In an era where many top-tier race-car builders are moving further away from factory steel, J&E Chassis Works stands as a proud countercurrent. Based in Michigan and led by founder Jordan Sontag, J&E has quietly built a reputation for delivering some of the cleanest, most meticulously executed all-steel/all-glass builds in the country — and doing it with an efficiency that borders on unbelievable.
This year, for the first time, J&E will debut its own booth at PRI, bringing two centerpieces that already have the industry talking:
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a true all-steel/all-glass COPO Camaro that is sitting on a 25.2 chassis
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a ZL1 pro street / 10.5-style car
Both cars showcase not only Sontag’s fabrication skill, but also his philosophy — that drag racing shouldn’t lose its connection to real body cars and factory silhouettes.
A Shop Born From Passion — and Transformed by Intentional Focus
J&E started in 2011 as a hybrid business: part auto-repair shop, part race-car side-project. The racing builds existed because Jordan enjoyed them, not because they paid the bills. But over time, the chassis work began to dominate.
In the last 5–6 years, that balance flipped entirely. Auto repair is now a tiny portion of the operation. Chassis fabrication — real, high-quality, labor-intensive chassis fabrication — is the heart and soul of the business.
And in that transition, J&E found its identity.
The COPO Story: The Last Four Bodies Ever Made
The COPO Story: The Last Four Bodies Ever Made
One of the most astonishing parts of the J&E story is how Jordan acquired the last four COPO bodies that were never turned into complete cars. These were factory COPO shells — untouched, unbuilt, and now in the hands of a fabricator who knows exactly what they represent.
The COPO heading to PRI is the first of those four.
Jordan’s vision for it was bold:
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25.2 chassis
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Strut front-end
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Fabricated 10” floater rear
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4-link suspension
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Original COPO steel and factory COPO glass retained
No composites where steel should be.
No shortcuts.
A real body, with real weight, built for real performance.
At $120,000 rolling, it’s a shockingly reasonable number in today’s market — and anyone who understands the parts list knows exactly why it won’t last long once PRI begins.
The ZL1: A Masterclass in Process
If the COPO is the crown jewel (my opinion), but the ZL1 is the proof of concept behind J&E’s business model.
The first tube of the ZL1 build went down on June 25.
The car was turnkey finished on November 12.
A full, high-end chassis build — from bare table to turnkey — in under five months.
This isn’t rushed work. This is process mastery.
Jordan has organized his workflow so well that each car receives:
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3 dedicated professionals,
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each with clearly defined responsibilities,
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working simultaneously but never stepping on each other.
“It took me two to three years to get the model right,” Jordan told us. “But once everyone knew their job, we could build at the pace I always knew was possible.”
And it’s not luck — it’s standards.
Jordan is so uncompromising that if a tube shows more than ¼ inch of heat in the wrong place, he cuts it back out and rewelds it. Few shops would admit to doing this. Even fewer would actually do it.
Keeping Real-Body Racing Alive
Jordan says he loves all forms of racing — Pro Mod included — but he feels that the sport is losing something important as more cars drift away from true production silhouettes.
He wants to keep steel alive.
He wants to keep factory glass alive.
He wants race cars to still look like what rolled off the showroom floor, even if they run 3s and 4s to the eighth.
And the market is responding.
J&E currently holds 13 bodies in inventory — GT350s, 5th gens, 6th gens, and more. When a customer calls, they’re not waiting six months for a shell. Jordan can start immediately.
“If someone wanted a car today,” he said, “I could build it, from the ground up, and have it out the door by April.”
In a world where chassis shops often quote 14–24 months, that statement speaks volumes.
Tables, Tools, Talent — The Infrastructure Behind the Magic
J&E operates four full-time chassis tables, built to a 6″ build height and 3″ ride height. Every tool they rely on — outside of CNC — is built by Hammer Concepts, one of their trusted partners.
Their parts inventory reads like a who’s-who of quality:
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Penske
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Mark Williams
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TBM Brakes
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Motion Raceworks steering columns
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WELD wheels (Alpha or Delta depending on setup)
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Cameron Johnson titanium components, adjustable columns, pedals, and more
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Larry Jeffers Race Cars composites
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Ron G Afterworks shocks
Every single car gets these same top-shelf components. No bait-and-switch.
And if you’re wondering about labor — the COPO alone represents 700 hours of hands-on time.
The Hardest Part of the Industry: People
Jordan was candid about one of the biggest issues in the chassis world: the skilled labor pool is shrinking. The old craftsmen — the ones who can notch, weld, bend, and align at a championship level — are aging out.
Finding the “next generation” is one of the hardest challenges he faces.
But the crew he has now?
They’re dialed in.
They’re fast.
They’re precise.
And they’re loyal to the process.
More Than a Builder — A Partner at the Track
One of the most impressive parts of J&E’s operation isn’t something you see on a build sheet.
Jordan attends the first passes of every car he builds.
No matter where they are in the country.
If it’s a J&E car, he’s there to make sure it leaves the starting line safely and correctly.
He’s been at SGMP in Adel, GA multiple times doing just that. A very long way from Michigan, but true to his dedication.
In an industry where some builders vanish the moment the invoice is paid, Jordan’s presence at the track is rare — and invaluable.
The Future of J&E
When we asked about his future plans, Jordan didn’t hesitate:
“This is the future plan. What you’re seeing now is just the beginning.”
He wants to keep building real cars, at a high level, faster and more efficiently than anyone else — while staying true to the identity he’s carved.
And if the PRI previews are any indication, the industry is about to take notice in a very big way.
A Builder Who Hustles, and a Shop That Delivers
It’s rare in this sport to find someone who hits all three pillars:
Speed. Quality. Integrity.
Jordan Sontag is that guy.
He honors timelines.
He obsesses over details.
He builds cars that look like they belong on a showroom floor and perform like they belong in the finals.
And he does it at a price that reflects both craftsmanship and efficiency — not wasted hours.
J&E Chassis Works isn’t trying to be the biggest shop in the country.
They are trying to be one of the best.
And based on the conversations, the builds, and the vision… they’re already well on their way.
