Hot Rod Bio: 1970s Trans Am on a Roadster Shop Chassis at SEMA 2025 Featuring CVF Racing

1970s Trans Am on a Roadster Shop Chassis at SEMA 2025 Featuring CVF Racing

At SEMA 2025 we caught up with Dave from Superior Quality Rides. Funny enough, their shop is only a few miles from ours back in Minnesota, but it took Vegas for us to finally stand next to this car together.

Behind us was one seriously reworked Trans Am. At first glance it looks clean. The more you look, the more you realize how much work is actually in it.

Starting with a Solid Car and Taking It Way Further

Dave said this one started as a rust free car, which is always a good foundation. From there, it turned into something much bigger.

All the factory plastic pieces are gone. The nose, wheel flares, rockers, rear bumper, rear spoiler, it’s all been recreated in metal. Even the quarters were widened an inch to fit a 325 tire out back.

That alone is a massive amount of fabrication. When you see it in person, everything flows. Nothing looks tacked on or exaggerated. It just looks right.

Roadster Shop Chassis Foundation

Underneath, it rides on a Roadster Shop chassis. Dave has done several builds on their platforms and this one makes number five.

When you’re putting this level of time into bodywork and finish, you need a foundation that matches. The Roadster Shop chassis gives it modern geometry, strength, and drivability to back up the look.

Power comes from a GM Performance LT1 E crate engine paired with a 6L80 transmission. The setup is currently stock, around 450 horsepower, no tuning yet. It’s a clean, reliable combo that fits the car’s pro touring direction perfectly.

Up front, it runs a CVF Racing Front Runner system along with Vintage Air to keep everything tight and serviceable.

Full Custom Metal Work

The amount of metal work in this car is hard to overstate.

The rear bumper, spoiler, flares, rockers, and nose were all built in house. Hundreds of hours went into shaping and fitting panels so the proportions stayed balanced. Nothing looks oversized or out of place.

Dave admitted he hasn’t even added up the hours because he’s not sure he wants to know.

Hands on build time was about a year, with the last two months going seven days a week to get it done for SEMA. Considering the level of fit and finish, that timeline is impressive.

Clean White with a Custom Bird

The car was originally white, but this isn’t a factory code repaint. They used the brightest white available.

The hood bird was handled by Carl’s Customs in Iowa. The gold flake and detail work give it depth without overpowering the rest of the build. Everything else, including body and paint, was done at Superior Quality Rides.

The interior was also handled by Carl’s Customs, tying everything together without going over the top.

Built by a Shop That Lives It

Dave credits his crew for making it happen. A tight group of hardcore enthusiasts who were willing to push hard to hit the deadline.

That’s what it takes at this level. Good parts are one thing. Good people are another.

Minnesota Built, SEMA Ready

It’s always cool seeing local shops bring something like this to a national stage. From a rust free starting point to a fully metal, Roadster Shop chassis Trans Am in about a year of hands on work, this one definitely turned heads at SEMA.

To see the full walk around and hear Dave break down the build himself, check out the full video on the CVF Racing YouTube channel.