There are a number of companies that offer aftermarket upgrade ladder frame chassis for vintage muscle cars like the Chevy Camaro and Corvette, with Roadster Shop among the most well-known. Thanks to Roadster Shop’s expertise, muscle car owners can give their classic the ride quality and handling performance of a modern-day sports car whilst retaining an OEM-like factory look.
It can be hard to convey just how much of a difference an aftermarket chassis like this can make in an older vehicle, so for a recent promotional video uploaded to its YouTube page, Roadster Shop decided to compare a 1969 Chevy Camaro equipped with its ‘SPEC’ aftermarket chassis to a bone stock ’69 Camaro COPO replica.
Roadster Shop’s SPEC chassis comes with laser-cut frame rails, front coilover suspension with Fox RS SV shocks, four-link rear suspension and a Ford nine-inch rear end. The lighter frame has the same factory mounts as the OEM chassis for easy installation and requires no floor or body modifications whatsoever.
In addition to this advanced new chassis, the Chevy Camaro in Roadster Shop’s promo video also features a 6.2L LS3 V8 engine and a 4L60E four-speed automatic transmission. The Fathom Green-painted coupe also rides on old school-looking Forgeline alloy wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport tires.
Not surprisingly, the Roadster Shop-prepared Camaro in the video has superior ride quality and less body roll than the ’69. Despite these significant improvements, it’d be hard for passersby to tell that the Fathom Green car has an aftermarket chassis. The chassis does give the Camaro a lower 7.25-inch ride height, but apart from this small change, it looks mostly stock.
One downside of an upgrade like this is that it can take away from the original character of the first-generation Chevy Camaro. Many enthusiasts would say the soft suspension and indirect steering are all part of the fun of driving a classic car such as this, after all. For owners who want to take their cars out on the track or on longer drives, though, switching to an aftermarket chassis may be seen as a necessary step.
Hear what Roadster shop has to say about its SPEC chassis for the first-generation Chevy Camaro in the video below.
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Comments
Modified
Can’t go wrong with a first gen Camaro. I had a 68, many years ago, I wish I could have kept it.
I have a 69 350SS & would LOVE to have this chassis! However, the price point is not possible. Now I can add this to the list of things I’d like to do to it!
Again with the waste of time comparisons, new and old technologies, comes down to individual preferences. Pleases enough with these comparisons, give us good stories to enjoy!
They must have disconnected the sway bar, there’s no way they were that bad.
I agree Art. Mine is nowhere near that bad.
The car was purchased by the owner after an extensive restoration at another shop with the intention of putting a SPEC chassis underneath. We did not remove, disconnect, or sabotage the red car in any way for this video. In fact the whole crew was joking – internet folks will think we purposely messed with the car – well, we did not at all. Despite all that – the SPEC chassis is a significant performance and drivability upgrade – no matter what sway bar you run. Ask us for a test drive if you ever get the chance.
I would prefer any Camaro newer than 1969.
It does seem as though they disconnected the sway bar.
NO sabotage to the red car whatsoever. As restored.