Muscleupperformance in Wis.?

[kochevy67]

I have a question for you guys, particularly Randy Johnson from D and Z. I went to the Jefferson swap meet this weekend in Wisconsin. I saw a 66 Chevelle that really caught my eye, so I walked over and talked to the guys who were with the car. I explained to them that I liked their work and started talking to them about their 66. The car had a custom frame underneath it and it looked really great. They tell me it is one of their chassis's and I take them at their word for it, even though it looks like a Schwartz chassis. Well last night I go home and check ontheir website and they have a picture of Randy Johnson's 66 Chevelle. I read on and it said that the chassis is made by them. Well this is where the confusion comes in because I thought that Randy had a Schwartz chassis. Does anybody know of these guys and what chassis does Randy have underneath the Chevelle. I really wanted to give these guys some work but I don't like to be mislead if that is the case. Thanks for the help.

[wellis77]

This article in Popular Hot Rodding says it's a Schwartz frame. It looks alot like the Schwartz chassis in the pics.

http://www.popularhotrodding.com/features/0811phr_1966_chevrolet_chevelle/index.html

[joejaze]

This paragraph came from the Muscle Up website:

"While the chassis selection may not have taken much thought, the rest of the build process on Johnson's flawless '66 took plenty of brainpower. Johnson grabbed the original car in Colorado and purchased the Muscle Up Performance chassis branded as a 'G-Machine Chassis' from Schwartz Extreme Performance in Crystal Lake, IL. From there, it took 14 months to complete the car prior to its first official showing at the Detroit Autorama this past March."

From that quote it sounds like Muscle Up designed the chassis and Schwartz brands it as his own...

[Van B]

Little known fact: Muscle up manufactures the chassis for Schwartz. Muscle Up is owned by former NASCAR driver Rich Bickle. Rich purchased a circle track chassis business a number of years ago (I think it was called Pathfinder) They branched out into muscle car chassis and Jeff Schwartz began marketing them under his name. I think the development of them began before Bickle got involved. I am not sure if it was Jeff's design/idea or the former owner of the manufacturer.

Jeff has been able to use his car building business and frequent magazine coverage to promote the Schwartz chassis brand much more effectively than Bickle can.

Not that uncommon to have someone else manufacture a product and brand it as your own. Several DSE products are (at least originally were) manufactured by an engine shop that I am very familiar with.

[kochevy67]

Jeff thanks for clearing things up, it makes me feel better knowing that Muscleup is not misrepresenting themselves.

[andrewb70]

Jeff thanks for clearing things up, it makes me feel better knowing that Muscleup is not misrepresenting themselves.

It's all quite legit. And as Jeff already pointed out, it's a fairly common business practice.

Andrew

[Van B]

I am 90 miles from Muscle Up and would not have known about them if I had not tripped over them at a similar swap meet a year or two ago. It was then that I put 2 + 2 together and figured out the relationship which I later verified with Jeff.

[RJ66]

Little known fact: Muscle up manufactures the chassis for Schwartz. Muscle Up is owned by former NASCAR driver Rich Bickle. Rich purchased a circle track chassis business a number of years ago (I think it was called Pathfinder) They branched out into muscle car chassis and Jeff Schwartz began marketing them under his name. I think the development of them began before Bickle got involved. I am not sure if it was Jeff's design/idea or the former owner of the manufacturer.

Jeff has been able to use his car building business and frequent magazine coverage to promote the Schwartz chassis brand much more effectively than Bickle can.

Not that uncommon to have someone else manufacture a product and brand it as your own. Several DSE products are (at least originally were) manufactured by an engine shop that I am very familiar with.


Hi & sorry about the late response to this, yes Muscle Up Performance does build the current chassis that is under my 66 Chevelle. Schwartz does sell them under his name, but back when Kevin(originator of Pathfinder Chassis) owned the business it was called Precision Crafted USA inc. Jeff Schwartz had helped with some updating of the chassis (my car also was involved in making chassis updates that I worked with them on) so Kevin had agreed to let Jeff sell them under his name. Jeff had done a great job in marketing them so they continued with that agreement. Rich Bickle came along made Kevin an offer to buy the business that allowed Kevin to continue as shop manager & head designer for future projects. Jeff still currently works with Rich Bickle to sell chassis but as Schwartz Chassis. I hope that clears up some confusion, yes I am also familiar with the engine shop that had made items for DSE I use them with my car builds.

Thank You
Randy(D&Z Customs LLC.
[email protected]
1-262-347-9741

[kochevy67]

Thanks Randy, that clears it up. I guess we will be heading out there to tour the shop and give them some business.