Building a fully custom ride can be hugely time consuming, not to mention very expensive. However, the folks at Ironworks Speed and Kustom in Bakersfield, California are looking to streamline the process with a new line of custom vehicles. Now, we’re checking out where the shop is headed with this bespoke 1971 Chevelle.
“I wanted to build a car that we could get ahead of the game a little bit,” says Ironworks owner Rodger Lee. “Something we’re not trying to stress ourselves out on every car, and something I could redo over and over and over.”
“They’re meant to be nice cars, they’re meant to look badass,” Lee adds. “You can have [the look of] these one-off car results, but you also have a car that is [re-]producible.”
The shop currently has five examples in the works. This particular 1971 Chevelle is an early prototype of what Ironworks can do. The exterior shows off the original gold paint, which still looks very clean, while in the corners is a set of custom wheels, sized 19 inches by 11 inches wheels up front, and 20 inches by 12.5 inches in the rear. Tire sizing is 285/35 in front and 345/30 in the rear.
Inside, there’s a custom carbon fiber dash, as well as a custom gauge cluster. Some of the seat components were 3D printed, with the intention of reproducing the shells in carbon fiber.
As for the power spec, this Chevelle draws motivation from the supercharged 6.2L V8 LT4, producing the standard 650 horsepower. Ironworks also offers further power options for the LT4, such as new pulleys or a bigger blower. This particular model is exhaling through mid-length headers and a custom exhaust, plus Magnaflow mufflers. Output is routed through the GM 10-speed automatic, but a six-speed manual is offered as well. A 3.70 gear is used in back.
The whole thing rides on a custom chassis with an independent front and rear suspension setup. The shop also implemented some custom shock valving to ensure the proper ride quality.
While not quite complete, this 1971 Chevelle gives a good indication of where Ironworks is headed with regard to its line of reproducible custom vehicles. Check out the full feature video below:
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