Watch: Ironworks Speed And Kustom Legacy Series GM A-Bodies

Tag along with us as we visit AutopiaLA’s Shawn Davis and get the lowdown on Ironworks Speed and Kustom “production” restomods called Legacy Series. The idea is to build streetable restomods that use a standardized build process to transform any 1969-1972 GM A-body into a modern supercar.

Ironworks Speed and Kustom has been in business for about 20 years. Hailing from Bakersfield, California, they are mostly known for one-off customs with meticulous build quality and everyday usability. Owned by Roger Lee and his merry band of craftsmen, they recently debuted a couple of Legacy Series, semi-custom GM A-body restomods. A 1971 Chevelle and a 1972 Old Cutlass 442, both in Richard Nixon administration gold.

1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442

Roger takes the latest Legacy Series car, the Olds 442, to Los Angeles to show Shawn his latest super build. Roger utilizes a standardized production process to recast an old GM intermediate into a proven, reliable build that can be driven hard and enjoyed.

Shawn and Roger take the 442 for a spin.

The customer decides on which A-body they want and then Ironworks installs a Speedtech frame, 650hp GM LT4 engine with either a six-speed manual or 10-speed automatic. From there they add an independent rear suspension, tubular A-arm front suspension, 14-inch disc brakes, and a variety of custom but standardized CNC parts built in-house.

Roger explains, “We strive to build the best cars and parts possible. We won the 2023 Goodguys Street Machine of the Year Award with a 1967 Mustang DS500R. We are known for our high-end fabrication. We also have a simple product line that provides product solutions incorporated into our daily projects at the shop. At Ironworks we can build your project from mild to wild. We have done everything from setting up a chassis with new suspension and drivetrain to installing C6 Corvette transaxles.”

Roger continues, “With the Legacy Series of cars, we can build one to your order in about eight months. Both the 1970 Olds 442 and our 1971 Chevelle still wear their original paint that helps shave build time and money. We have built several cars and now have a waiting list. We think we have a great product with the Legacy Series and we can’t wait to keep building and refining our semi-custom process.”

We were on the ground at the Grand National Roadster Show in early 2024 and that’s when we spotted the 1971 Chevelle at the Ironworks display. We can attest firsthand that Roger’s team has created an incredible build with tight tolerances married with a respectful update of classic GM design.

We were especially wowed by the interior quality. These early ’70s GM mid-size cars had cheap plastic interiors that would deteriorate after a few years. Ironworks recreates the interior with CNC parts that are super high quality. It all fits together better than anything GM ever built but is almost indistinguishable from stock.

Under the hood, the Gen V LT4 looks like it rolled off the assembly line with the Chevelle 52 years ago. The big steelies and dog dish caps. 19s up front, and 20s in the back, are subtle yet brutal. The car sits just right, but to the untrained eye (and law enforcement), it looks like an old granny car with a 307 and a Powerglide.

All though these cars use a standardized building process they ain’t cheap. Bring lots and lots of money and a Legacy Series car can be yours, exactly how you specify.