This is a story about a 1963 Chevy 409 and Brandon Brusca. Brandon was introduced to the lowrider world by his grandfather in the ’80s. As a child he was mesmerized by everything the buzzing car culture entailed, the people, the music, the fresh smell of paint… and so he decided to one day add to the magic of this scene.
It was in 1988, when he was a freshman in high school that he got in possession of his first low-rider, a 1963 hardtop. But he struck gold in 1990, when he purchased a ’63 Impala with a rare 409 engine. The metamorphosis of the car stretched over a long period, as Brandon would work on it on and off over the years. But all the hard work and long hours were crowned by the end result, Summer Madness.
This car is a hot (summer’s day) take on a classic car, and this is precisely why it has such a polarizing effect on classic Impala fans. The more you dare, the more controversy you raise. However, even if you are not a fan of low-riders, you can still respect the level of detail and degree of workmanship that went into this custom low-rider.
Dazzling Looks
The body of the Impala is coated with dazzling paintwork in a color combination that oozes summer haze, a mesh of gold, orange, yellow, and purple. But there is more to it than that. Things are taken to the next level by an elegant striping along the sides and front of the car, which flows under the hood for complete coverage (a noteworthy mention is the detailed paintwork on the fender well). We are talking about a project that took about five years to complete, and by this, we mean only the paint job. The master artists behind this work of art were Danny D. out of Baldwin Park, California in collaboration with Prey, a famous pinstriper and custom painter in the ’60s and ’70s.
The colors are used in a strategic way to highlight the luscious curves of the Chevy Impala, they are not just a flashy exterior coat, but become part of the car itself. Shades of summer lure in the eye of the beholder and guide it across the fine lines of the body.
While the 1963 Chevy did not suffer many physical alterations to its original structure, some tweaks were made here and there. For example, the wiper blades and the vents were shaved off. This was done to achieve a sleeker look. Also, the original grills were altered with a phantom grill.
A Unique Interior
The interior of the car beautifully completes the candy and pearl colored outside. While it has some colorful splashes of yellow and orange here and there, it has an overall more toned-down approach dominated by a soft cream, thus nicely balancing out the exterior body.
Summer Madness is deeply rooted in the hot rod culture, and such influences seep through in the interior design of the car as well. The driving board features an exquisite floating bridge console. To continue, a digital dash coupled with a digital tack turn this car into a techy modern classic.
Performance Merits
Once you pop the hood you realize that you are staring into the belly of a masterpiece of engineering. The first thing you might notice is just how neat the engine compartment is. A fitting home for a jewel of an engine. Summer Madness runs with a classical 409 that is hooked up to a four-speed, custom pinstriping that leads to the engine bay. The 409 has a magical place in automotive history and according to Jay Leno, “the greatest valve covers in history”. While a four-speed transmission allows this classic car to reach about 460 hp.
What is more, an Algon fuel injection system spices things up even more. This links to Albert Gonzalez, a World War Two aircraft mechanic, who after the war brought his skills to drag cars. Of course, this version is updated with modern systems for better fuel control. This was achieved by adding bypass valves (main, secondary, and high-speed bypass). You can find hidden gems where you least expect. For example Brandon skewered the internet to find a yellow hose to keep the chromatics of the engine compartment intact. These hoses originate from the intercooler turbo from import cars.
Features
Summer Madness even made an appearance on an episode of Jay Leno’s Garage. Jay Leno teamed up with the editor of Lowrider Magazine to explore the culture. And for a truly immersive experience, the spotlight was shared by two beautiful lowriders, Brandon Busca’s 1963 Chevy and Chris Najera’s elegant 1966 Chevy Impala. And for a little fun, the two presenters hit the town with both rides.
Summer Madness certainly raises the bar for custom-made lowriders and takes things to the next level. The car showcases a unique blend between two competing car cultures, low-riding and hot rod, that blend together so elegantly under the watchful eye of Brandon Brusca.
But this breathtaking custom-car is not just about one man, but about the fruitful collaboration of many to bring a dream to life. Also, the patience and determination Brandon Brusca showed during the creation process should serve as an inspiration to all of us.