Our wonderful Lowrider culture is truly diverse in nature. The love for candy, chrome, and customization unites us all, speaking a universal language to enthusiasts from all walks of life, and all parts of the globe. Take the story of this month's cover car owner, for example. Even though he lives in an area primarily known for its sun and surf, Oahu's own Wilson Montemayor is keeping Lowrider tradition alive and well, bringing us this impeccable 1963 Chevy Impala. Somebody once told us that lowriding was dead in Hawaii, but if Wilson's '63 Chevy is any indication of the Aloha State's building prowess, boy were they wrong. In fact, Hawaiians have been active in lowriding for many years, diligently putting in work on countless vehicles just like their mainland counterparts. For those skeptics out there who still question the authenticity of the Lowrider lifestyle found in Hawaii, just remember that "cruise" in Hawaiian slang means "to relax and hang out," so while they talk the talk, they also walk the walk when it comes to hitting the boulevard. Let's take a trip with Wilson Montemayor in his 1963 Chevy Impala convertible, as he pops the hood to show us how this beautiful classic came together.
Wilson's Impala first caught our attention at C&L Customs of Sylmar, CA, as it was initially being rebuilt. Chino and Lolo of C&L Customs made sure to leave no bolt unturned, as this custom restoration was pulled off the frame and given the utmost attention to detail. After bringing back the convertible from Vegas, Chino and Lolo decided this was the right move, in order to allow them to properly reinforce the stress points. Once the color was dialed in, the frame was painted, so as to match the car's body when it received its paintjob. Thankfully, only minor work needed to be done on the body, so it was a piece of cake for team C&L to get the project moving right along.
The ragtop received a GM Performance Crate Motor which featured paint to match the exterior. Several bolt on performance items included an Edelbrock Endurashine aluminum intake, and a 650CFM Holley carburetor combination. A Matson aluminum radiator with dual Spal pull fans was used to keep the car cool during those long Honolulu summers. Performance billet accessories were used for the engine compartment, including chrome valve covers and March Performance serpentine pulleys with brackets. The complete engine compartment, including the upper radiator hose, was hard lined with the intent of keeping it looking nice and neat. Gary Jensen of Las Vegas accented and pinstripped the already painted engine compartment, including a design of Wilson's car club plaque to be seen permanently. Bold move, you say? You bet, but an easy decision for Wilson, as he has no plans of ever selling this one-of-a-kind lowrider. The small block engine was sure to give the drive train fits, so to counteract this potential problem, a 350 Turbo transmission was used to lessen the stress on the vehicle.
Given the amount of work that was performed under the hood, the car was also upgraded with a fully-chromed front disc brake setup, and the chrome didn't stop there. With even more chrome on Wilson's mind, the engine compartment was accented with a triple chrome dosage that can be seen on the fender wells, hood hinges and all throughout the engine compartment. The under carriage also received a dosage of chrome, thanks to the experts at La Habra Plating in Brea, CA. This touch of chrome helped to break up the eye-popping, solid, three-stage red paint that was liberally used throughout the car, giving the '63 the perfect balance of style and substance.