Roadster Shop Reveals $60,000 Custom Chassis For $15,000 Chevy GMT400 Pickups
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Roadster Shop has introduced the RS4 OBS, a complete replacement chassis designed for 1988–1998 Chevrolet and GMC pickups. The chassis starts at $45,000; the source report says selected options can bring the price to about $60,000, but does not provide a full build quote or independent performance testing.

Roadster Shop has introduced the RS4 OBS, a complete aftermarket chassis for 1988–1998 Chevrolet and GMC pickups, with a starting price of $45,000. Options can push the price toward $60,000, according to The Drive’s report, making the package a major investment for owners restoring or modifying these trucks.

The RS4 OBS is described as an entirely new, complete chassis intended to give builders a replacement platform for GMT400-era pickups. Its frame uses 5-by-2.5-inch laser-cut rails with 0.188-inch wall thickness. Roadster Shop pairs those rails with a Currie Dana 44 front differential and Dana 60 rear differential, mounted using triangulated four-link suspension.

Roadster Shop says that suspension layout is designed to optimize anti-dive, anti-squat and articulation. The chassis also includes Fox Racing 2.5 Factory Race Series coilovers, with valving tuned in-house by the company. Roadster Shop specifies sealed X-axis flex joints instead of spherical or Johnny-style joints, saying the design is intended to improve noise, vibration and harshness and provide longer service life.

The company lists engine-mount options for original GMT400 applications and several Chevrolet engine families, including small- and big-block engines, LS engines and LT1/LT4 engines. An Atlas transfer case is available for 4×4 builds. Buyers can also select brake packages and a Fox ATS steering stabilizer; satin-black powder coating is an additional $5,000, according to The Drive. The report does not give a complete itemized example showing exactly which options bring a build to $60,000.

At a glance
announcementWhen: Recently announced; the source report d…
The developmentRoadster Shop revealed its RS4 OBS complete chassis for 1988–1998 GM pickups, priced from $45,000 before options.

A High-Cost Shortcut for GMT400 Builds

The price puts the RS4 OBS in a different category from routine repairs or a modest suspension upgrade. At $45,000 before options, it is a substantial part of a project budget, particularly when the donor pickup itself may cost far less. A buyer would also need to account for the truck, engine and transmission, bodywork, installation and other parts of a finished build; the source report does not provide a total project estimate.

For builders seeking a heavily modified or restomod GMT400, a complete chassis may offer a purpose-built starting point instead of adapting the original underpinnings. Roadster Shop’s advertised engine and transfer-case choices also give customers ways to plan around different powertrains and four-wheel-drive setups. Those are product features, not independent proof of performance: the source material does not include test results or a comparison with other chassis.

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Designed for 1988–1998 GM Trucks

The GMT400 is the platform used by Chevrolet and GMC pickups from 1988 through 1998, the model years named for the RS4 OBS. Roadster Shop has also built chassis for other restomod projects, according to The Drive, but this announcement is specific to those GM trucks rather than a general-purpose pickup frame.

The Drive reports that the RS4 OBS can accommodate the original 350 TBI V8 as well as newer Chevrolet engines. Roadster Shop’s stated goal for the suspension geometry is to influence how the truck behaves under braking, acceleration and suspension movement. The report also notes that the company offers multiple configurations, so the starting price should not be read as the price of every equipped chassis.

““optimize anti-dive, anti-squat, and suspension articulation.””

— Roadster Shop, as quoted on its website by The Drive

Pricing and Performance Details

The reported $45,000 starting price is clear, but the source does not list every included component, the cost of each option or a precise configuration priced at $60,000. It is also unclear whether installation is included or how the chassis affects a truck’s final weight, ride, handling or off-road capability. Roadster Shop’s design descriptions are manufacturer claims; the supplied report does not include independent testing, owner evaluations or a comparison against competing products.

The report does not state when deliveries begin, how many chassis Roadster Shop plans to produce or whether there are fitment limits across the 1988–1998 model range. Buyers would need to confirm compatibility and the final specification directly with the company before budgeting a build.

Buyers Need a Build-Specific Quote

The next practical step for prospective customers is to request a configuration and pricing breakdown from Roadster Shop, including the chosen engine mounts, brakes, transfer case, finish and any other options. That quote should clarify what the base chassis includes and whether installation or additional truck-specific work is part of the package.

Further details that could sharpen the announcement include a complete option-price list, delivery timing and independent driving or durability evaluations. Until those are available, the RS4 OBS is best understood as a newly announced, high-priced chassis offering with manufacturer-described features rather than a product whose real-world results have been established in the supplied reporting.

Key Questions

What is the Roadster Shop RS4 OBS?

It is a complete aftermarket chassis Roadster Shop designed for 1988–1998 Chevrolet and GMC pickups.

How much does the chassis cost?

The reported starting price is $45,000. Options can raise the cost; The Drive reports a figure of about $60,000 but does not identify a complete configuration at that price.

What engines can the RS4 OBS accommodate?

Roadster Shop lists mounts for the original GMT400 applications, small- and big-block Chevrolet engines, LS engines and LT1/LT4 engines. Buyers should confirm the specific fitment for their build with the company.

Does it include a transfer case for four-wheel drive?

An Atlas transfer case is an option, according to The Drive’s report; the supplied material does not say it is included in the base price.

Has the chassis’s performance been independently verified?

The source report describes Roadster Shop’s design goals and components but provides no independent test results or comparative performance data.

Source: rss

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