{"id":3640,"date":"2025-11-20T18:09:24","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T18:09:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/?p=3640"},"modified":"2025-11-20T18:11:41","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T18:11:41","slug":"all-steel-all-glass-all-heart-inside-je-chassis-works-mission-to-keep-real-body-cars-alive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/?p=3640","title":{"rendered":"All Steel, All Glass, All Heart: Inside J&#038;E Chassis Works\u2019 Mission to Keep Real-Body Cars Alive"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"489\" data-end=\"897\">In an era where many top-tier race-car builders are moving further away from factory steel, <strong data-start=\"581\" data-end=\"602\">J&amp;E Chassis Works<\/strong> stands as a proud countercurrent. Based in Michigan and led by founder <strong data-start=\"674\" data-end=\"691\">Jordan Sontag<\/strong>, J&amp;E has quietly built a reputation for delivering some of the cleanest, most meticulously executed all-steel\/all-glass builds in the country \u2014 and doing it with an efficiency that borders on unbelievable.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"899\" data-end=\"1038\">This year, for the first time, J&amp;E will debut its own booth at <strong data-start=\"962\" data-end=\"969\">PRI<\/strong>, bringing two centerpieces that already have the industry talking:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1039\" data-end=\"1166\">\n<li data-start=\"1039\" data-end=\"1090\">\n<p data-start=\"1041\" data-end=\"1090\">a true <strong data-start=\"1048\" data-end=\"1083\">all-steel\/all-glass COPO Camaro that is sitting on a 25.2 chassis<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1091\" data-end=\"1166\">\n<p data-start=\"1093\" data-end=\"1166\">a <strong data-start=\"1095\" data-end=\"1130\">ZL1 pro street \/ 10.5-style car<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"1168\" data-end=\"1339\">Both cars showcase not only Sontag\u2019s fabrication skill, but also his philosophy \u2014 that drag racing shouldn\u2019t lose its connection to real body cars and factory silhouettes.<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"1346\" data-end=\"1416\"><strong data-start=\"1349\" data-end=\"1416\">A Shop Born From Passion \u2014 and Transformed by Intentional Focus<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"1418\" data-end=\"1649\">J&amp;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.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1651\" data-end=\"1879\">In the last <strong data-start=\"1663\" data-end=\"1676\">5\u20136 years<\/strong>, that balance flipped entirely. Auto repair is now a tiny portion of the operation. Chassis fabrication \u2014 real, high-quality, labor-intensive chassis fabrication \u2014 is the heart and soul of the business.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3654\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3654\" style=\"width: 2048px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3654 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/J2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1536\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3654\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Welds that look like art<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p data-start=\"1881\" data-end=\"1928\">And in that transition, J&amp;E found its identity.<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"1935\" data-end=\"1988\"><strong data-start=\"1938\" data-end=\"1988\"><br \/>\nThe COPO Story: The Last Four Bodies Ever Made<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"1990\" data-end=\"2265\">One of the most astonishing parts of the J&amp;E story is how Jordan acquired <strong data-start=\"2064\" data-end=\"2093\">the last four COPO bodies<\/strong> that were never turned into complete cars. These were factory COPO shells \u2014 untouched, unbuilt, and now in the hands of a fabricator who knows exactly what they represent.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2267\" data-end=\"2322\">The COPO heading to PRI is the <strong data-start=\"2298\" data-end=\"2321\">first of those four<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2324\" data-end=\"2358\">Jordan\u2019s vision for it was bold:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2359\" data-end=\"2525\">\n<li data-start=\"2359\" data-end=\"2379\">\n<p data-start=\"2361\" data-end=\"2379\"><strong data-start=\"2361\" data-end=\"2377\">25.2 chassis<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2380\" data-end=\"2403\">\n<p data-start=\"2382\" data-end=\"2403\"><strong data-start=\"2382\" data-end=\"2401\">Strut front-end<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2404\" data-end=\"2439\">\n<p data-start=\"2406\" data-end=\"2439\"><strong data-start=\"2406\" data-end=\"2437\">Fabricated 10\u201d floater rear<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2440\" data-end=\"2465\">\n<p data-start=\"2442\" data-end=\"2465\"><strong data-start=\"2442\" data-end=\"2463\">4-link suspension<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2466\" data-end=\"2525\">\n<p data-start=\"2468\" data-end=\"2525\"><strong data-start=\"2468\" data-end=\"2523\">Original COPO steel and factory COPO glass retained<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"2527\" data-end=\"2640\">No composites where steel should be.