Many lowriders we’ve seen can’t be exactly described as tasteful, but this 1963 Chevrolet Impala owned by the late Kobe Bryant certainly is.
Currently listed for sale on Goldin Auctions, this Impala started its customization journey when it was brought into West Coast Customs (WCC) by Bryant’s wife Vanessa in 2006, who commissioned the vehicle for him as a Christmas gift.
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The California-based tuning shop began by disassembling the car and blasting the body to bare metal. They then gave it a multi-coat paint finish in a mix of purple and royal blue that was custom blended by House of Kolor. The body then received all new glass, moldings and weather stripping, while all the chrome was meticulously refinished. The car also features 13-inch 100-spoke Dayton wire wheels shod in Reliant Super Ride tires.
WCC outfitted the interior with Swarovski crystal-studded white leather upholstery, offset by royal blue piping and carpets to complement the exterior. A powerful stereo system in the trunk uses a Sony amplifier in addition to multiple speakers and subwoofers. Rounding off the interior mods are a power tilt steering wheel and standalone tachometer.
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Mind you, the changes made to this Impala weren’t purely aesthetic. The existing 327-cubic inch V8 was totally rebuilt and fitted with billet accessories and a set of Edelbrock headers. That engine now lets out into a new glasspack dual exhaust setup, and the front brakes were converted from drums to hydraulic discs.
Continuing with the mechanicals, as is customary with lowriders such as this, the car received a custom hydraulic system with two Pro Hopper “Envious Touch” pumps, three Adel dumps, and front 6″ and rear 12″ cylinders. The whole system has four switches, eight batteries, and eight solenoids. Out back, the rear end features a coilover setup and molded upper A-arms for improved ride quality.
Considering this car is nearly 60 years old, the fact that it has only 24,729 miles on the odometer is quite impressive. Right now, and with five days until the auction ends, bidding stands at $140,000, but it is expected to sell for up to $250,000.