1966 Chevy Impala Super Coupe

VEHICLE OF THE MONTH SPONSORED BY AUTO EMPORIUM

This month we introduce you to Pablo Rodrigues.  Originally from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, Pablo's parents moved the family to Grants Pass, Oregon in search of a better future for their family when he was just three months old.  Headed in the direction he and his parents aspired after, Pablo graduated from Grants Pass High school in 2002.
Currently, Pablo is a member of the Industrial Finishes team where he is a sales representative and serves many auto body & paint shop throughout the Rogue Valley.  In addition, Pablo also helps with his Parent's Mexican restaurant, Las Palmas, located in Jacksonville.  It was at the restaurant where the Impala opportunity came.  One day while working at the restaurant he was approached by an older gentleman who told him, "I know what kind of car you like…I have a '66 Impala in my backyard that I need to get rid of."  Later that week Pablo went to see the Impala and although it was in bad shape he saw the potential in the vehicle. The Impala had rust all over the floor panels, the paint was completely faded, the interior was cracked from the years of sun exposure, but the body was straight and had no major damage. He became the owner of the work-in-progress Impala and enlisted the help of many friends to turn the vehicle into the one he had always dreamed of owning. Pablo remembers falling in love with the Lowrider style of vehicles since the first time he first laid eyes on one.  He recalls going to parks around town with his parents to sell Churros and drinks to football and volleyball players, there he would admired a Lowrider that would occasionally drive by.  It was a Bahama blue '65 Impala owned by Jesus Angulo.  A few years later Jesus and Pablo met, inspiring him to cultivate his love of Lowriders and allowing him to turn it into a hobby by becoming a member of the car club "The Associates."

 

Without further anticipation we present Pablo's Omaha Chevy Orange '66 Impala Super Coupe with a V8 motor and 13" crown wire wheels.  Countless hours of labor went to making this the Impala that you see today.  The interior, engine and body were rebuilt and with the help of Dustin Knight who supplied the paint booth the masterpiece was completed.  Industrial Finishes supplied all the materials that went into making this the dream Impala.  Pablo is not done yet, he still plans to redo the interior with white and orange. Pablo tells us, "I have named my Impala 'dreamsicle' like the orange and cream ice-cream bars."  People are in constant disbelief when they see him riding in his Impala, Pablo describes his most common reaction as "dammmmmmnnn…that's a nice ride!"  Pablo adds, "a lot of work when into the Impala's transformation, I would like to thank my brother Luis Rodrigues, Yovanni Murillo, Nick Antiveros, Ramon Angulo and Manuel Angulo for helping me make my Impala perfect." 
Pablo would like to offer his service and knowledge with paint and supplies at Industrial Finishes of Medford, Oregon, "come down and visit me, I can help you in English or Spanish."  Thank you Pablo for sharing your story and impressing us with your Impala "Dreamsicle!"

As published in January Revista Caminos