Many of our readers share a common dream; to one day see their own Lowrider gracing the pages of Lowrider Magazine. That dream is by no means impossible, we have had many reader submissions make the cut over the years, and we pride ourselves in being the most interactive barometer of what's hot within our beloved classic car culture. Naturally, when we contacted Emilio Gonzalez about featuring his Impala Wagon, he was all for it. We set up a time and place with him to shoot the car for his very own Lowrider spread, much to the delight of Emilio, who was unaware that his car had even caught our attention. A true family man, Emilio spent the day before the shoot preparing the vehicle by having his kids help him wash it, wax it and polish its chrome. On the day of the shoot, we teamed up with him at the location to set up the car for its debut photos, meticulously searching for the best angles of the wagon. A proud Emilio looked on, and after the shoot we sat down with him to learn more about his life as a Lowrider.Emilio Gonzalez' love for the Lowrider Culture began when he was 17, after receiving his first Lowrider as a graduation gift from his brother-in-law. The gift was an impeccable '71 Impala, fully customized with suicide doors, trunk additions, and custom upholstery. The Impala also featured a custom old school paintjob that was completely flaked and patterned out, as well as a simple hydraulic setup. After he graduated, Emilio began working at Archie's Automotive in Ontario, CA, a body shop he served for over 13 years as a mechanic and car builder. The shop itself was a car builder's heaven, and Emilio got the chance to work on custom cars all year long, spending countless hours servicing Lowriders, Hot Rods and Trucks. After building a few Lowrider cars in his lifetime, Emilio decided that he wanted to someday build a custom wagon of his own. After searching for the perfect wagon, he ended up purchasing a '64 Chevy Impala Wagon from his friend Rigo Aguilar. Much to Emilio's delight, Rigo had acquired the wagon from a past trade, and it was just sitting around collecting dust and waiting to be rescued. Rigo was more than happy to let Emilio take the '64 off his hands for a fair price, and the car was in decent enough condition to be driven to Emilio's house the same day. Now that he had the project car of his dreams, it was time for Emilio to get to work.
Using his vast experience as a mechanic, Emilio began the car's restoration by pulling out the old 283 engine that powered the classic Chevy. He towed the car over to Art at Hoppo's Hydraulics in Ontario, CA, so it could be lifted under Art's expert guidance. Once he was satisfied with the lift job, Emilio took the '64 to Area 51 in Bellflower, CA. Area 51's very own Alberto began customizing the body of the wagon by molding the skirts, dash and tailgate. Emilio wanted an even more unique and smooth looking ride, so he asked Alberto to shave the firewall and door handles of the wagon, and to also add a sunroof to give the car a modern touch. After the bodywork was done, Alberto painted the Chevy himself, using a PPG silver for the body, and an elegant white color for the roof. Guru Mike Lamberson was brought in to pinstripe and leaf the wagon, accenting its bodylines and exterior features. Emilio had Mike "Blind Stitch" Perez redo the upholstery at Area 51, where he added a custom suede headliner and custom suede and leather seats. Emilio had used the build time to secure a replacement engine, which he had ready and waiting to be installed back in his own garage. Once the wagon returned home, Emilo dropped in the replacement engine and added an aluminum intake and Elderbrock Carburetor. For aesthetic reasons, he also accented the engine with a custom engraved air filter and valve covers, as well as a chrome dress up kit. His vision had finally come to fruition, and Emilio was able to sit behind the wheel of the custom Impala Wagon that he always dreamed of.