. Equipped with a Roadster Shop Spec chassis, 15-inch Wilwood brakes, 20-inch Schott wheels, 3-inch polished exhaust, a custom Stone leather interior and Vintage Air.