SP Rides: A Dream Rider
BY MICHAEL KITCHENS
Name: Garrett Perreira
Age: 39
Occupation: Inventory specialist
Hobbies: Lowriding
Year, Make, Model: 1964 Chevrolet Impala
Colors: Candy Burple
Engine/Transmission: 350 SBC, Turbo 350, Toyota rear end, 605 gear box
Exterior: Concord Grape Stayfast convertible top with custom safari window, purple candy tinted tails, color matched headlight rings, chrome fender strips with inserts
Interior: Tilt steering with, power windows, power convertible top with chrome rack, white leather sits, color-matched dash, USO plaque
Suspension: Whammy hydraulics set up with six batteries, chrome Toyota rear end with chrome wishbone and trailing arms
Wheels & Tires: 13-by-7 Cross lace Zeniths with 520 tires.
Once known as the best-selling automobile in the U.S., the Chevrolet Impala has been a dominating force in the U.S. auto industry. Versatile in both form and function, they’ve been seen modified and representing the hot rod industry as well as the lowrider scene. The car is simply one of the best bases to start from whether you’re aiming for a hot rod look or a lowrider feel. Each one has their positives, however, for Garrett Perreira, the lowrider genre calls strongly to his heart.
“The Impala is the iconic lowrider … it’s the first car I saw as a lowrider. It’s the car to have and it’s the big one,” said Perreira. This 1964 model is the most talked about and is arguably the most popular. The lines of the car, the emblems and trim all present the classic de facto version of what a lowrider should look like.
When it comes to the style, it’s really the accents that make or break the look. The dripping candy paint with immaculate pinstriping, wire wheels, and the lustrous interior all establish this as a lowrider.
First, let’s talk about the exterior that is slathered in a paint known as Candy Burple. It’s a mix of blue and purple that shifts delicately with the intensity of the light. It’s stunning when combined with the chrome shiny bits, the blue checkered inserts and fender strips, and the gorgeous silver and lavender pinstriping that’s layered throughout the hood, sides and trunk. Oodles of details are mixed in with the paint, such as the purple tinted headlight rings as well as the candy purple rear taillights.
One of the biggest visual game changers added by Perreira is the custom-stitched Stayfast soft-top done by Bob Arkus Custom Upholstery in a lovely shade called Concord Grape. Of special note is the one-of-a-kind “gangsta window” aka safari window that’s built into the rear of the top and actually opens up. Originally a white soft-top, this new look makes a grapelicious impact.
The super-shiny 13-inch wire wheels are incredibly brilliant and feature color matched center caps with Premium Sport white-walled tires. A chrome Toyota rear end has replaced the Chevy version in order to allow the same deep-dish 13-by-7 wheels both in the back and the front. The rear components have also been chromed out as well.
Although there’s nothing wrong with the interior, Perreira intends to change out the interior with a two-toned dark purple and lavender. For now, the color-matched metal console fits in nicely with the blinding white interior pieces.
Some interesting trivia is that before falling into the hands of Perreira, and being flown from California to Kauai, this Impala was featured in several music videos by Mr. Criminal — a mainland rapper who was recently in the Netflix fantasy movie “Bright” with Will Smith.
As far as Perreira is concerned, this entire car is his favorite. It meant so much to his family, that even his 11-year-old son was in tears upon first sight of this dream car. The convertible soft-top completes it for them because to be able to cruise with the top dropped is worth every penny.
