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FEATURE INTERVIEWS:

SEMA 2025 Product Preview with Blane Burnett:

RideTech’s All New GM A-Body Replacement Chassis!

If you’ve ever dreamed of giving your classic A-body the precision handling of a modern performance car—this episode is for you.

In this week’s MuscleCar Place prior to SEMA 2025 Rob sits down with Blane Burnett of RideTech, a name that’s synonymous with innovation in the Pro-Touring world. Blane’s no stranger to the show—listeners will remember his candid, detailed interviews back from his Holley days—but this time, he’s back with something that’s turning heads across the industry: the all-new RideTech MOMENTUM Series Chassis. (Blane is also the host of the video from Ridetech at the bottom of this article!)

RideTech’s story began with air-ride suspension kits and has evolved into one of the most innovative names in the Pro-Touring scene. They reshaped the way enthusiasts approach autocross and corner-carving performance. When company founder Bret Voelkel decided to step back, Fox Factory Holding Corp—already a trusted RideTech partner through its FOX Shock technology—stepped in to carry the torch. The transition was seamless, and the RideTech team’s dedication to American-made innovation remains stronger than ever.

The new MOMENTUM Series chassis focuses on the 1964–1967 Chevelle and 1968-1972 1972 GM A-body platform—covering icons like the Chevelle, Tempest, Cutlass, and Skylark. These cars were built on solid frames that favored comfort and cruising, but modern drivers demand more. RideTech’s approach blends classic style with cutting-edge performance, offering a complete frame solution that transforms these machines into precise, confidence-inspiring performers.

Available with a range of customization options—hub or pin spindles, powder-coated or bare-metal finishes, and air-ride or coil-over configurations—the MOMENTUM Series reflects the company’s deep understanding of what today’s enthusiasts want: performance that’s personal. And here’s the kicker: a full RideTech chassis runs in the $20,000–$30,000 range, putting high-end engineering within reach for serious builders. For what you get—a turnkey, American-engineered foundation ready to perform—it’s one of the most competitive price points in the market.

So why would Ridetech offer a full chassis when they (and many other companies) provide high end bolt-on suspension systems already? Simple: bolt-on-suspension systems will always have two major limitations working with 60-year factory cars: 1) Factory GM pickup points, and 2) Flexing original chassis problems. The truth is that the original frames in all old muscle cars were designed over a half a decade ago with different caster, camber, toe, tire compounds, safety, rigidity, and other design factors of their day in mind. In the end the only final effective way to make an old-car handle more modern is to change the finale limitation: the chassis itself.

The new Momentum chassis takes advantage of modern suspension design pickup points while also offering a 2.5x greater overall stiffness than a factory GM C-Channel frame. Ridetech has kept it simple as well and (at present) offers just a few trim options to configure their chassis, all of which are powder coated by default. All come with a rack and pinion steering setup, with two options available. All utilize a traditional straight axle rear end as well. Ridetech DOES leave the option open to customers who already come to the table with brakes and other components they may already own that they’d like to use as well. Should you need a full turn key roller from Ridetech though, they’ve got it complete with a rear end. Just let them know what motor mounts you want for ANY engine you might plan to run (small block, big block, LS, LT, Buick, Olds, etc.)!

But here’s what really nails it: long-time pro-touring competitors Tom and Debbie Farrington have partnered with RideTech on their famous silver ’66 Chevelle.  The Farrington’s have been the most loyal “early Chevelle” (’64-’67) enthusiasts in the industry and for over 15 years have competed in every variant of the pro-touring competitive world under the sun.

They could easily have jumped ship to an easier classic muscle car platform to “win” with but as the Farrington’s would say with a full tongue in-cheek, “where’s the fun in doing it easy?” They are regular invite-only competitors in the Optima Search for the Ultimate Street Car Series series as well—one of the most respected grassroots performance build & track events in the world. They’ll be competing in this years OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Series as well at SEMA 2025, and we’ll all get the chance to see the new Ridetech chassis in battle!

Tune in now and then head over to RideTech.com or check out the install in action on YouTube.com/@RideTechTV to see performance you can believe in.

This is one you don’t want to miss—because the future of classic muscle handling just got here.

Thanks, Blane!
— Rob Kibbe

This interview is sponsored by our pals at National Parts Depot – your premier source for muscle car restoration parts!

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