In a switch from the usual script where cars built in Southern California find their way to new homes across the country, including the South, Clyde "Pimpin" Hatch's '63 Chevy Impala, "Hustler's Dream," was born and bred deep down in Dixie, though you can now find it (if you're lucky) rollin' on the streets of Los Angeles, California, reppin' Individuals Car Club.
The story of Clyde's cruiser begins with his "light bulb moment" when he first fell in love with lowriders. "I was attending Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1995 when I went to visit my cousin Walter Stewart in Jackson, Mississippi," he recalls. "Walter was already a member of Individuals Car Club. We came through the campus of Jackson State University swinging an '84 Cadillac Brougham, standing it upon the bumper. I knew then that I was going to put together a lowrider."
Clyde put together several. "My first car was the Cadillac that Snoop Dogg drove in The Wash," Clyde claims. "My second car was a '93 Cadillac Fleetwood." Clyde became a full Individuals C.C. member in 2000 and purchased this particular Impala from his cousin Walter in 2005. The car was primarily built by Walter at Street Toyz in Jackson.
"The car was assembled in Mississippi and made it to the West Coast in October '07 for the Super Show in Las Vegas, Nevada," Clyde relates. Since relocating to the West Coast, Hustler's Dream has become something of a superstar car, not only taking trophies at car shows, but also finding itself in demand in "Tinseltown." "The car was featured in a VH1 reality show about up-and-coming female rappers," Clyde tells us, adding that other film and TV appearances are in the planning stages.
Now just because he's pimpin' such a sweet ride in Southern California doesn't mean that Clyde's forgotten where he came from or how he got to where he's at today. He credits "my cousin Walter Stewart, all Individuals nationwide, my family, most importantly God, and last but not least 'Switchman.' " Thanks to all of you, this self-employed property investor will continue to do what he likes best, "shooting at the gun range, pimpin' and checkin' my grip." Now that sounds like a hustler's dream.
Hustler's DreamOwner: Clyde "Pimpin" HatchVehicle: '63 Chevrolet ImpalaCity/State: Los Angeles, CaliforniaClub: Individuals C.C.
Engine/Drivetrain: Clyde's cousin Walter Stewart at Street Toyz in Jackson, Mississippi, equipped the classic '63 with a brand-new 383-c.i.d. GM Fast Burn crate engine with a three-speed 700R4 overdrive transmission and stainless steel exhaust.
Body/Paint: Freelance painter Maurice Andrews of Los Angeles put down the House of Kolor honey beige paint job with patterns, pinstripes and murals of (in the owner's words) "exotic fish, naked women and plenty of cash" ("Pimpin' at its finest," Clyde adds).
Interior: The interior was restored to its original state and dressed up with a digital dash.
Sound System: Walter Stewart wired up an iPod-ready system with an Alpine head unit, a pair of 2,000-watt JL Audio amps and 10-inch Rockford Fosgate subwoofers.
Setup: Helping Hustler's Dream hit front, back and corners is a four-pump all-chrome setup installed by Walter Stewart that features a pair of piston pumps, two rear pumps, three Adex square dumps, 8-inch cylinders, four switches and 14 batteries. The X-frame was fully molded, wrapped and powdercoated, and the chrome-plated suspension was upgraded with a wishbone trailing arm and Ford 9-inch rearend.
Tires: Cooper
Wheels: 13-inch Dayton wires with patterns