<br data-start=\"2563\" data-end=\"2566\" \/>No shortcuts.<br data-start=\"2579\" data-end=\"2582\" \/>A real body, with real weight, built for real performance.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3658\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3658\" style=\"width: 2560px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3658 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/J6-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3658\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Original body on a 25.2 chassis<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p data-start=\"2642\" data-end=\"2912\">At <em data-start=\"2741\" data-end=\"2759\">$120,000 rolling<\/em>, it\u2019s a shockingly reasonable number in today\u2019s market \u2014 and anyone who understands the parts list knows exactly why it won\u2019t last long once PRI begins.<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"2919\" data-end=\"2959\"><strong data-start=\"2922\" data-end=\"2959\">The ZL1: A Masterclass in Process<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"2961\" data-end=\"3053\">If the COPO is the crown jewel (my opinion), but the ZL1 is the proof of concept behind J&amp;E\u2019s business model.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3055\" data-end=\"3163\">The first tube of the ZL1 build went down on <strong data-start=\"3100\" data-end=\"3111\">June 25<\/strong>.<br data-start=\"3112\" data-end=\"3115\" \/>The car was <strong data-start=\"3127\" data-end=\"3162\">turnkey finished on November 12<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3165\" data-end=\"3248\">A full, high-end chassis build \u2014 from bare table to turnkey \u2014 in under five months.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3250\" data-end=\"3298\">This isn\u2019t rushed work. This is process mastery.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3300\" data-end=\"3367\">Jordan has organized his workflow so well that each car receives:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"3368\" data-end=\"3509\">\n<li data-start=\"3368\" data-end=\"3402\">\n<p data-start=\"3370\" data-end=\"3402\"><strong data-start=\"3370\" data-end=\"3399\">3 dedicated professionals<\/strong>,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3403\" data-end=\"3450\">\n<p data-start=\"3405\" data-end=\"3450\">each with clearly defined responsibilities,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3451\" data-end=\"3509\">\n<p data-start=\"3453\" data-end=\"3509\">working simultaneously but never stepping on each other.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"3511\" data-end=\"3677\">\u201cIt took me <strong data-start=\"3523\" data-end=\"3545\">two to three years<\/strong> to get the model right,\u201d Jordan told us. \u201cBut once everyone knew their job, we could build at the pace I always knew was possible.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3679\" data-end=\"3714\">And it\u2019s not luck \u2014 it\u2019s standards.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3716\" data-end=\"3919\">Jordan is so uncompromising that if a tube shows more than <strong data-start=\"3775\" data-end=\"3793\">\u00bc inch of heat<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-3656 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/J4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1536\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"3926\" data-end=\"3963\"><strong data-start=\"3929\" data-end=\"3963\">Keeping Real-Body Racing Alive<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"3965\" data-end=\"4142\">Jordan says he loves all forms of racing \u2014 Pro Mod included \u2014 but he feels that the sport is losing something important as more cars drift away from true production silhouettes.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4144\" data-end=\"4335\">He wants to keep <em data-start=\"4161\" data-end=\"4168\">steel<\/em> alive.<br data-start=\"4175\" data-end=\"4178\" \/>He wants to keep <em data-start=\"4195\" data-end=\"4210\">factory glass<\/em> alive.<br data-start=\"4217\" data-end=\"4220\" \/>He wants race cars to still look like what rolled off the showroom floor, even if they run 3s and 4s to the eighth.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4337\" data-end=\"4366\">And the market is responding.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4368\" data-end=\"4551\">J&amp;E currently holds <strong data-start=\"4388\" data-end=\"4414\">13 bodies in inventory<\/strong> \u2014 GT350s, 5th gens, 6th gens, and more. When a customer calls, they\u2019re not waiting six months for a shell. Jordan can start immediately.