So Stock, It’s Custom – 1963 Chevrolet “Impalamino”

When the 1959 Chevrolet El Camino debuted in the fall of 1958, it was GM’s answer to the newfangled Ford Ranchero. For 1960, the full-size, half-truck/half-car was included in the Bow Ties’ offerings and then faded into the mist from 1961 to 1963.  In 1964, the El Camino emerged from its chrysalis, a trimmer package based on Chevy’s new Chevelle.

So what we see here is a very nice creation of what a full-size Chevy El Camino would have looked like. Owned by Bay Area-native Aaron Long, who along with  Schiada Customs@Impala Palace built this dream and dubbed it “Impalamino,” it was killer in-person and a real crowd-pleaser.

Starting off with a station wagon, the guys got to work reshaping the old Chevy. They ditched all the factory doors and added slinkier versions from a coupe. Then, the roofline was sectioned and pushed forward, looking like it could have come off the drawing board of Bill Mitchell’s GM Design back in the early ’60s. Rear quarters and a cargo bed were fabricated and Impalamino began to take shape.

While the factory-inspired body lines display a flawless finish, it’s the custom touches that put Implamino over the top. The car is bagged (with dog dish caps and wide whites), features a custom rear window for the ultimate open-air vibe and cool Impalamino script on the side spears. Be sure and check out all the custom jewelry on the car and trim on the bed corners as well.

Many incredible craftsmen were involved here. Elite Custom Chrome handled the brightwork, Precision Powder Coating lent its expertise on many components, Darren Shurig over at DZine Unlimited handled the trim work, while 99 Kustoms and 5 Star stitched the upholstery.

First shown locally in Lodi, California, it debuted nationally at the 2020 Grand National Roadster Show at the first of the year where it won big with “1st In Class Engineering Award.” Then it was off to Sacramento Autorama where it got two wins, the Custom D’Elegance Achievement and Custom D’Elegance Outstanding Engineering awards.

Kudos and congratulations to Aaron, Schiada Customs@Impala Palace, and all the contributors for such an expert realization of the ultimate unicorn Elco.

About the author

Dave Cruikshank

Dave Cruikshank is a lifelong car enthusiast and an editor at Power Automedia. He digs all flavors of automobiles, from classic cars to modern EVs. Dave loves music, design, tech, current events, and fitness.
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