Building a custom car is never easy. It takes a lot of effort, a lot of money, and a lot of love to make it a reality, and this 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle is no different.
Nicknamed “El Gran Patron,” this ’71 Chevelle was pieced together by Ricardo Lopez from Customs By Lopez in Southern California. It was built in just five months and graced the floor of SEMA last year, and now, it’s the subject of this new 10-minute, 46-second feature from AutotopiaLA.
Outside, the ’71 Chevrolet Chevelle sports a gorgeous black-and-orange color scheme, which does a fantastic job of enhancing the muscle car’s natural lines. The hue is actually a Lamborghini color, with a small tweak to the original formula that adds to the color richness. The sideview mirrors were also custom-made, and the wheels sit in the corners with a staggered fit.
Making it move is the GM 5.7L V8 LS1 engine, which was mildly upgraded with a new cam, intake, a few other performance parts. The engine exhales through a Magnaflow exhaust with two-inch pipes. Output from the setup is estimated at about 420 horsepower, which isn’t bad, but the super-clean install is really what makes it pop.
The stock chassis was fitted with fully adjustable coilover suspension from Ridetech, while manual Wilwood brakes slow it down.
The ’71 Chevrolet Chevelle’s interior is also quite nice, and sports a custom application highlighted by some lovely upholstery and a good amount of audio equipment as well. Standout details include an iPad mounted in the center console and a bottle of Gran Patron tequila in the back.
No doubt about it, this 1971 Chevrolet Chevelle is quite the looker, and although it still has a few bits and pieces to smooth out, it’s definitely worthy of attention.
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