SP Rides: Strike Up ‘The Bandwagon’
BY MICHAEL KITCHENS
Name: Wilson Montemayor
Age: 41
Occupation: Owner, Audiozone Productions
Hobbies: Fixing cars, mixing, DJ
Year/Make/Model: 1962 Chevrolet Impala
Color: Two-tone, PPG Surf Green and White
Car Club: Timeless Classics
Engine: Factory spec 327 motor with Power Glide transmission
Interior: Original stock interior kit from Bob’s Antique
Sound System: Retro 2-knob head unit with USB input powered by Rockford Amplified with 5 ½-inch Skar speaker with custom 8-inch sub installed and fabricated by Ronald Carlos and his crew from JSP Auto Audio
Suspension: Air Ride Technology Strong Arm suspension, Shockwave bags, 5-gallon tank with two compressors installed by Christopher Galutira from Elite Custom Concepts
Wheels: 13×7 100-spoke Galaxy Wire Wheels wrapped with 155x80x13 Travelstar tires
Wilson Montemayor is a fan of lowriders. He started off with hydraulic trucks back in the early ’90s and eventually transitioned into the classic Impala. In fact, he’s owned six different Chevrolet Impalas, mostly convertibles. For his seventh, he wanted to change it up a little. A four-door wagon was on his mind and, as luck would have it, his cousin in San Diego found this jewel of a 1962 Chevrolet Impala.
“I love the ’62 because the bodyline is all slanted forward,” he explained. “The bodylines are what makes it special.”
Luckily for Wilson, the car already had a frame-off restoration — an awesome starting point for Montemayor. The highlight was that all of the hard-to-find parts were already on the car. Parts are rare for the wagon version of the Impala and the only option is usually to go completely original. It wasn’t all roses, though, as the entire transmission was shot, requiring a rebuild to a Powerglide transmission. Pushing the power through this beauty is a factory spec 327 motor.
These rides area are all about the details and they stand out easily, thanks to the chrome bits and pieces sprinkled throughout the car. Montemayor’s lowrider club is represented well by a stunning gold “Timeless Classics” plaque, while the ride features pristine badges, restored chrome grills and awesome add-ons like the rear wind deflectors. Of special note is this ride’s rear-facing third row seat, which is practically non-existent in a modern vehicle.
The interior features an OEM interior kit from Bob’s. This vehicle kicks the audio up a notch with a retro 2-knob head unit powering a Rockford Amplified with 5 ½-inch Skar speakers. Splitting the second- and third-row seats is a color-matched custom 8-inch sub installed and fabricated by Ronald Carlos and his crew from JSP Auto Audio. The install was done so well, it looks like it came with the car from the factory.
This ride is known as a lowrider for a reason. It’s slammed on a custom Air Ride Technology installation. A Strong Arm Suspension is matched with Shockwave Bags, and is pumped up by a 5-gallon tank with two compressors. The tank and compressor setup is hidden perfectly in the right rear trunk wall, thanks to Christopher Galutira from Elite Custom Concepts. The custom air install allows this beautiful two-tone Impala to ride low on 13×7 100-spoke Galaxy Wire Wheels wrapped with 155x80x13 Travelstar Tires.
“My plans were to drive this car on Sundays with my family. When I take it to cruise nights, I get a lot of people who reminisce about their memories as kids in vehicles just like this. I really take that as a compliment,” said Wilson.
With so many people showing their love for this ride, it’s no wonder he lovingly calls it “The Bandwagon.”
