Collaboration is the key to success, and in an industry like the automotive aftermarket, some pairings are a clear win-win. Such is the case with the newly-announced merger of Aeromotive Group and Roadster Shop which is currently taking effect.
Company Backgrounds
Roadster Shop brings to the table a longstanding 30-plus-year history in chassis construction, combined with expertise in suspension and performance. The brand’s website shows a gallery of recent creations in the current builds section and highlights select Chevrolet pickups, tri-fives, Pontiac muscle cars, and more. Roadster Shop has demonstrated strong expertise in classic truck arena and has even created a dedicated line of offerings for square-body trucks that it has named the “Legend Series.”
The Aeromotive Group is another well-known name and carries a strong portfolio of brands connected to custom automotive builds (some of which are listed below). We frequently see many of these products show up on high-powered muscle cars and hot rods up for auction on AutoHunter. Aeromotive’s website says, “Every product that leaves our facility has been tested to the strictest standards and guaranteed for integrity and reliability.”
- Aeromotive Fuel Systems
- Compu-Fire
- Doug’s Headers
- JBA Performance Exhaust
- Patriot Exhaust
- PerTronix Ignition Products
- Spyke
- Taylor Cable
- Waterman Racing Components
Q&A with Key Leaders
Working together, team members from Aeromotive Group and Roadster Shop will build on the knowledge and expertise they have each developed over the past few decades.
Company representatives fielded a few of our questions about the past, present, and future of the organization. They were tight-lipped about specific projects that will be taken on during the first phases of integration, but we were assured that there are exciting things coming very soon. See below for our six-question dialogue:
1) Will there be a Roadster Shop presence at SEMA in Las Vegas this year?
- Yes, we will have a great presence at SEMA. However, we will have two different entities at SEMA due to the timing of the close. The Aeromotive Group will be in one booth and Roadster Shop will be in its own. We will have a press conference on Tuesday, October 31, at 3:30 pm.
2) Will the California and Illinois facility locations both remain open to support the combined effort?
- Yes, the current facilities will continue as they currently operate.
3) What were some of the first projects Jeremy and Phil worked on?
- Phil was with the existing Roadster Shop working as a fabricator for two years before his brother and father came together to take over ownership of RS and collectively run it. For the first year or so, they tackled about any project: Minor hot rod service work, suspension installs, small mechanical upgrades, etc. They were primarily building 30s and 40s hot rods. They completed a detailed restoration on a 1971 Dodge Challenger in 2004, and in 2005, they completed a 1932 Ford Roadster which at the time was a pretty impactful car.
4) Will Roadster Shop get involved with or sponsor any performance driving events (races, test & tunes, autocross) in the future?
- We have just begun develop 2024 plans and beyond.
5) What are a couple of the highest-horsepower custom builds Aeromotive or RS have worked on?
- Today, 1,000+ horsepower seems to be the norm. It’s not unusual to see a RS survivor build roll out the door with a 1,000-horsepower Whipple-charged LS motor. The 1987 Grand National we recently completed made 1,600 horsepower at the crank on E-85 fuel and is a fantastic-performing street car. RS will debut a 1957 Chevy Bel Air at the 2023 SEMA show with a 1,500-horsepower twin-turbo LS motor.
6) What kind of online catalog, social media, and YouTube presence does RS have so people can see and hear some of your creations?
- We are still maintaining separate social channels so people can follow the brands on Instagram, FB, YouTube and the three websites:
Looking Forward
We are excited to see how this integration brings advancing product lines, improved technology, and heightened performance capabilities to the next generation of custom vehicle builds. Congratulations to Aeromotive Group and Roadster Shop on your success, and we will be watching your evolution!
To get in touch with Roadster Shop, check out the company’s Contact Us page.
