Classic Chevy Impalas are a go-to favorite for the lowrider treatment, and now, we’re getting a look at a Chevy Impala lowrider with some serious history behind it. As it just so happens, this particular ’61 was featured in the music video for 2Pac’s To Live And Die In L.A.
Now, this Chevy Impala lowrider belongs to Long Beach Lloyd, who added his own special upgrades to the machine, while still paying homage to its history.
Lloyd purchased the car in January of this year, and has been fixing up ever since. “It’s been a bit of a battle,” Lloyd confesses. “When I got it all the planetary gears in the transmission were frozen. I ended up switching the transmission.”
Making it move is the original 283 V8 engine, which Lloyd cleaned up and got back to working order with a new timing belt, new valve cover gaskets, and a few other bits and pieces.
The Chevy Impala low rider also got extensive work from Kool Aid Hydraulics with the full high-end treatment, including eight batteries, two hydraulic pumps, polished chrome suspension, matching yellow bushings, and more. According to Lloyd, the car was originally stock under the skin, sitting low in the 2Pac video thanks to sand bags in the back to get the right ride height.
“To me, I like the originality of it,” Lloyd says. “I was kinda torn whether I should do my thing to it, but I’m glad I did. I mean it’s still the same car, it’s just better now, to me.”
“Driving it around was fun, but driving it around and hitting switches is way better,” he adds.
The installation looks super clean in the trunk as well, with a Lakers-style yellow-and-purple color treatment.
This Chevy Impala lowrider also rides on 13-inch Dayton wheels, finished in gold with the whitewall tires. “Daytons are probably my favorite wheel of all,” Lloyd says. “My son’s name is actually Dayton Rider.”
Check it out in detail in the feature video below.
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Comments
Timing belt in a 1961 283, I suppose it had active fuel management as well
This was never Tupac car . There is no documentation to prove it either. The guys just saying that for resale value . It was in the video only .
He never said it was Tupac car he said this car was in the Tupac video live and die in L.A if you can listen closely and this is for Jeff Beckett
Never said it was Tupac car that was the car that he was is in when they shot live in die in LA
This is the automotive equivalent to Rap music. Not really useful for anything. A cartoon curiosity at best. I read the the story out of curiosity, but as I suspected, it failed to convince me that such a car has a purpose in this world. Such a waste of a ’61.
Your entitled your own opinion, but article only paid homage to a Legend first off, but also someone’s classic expression of custom, just because you didn’t like tasteful expression of this article never try and dis!
Keep on lowriden that’s how we do it ln L.A…
Some people just jealous they don’t have a nice car like that. The man has a very nice ride and Tupac had some connections to it.
Durn exactly what I said reading the article lol. A timing belt on a 283???? Wtf?? Yeah, must be a ricer 283 we haven’t seen yet! And valve cover gaskets helped get it running??? Hahaha. The car does look nice and straight though. Not a fan of ruining a survivor like that but hey they did a good job.
Dude ruined this car you can’t modify vehicles like this it should have been left how Tupac had it if you want to modify a 61 Impala lowrider get one without this kind of significance