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4553\" data-end=\"4669\">\u201cIf someone wanted a car today,\u201d he said, \u201cI could build it, from the ground up, and have it out the door by April.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4671\" data-end=\"4758\">In a world where chassis shops often quote 14\u201324 months, that statement speaks volumes.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-3655 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/J3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1536\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"4765\" data-end=\"4831\"><strong data-start=\"4768\" data-end=\"4831\">Tables, Tools, Talent \u2014 The Infrastructure Behind the Magic<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"4833\" data-end=\"5034\">J&amp;E operates <strong data-start=\"4846\" data-end=\"4879\">four full-time chassis tables<\/strong>, built to a 6&#8243; build height and 3&#8243; ride height. Every tool they rely on \u2014 outside of CNC \u2014 is built by <strong data-start=\"4983\" data-end=\"5002\">Hammer Concepts<\/strong>, one of their trusted partners.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5036\" data-end=\"5094\">Their parts inventory reads like a who\u2019s-who of quality:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"5095\" data-end=\"5403\">\n<li data-start=\"5095\" data-end=\"5109\">\n<p data-start=\"5097\" data-end=\"5109\"><strong data-start=\"5097\" data-end=\"5107\">Penske<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"5110\" data-end=\"5131\">\n<p data-start=\"5112\" data-end=\"5131\"><strong data-start=\"5112\" data-end=\"5129\">Mark Williams<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"5132\" data-end=\"5150\">\n<p data-start=\"5134\" data-end=\"5150\"><strong data-start=\"5134\" data-end=\"5148\">TBM Brakes<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"5151\" data-end=\"5192\">\n<p data-start=\"5153\" data-end=\"5192\"><strong data-start=\"5153\" data-end=\"5173\">Motion Raceworks<\/strong> steering columns<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"5193\" data-end=\"5248\">\n<p data-start=\"5195\" data-end=\"5248\"><strong data-start=\"5195\" data-end=\"5203\">WELD<\/strong> wheels (Alpha or Delta depending on setup)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"5249\" data-end=\"5330\">\n<p data-start=\"5251\" data-end=\"5330\"><strong data-start=\"5251\" data-end=\"5270\">Cameron Johnson<\/strong> titanium components, adjustable columns, pedals, and more<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"5331\" data-end=\"5373\">\n<p data-start=\"5333\" data-end=\"5373\"><strong data-start=\"5333\" data-end=\"5360\">Larry Jeffers Race Cars<\/strong> composites<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"5374\" data-end=\"5403\">\n<p data-start=\"5376\" data-end=\"5403\"><strong data-start=\"5376\" data-end=\"5396\">Ron G Afterworks<\/strong> shocks<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"5405\" data-end=\"5479\">Every single car gets these same top-shelf components. No bait-and-switch.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5481\" data-end=\"5576\">And if you\u2019re wondering about labor \u2014 the COPO alone represents <strong data-start=\"5545\" data-end=\"5558\">700 hours<\/strong> of hands-on time.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-3653 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/J1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1536\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"5583\" data-end=\"5630\"><strong data-start=\"5586\" data-end=\"5630\">The Hardest Part of the Industry: People<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"5632\" data-end=\"5847\">Jordan was candid about one of the biggest issues in the chassis world: the skilled labor pool is shrinking. The old craftsmen \u2014 the ones who can notch, weld, bend, and align at a championship level \u2014 are aging out.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5849\" data-end=\"5921\">Finding the \u201cnext generation\u201d is one of the hardest challenges he faces.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"5923\" data-end=\"6039\">But the crew he has now?<br data-start=\"5947\" data-end=\"5950\" \/>They\u2019re dialed in.<br data-start=\"5968\" data-end=\"5971\" \/>They\u2019re fast.<br data-start=\"5984\" data-end=\"5987\" \/>They\u2019re precise.<br data-start=\"6003\" data-end=\"6006\" \/>And they\u2019re loyal to the process.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-3657 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/J5-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"6046\" data-end=\"6097\"><strong data-start=\"6049\" data-end=\"6097\">More Than a Builder \u2014 A Partner at the Track<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"6099\" data-end=\"6192\">One of the most impressive parts of J&amp;E\u2019s operation isn\u2019t something you see on a build sheet.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"6194\" data-end=\"6391\">Jordan <strong data-start=\"6201\" data-end=\"6229\">attends the first passes<\/strong> of every car he builds.