Throwing up a three wheel motion should give you some indication of the power Vic's six-two was built to muster. Utilizing the help of tool technician and building buddy Raul Valenzuela, the two men installed a two pump system on the firewall where the air conditioner used to be. This leads to chromed cylinders in the front suspension, leaving the extended A-arms sealed, yet uncut (minus c-notches) to pull-off sufficient lifting duty whenever they were called upon. Two rear pumps were outfitted in the trunk and can be clearly monitored under an enclosured window. The rear cylinders also work in tandem with the springs, while the axle swivels via chrome wishbone trailing arms. More design elements meant that the X-frame had to be fully wrapped and molded to combat metal fatigue. Once you go this far to build one of the baddest rides on the street, you might as well complete the job if you wanna roll with the big boys. So Vic and Raul trudged ahead, spending many late nights burning the midnight oil by bolting in and lubing up a tilt- steering column, a 605 gear box, electric fan, aluminum radiator, chrome tie rods and, finally, polished hood latches.
When we were finished at the burger joint, Victor alluded to some additional modifications that may have been added, but was quick to give credit to San Joaquin Chrome, Inc. (Lodi, Ca.) for taking care of business, and Best Chrome for the gold enhancements. In the end, we're sure it took a mountain of cash to build this painstakingly designed, yet street-friendly show car. However, when the garage door opens, Victors' "Hidden Treasure" certainly speaks for itself.
Hidden TreasureOwner: Victor CharelsVehicle: 1962 Chevy Impala convertibleCity/State: Sacramento, CaliforniaClub: Impalas, Stockton Chapter
Engine/Drivetrain: '93 crate V-8, 350 c.i.d. (painted block) with chrome 600 Edlebrock carburetor, chrome distributor, taller valve covers, oval-shaped air filter, hardline tubing, Billet Specialty's Serpentine pulleys and turbo 350 candy Brandywine painted transmission. Twenty-two inch glass packs were outfitted on the exhaust pipes.
Body/Paint: Unblemished convertible bodywork, with nothing suicide or reversed. Four coats of foundation House of Kolor blue base were used under a candy brandy wine finish.
Interior: Peanut butter colored vinyl accoutrements with upholstered sun visors, custom dashboard edges, indented door panels with metal appointed styling, stereo mounted center console and finally, a CLK Mercedes style vinyl top with a plastic rear window.
Sound System: Pioneer AVH-P5900 stereo receiver and DVD player with a full array of ARC audio systems. Ready for action are two, 1000 watt amplifiers and 1, 4-channel amp, KEQ5 crossovers and ARC speakers like 5.25" tweeters and midrange and 12" Flat line sub woofers.
Set Up: An impressive design and trunk installation of four chrome Sinister pumps (two are mounted where the air conditioner used to be lifting the front), dumps, precision aluminum blocks, solenoids, deep cycle 27 batteries, polished hardline tubing and 8" (front) and 12" (rear) Sinister cylinders with _ ton spring suspension.
Tires: 155/80R13 Champion
Wheels: Gold 13x7 Sinister Wire Wheels
By Nathan Trujillo
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