Eddie's Sweet '60

One of Southern California's best-known lowrider shops is B&B Classics in Upland, California, owned by Mosie and Billy Garland Hernandez, specializing in restoring '58 to '69 Chevy Impalas. We've featured many of the brothers' masterpieces in LRM through the years (the most recent being Mosie's silver '61 convertible in August 2002). And this sweet '60 Impala, now owned by 29-year-old Eddie "Boy" Angulo of Upland, California, is one of their best yet.

We say now owned by Eddie Boy because Billy actually built the car for himself. However, he barely got it finished when Eddie Boy, a customer, saw it and convinced Billy to sell it to him. "We were already building a car for Eddie when he saw my Impala and talked me into taking his car and 'some cash' for my car," says Billy.

The craftsmen at B&B did virtually all of the frame-up restoration in-house, including the chrome and polished aluminum 350-c.i.d. V-8, built by Jose V. Taken from a '79, the engine features an RV cam, EB lifters, Edelbrock intake manifold, Holley carb, MSD ignition, billet pulleys, chrome oil pan, chrome headers and stainless steel exhaust. A polished 350 Turbo transmission mates to a chrome extended driveshaft and a chrome rearend, completing the drivetrain.

Mosie treated the body to a metal massage, before it was coated with DuPont cascade green over a silver base. All of the brightwork was replaced, polished or re-plated (by Victor) and every possible accessory was added, including a sunroof, twin spotlights, bumper guards, full skirts, twin antennas and a Continental kit. Then, Mike Lamberson added his special touch with some tasty fine-line accent stripping.

In the suspension department, the front has extended chromed A-arms, chrome 8-inch D&H cylinders and 1-ton springs. On the rear, a pair of 10-inch D&H cylinders are fitted, along with 21/2-ton springs to support the extra weight of the setup. Four-wheel disc brakes provide stopping power and the rolling stock consists of 13x7-inch Street Wires wrapped with P155/80-R13 Winston skinny whitewalls.

The interior is as clean as the outside, starting with the OG upholstery kit installed by Roman's Upholstery in Industry, California, and polished aluminum pedals. Air conditioning, power seat and power windows were also installed for comfort and convenience, plus a digital dash for a modern touch. A sweet sound system, installed by Mike at G&M Stereo in Ontario, California, includes a Kenwood head unit, Kicker speakers and trunk-mounted Alpine amps.

The hydraulics work was also done in-house, including "strapping" (reinforcing) the frame and fabricating the (hidden) pump racks. The only outside input are the two custom-built pumps, purchased from "Japanese Mike," a noted Inland Empire hydraulics supplier, and installed by Jose V. at B&B. The chrome and polished pumps feature Marzocchi gears, aluminum blocks, three square dumps with billet "bowtie" bodies, hand-bent stainless steel hard-lines and polished faucet handle slow-down valves. Electricals include six Trojan batteries housed in two upholstered Plexiglas-covered compartments (also done by Roman's Upholstery), six totally hidden Ford-style solenoids and four switches mounted under-dash for easy access.

It's easy to see why Eddie Boy wanted this sweet '60 so badly, and why we wanted to feature it. As for Billy, don't feel sorry for him, he's already well underway with another Impala for himself.