Salinas, California, has long been a hot bed for the Lowrider culture. It’s no wonder this city’s endless cruising left such an impact on Andres Espana Jr. Now residing in Arizona, he remembers cruising Closter Park and watching the endless rows of beautiful lowriders showing off their hydraulics. “I was sure that one day I would have one of my own,” he says. Fortunately for Andres, that day had come. But first, life’s duties would come calling. So after a mere 20-year wait, it was finally time for him to build his dream lowrider, just like the ones he’d seen so many years ago.
Shortly after finding this 1963 Chevy convertible in a local advertisement, it was in the hands of Mando Gonzalez at El Camino Collision in Phoenix. Gonzalez would then douse the Impala with the custom Mint Green two-stage metallic blend found throughout the car. While Larry of Cars Inc. in Tempe, Arizona, installed an aftermarket original stitching Mint Green interior with cloth inserts, additional accessories, such as emergency four-way flashers, six-way power seats, and power windows were added.
After the original 283 engine was completely painted and chromed, the final must-have touches for any real lowrider were left to World Wide. There, they would install a two-pump hydraulic setup offering the mandatory front-back and side-to-side. With the chrome 13-inch Zenith wire wheels mounted onto premium Sportway 520 series whitewall tires, it was finally time for Andres to be seen cruising, much as he did so many years before.
“Big thank you to my Elite Car Club family, as well as Brandon Gonzalez, Fish, Raymond, Divinci, Streetlife, Mike Estrada, and more importantly my family for putting up with no vacations to get this project accomplished.”
1963 Chevy Impala convertible
Nickname
Hurtin Feelings
Owner
Andres Espana Jr.
Car Club
Elite
City
Tolleson, AZ
Engine
Original 1963 Chevy 283 with chrome and billet accessories
Upholstery
Larry of Cars Inc. in Tempe, AZ, installed an aftermarket original stitched Mint Green interior
Body/Paint
The custom Mint Green metallic paint was applied by Mando Gonzalez at El Camino Collision in Phoenix with Mickey adding a few accenting pinstriping lines
Suspension
World Wide installed a two-pump hydraulic setup offering front-back and side-to-side
Wheels/Tires
13-inch Zenith wire wheels with premium Sportway 520 series whitewall tires
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