<br data-start=\"6253\" data-end=\"6256\" \/>No matter where they are in the country.<br data-start=\"6296\" data-end=\"6299\" \/>If it\u2019s a J&amp;E car, he\u2019s there to make sure it leaves the starting line safely and correctly.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"6393\" data-end=\"6458\">He\u2019s been at <strong data-start=\"6406\" data-end=\"6426\">SGMP in Adel, GA<\/strong> multiple times doing just that. A very long way from Michigan, but true to his dedication.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"6460\" data-end=\"6590\">In an industry where some builders vanish the moment the invoice is paid, Jordan\u2019s presence at the track is rare \u2014 and invaluable.<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"6597\" data-end=\"6621\"><strong data-start=\"6600\" data-end=\"6621\">The Future of J&amp;E<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"6623\" data-end=\"6684\">When we asked about his future plans, Jordan didn\u2019t hesitate:<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"6686\" data-end=\"6760\">\u201cThis <em data-start=\"6692\" data-end=\"6696\">is<\/em> the future plan. What you\u2019re seeing now is just the beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"6762\" data-end=\"6910\">He wants to keep building real cars, at a high level, faster and more efficiently than anyone else \u2014 while staying true to the identity he\u2019s carved.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"6912\" data-end=\"7011\">And if the PRI previews are any indication, the industry is about to take notice in a very big way.<\/p>\n<h2 data-start=\"7018\" data-end=\"7084\"><strong data-start=\"7021\" data-end=\"7084\">A Builder Who Hustles, and a Shop That Delivers<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"7086\" data-end=\"7186\">It\u2019s rare in this sport to find someone who hits all three pillars:<br data-start=\"7153\" data-end=\"7156\" \/><strong data-start=\"7156\" data-end=\"7186\">Speed. Quality. Integrity.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"7188\" data-end=\"7214\">Jordan Sontag is that guy.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"7216\" data-end=\"7468\">He honors timelines.<br data-start=\"7236\" data-end=\"7239\" \/>He obsesses over details.<br data-start=\"7264\" data-end=\"7267\" \/>He builds cars that look like they belong on a showroom floor and perform like they belong in the finals.<br data-start=\"7372\" data-end=\"7375\" \/>And he does it at a price that reflects both craftsmanship and efficiency \u2014 not wasted hours.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"7470\" data-end=\"7679\">J&amp;E Chassis Works isn\u2019t trying to be the biggest shop in the country.<br data-start=\"7539\" data-end=\"7542\" \/>They are trying to be one of the <em data-start=\"7575\" data-end=\"7581\">best<\/em>.<br data-start=\"7582\" data-end=\"7585\" \/>And based on the conversations, the builds, and the vision\u2026 they\u2019re already well on their way.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-3659 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/J7.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1207\" height=\"1124\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In an era where many top-tier race-car builders are moving further away from factory steel, J&amp;E Chassis Works stands as a proud countercurrent. Based in Michigan and led by founder Jordan Sontag, J&amp;E has quietly built a reputation for delivering some of the cleanest, most meticulously executed all-steel\/all-glass builds in the country \u2014 and doing [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":3659,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[51],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[55],"class_list":{"0":"post-3640","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-car-features"},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/J7-600x400.jpg","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/J7-600x600.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Kline Whitley","author_link":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/author\/klinewhitley"},"authors":[{"term_id":55,"user_id":4,"is_guest":0,"slug":"klinewhitley","display_name":"Kline Whitley","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Me.png","url2x":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Me.png"},"first_name":"Kline","last_name":"Whitley","user_url":"http:\/\/www.DragCoverage.com","job_title":"","description":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3640","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3640"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3640\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3659"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3640"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3640"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3640"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/DragCoverage.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fppma_author&post=3640"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}