🔧 BUILD Shawns 1971 Impala Donk

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Interior/Top
LS Swap
Wheels
Sounds/Music
Suspension/Brakes
Paint
BOOST TIME!!!!

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Well boys and girls my new project is finally home. Ive always had a hard on for the Donks (71-76 Caprice or Impala) and always told myself since 1994 that I was eventually going to build one. My buddy mike at the time had a 74 Caprice Vert with 30's and Vouges (google them if you dont know what they are) basically 30 spoke cragars and vouge tires. Its a classic old school gangster look. Over the years he built a few more and sold them and always offered them to me first and I declined because of my love of G Body's as well. When I bought the Regal a couple years ago, I really looked hard at the Donks and believe it or not they were going for half of what they are going for now. Even last summer they coulda been had for about a 1/3rd less maybe a little less for what they are going for now. I was set on a 71 or a 75 for 2 reasons. 71 is the most sought after and fetches the most money as its known as the ACE. 75 because it was the year I was born, and thought that would be pretty cool. Didnt care if it was a HT or Vert, kinda preferred that HT as I dont think Chgo weather is weather for Verts. Pay a extra $10k for a Vert, no thanks.

So when my buddy and I made a deal for the Regal months ago and I knew he was serious. I got serious in my search for a donk. As most of you know I went to Miami for 4 days last month. Had a shit load of them lined up to look at and found either garbage or guys that wouldnt move off what I thought was too high of a price. Few that I thought were too high, have actually sold since then, so I'm thinking price wasnt too high. While in Miami I met this dude Josh and him and I clicked and became friends. Super cool white boy who is in to donks as well, not generally something you see white boys building. He told me he would keep his eyes and ears open and if close enough would do the leg work for me. But told me if he found something I would have to hi-tail my ass down there asap as when they are priced right they sell in hours. Just so happened we decided to go down to Orlando this weekend because we found $61 RT airfare and the biggest donk/g body show just was going on. Figured I might be able to buy something there. Called Josh to tell him we were coming down and if he planned on taking his car to Orlando. He said he might know of a 71 going up for sale with a motivated buyer. I said well fuck let me know asap.

Touched down in Orlando Friday night and had to be up early Saturday to cruise to Ft Lauderdale to see this 71. Pull up to this gated community with $1m+ townhomes and get buzzed in by security. Pull up to the house and she was sitting in driveway and looked as clean as the pics I was sent. Took it for a ride, BSing with Josh, my buddy Ralphy and the owner of the car. Talking about everything from sports to woman to cars. Come to find out this rich fuck is a collector and has 2 other 71's besides the one I bought, and just purchased another on top of 6-7 other cars he has. I guess the Wife has a rule, every time he gets a new one something has to go lol. While BSing I kinda feel him out and get the idea he doesnt want this car going to a black guy who is going to ruin it with big wheels and a LS swap lol. So I played my white privilege card with him. He was asking $25k and very easily had him down to $20k. My final offer was $17.5k and he said he would sleep on it. Told him if he agreed in the morning then it was his job to get it to Orlando before Sunday night. He woke me up about 8am saying the car was mine and was on the way to Orlando. He showed up, we exchanged cash and paperwork, took it off the trailer and parked it at my Airbnb. We were going out for the day/night, so I pulled the coil so the fucker wouldnt start in case someone wanted to steal it lol. Also backed it in so a tow truck would have a hard time stealing it as well.

Talked to a few of the Chgo guys down there for the show and got lucky as one of the haulers had room for me to get her home. Car was dropped off in Midlothian today at $how and Go Customz and turns out Playboy a friend of mine just opened that shop up. Does nothing but suspension and motor work. Talked pricing about shortening my rear end, coilovers all the way around, new axels and adjustable control arms to squat this car. Basically a "California Lean". Front end will sit at stock height with a 26" rim and the rear end will squat 3-4" lower. I have some 26" Billets but probably going to put new barrels on the rear rims. Right now they are a 5.5" lip and I want that 7" lip on the rear, hence the reason for shortening the rear end. Most of you think of Donk and think of those 71-76 sitting on fucking 4x4 suspensions with 30" wheels. Yes those are donks as well, but not the look I'm shooting for.

Shawn1112

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I need to subcontract you for these damn shops to go tell them to hurry up on my behalf. :bowrofl:

So what youre saying is I shouldn't ask your interior guy to do my seats?
He is actually moving to Texas and I think my car is his last full interior job. I got another guy, the one who is doing my vinyl top. (his shop is by that street with the hookers lol) He jut did my guys 72 Cutlass seats for $1800. That was front and rear seats and included new foam. He did them in the 442 style and they came out really good. I picked them up for my guy yesterday and forgot to take pics lol.
 

boostedguy05

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He is actually moving to Texas and I think my car is his last full interior job. I got another guy, the one who is doing my vinyl top. (his shop is by that street with the hookers lol) He jut did my guys 72 Cutlass seats for $1800. That was front and rear seats and included new foam. He did them in the 442 style and they came out really good. I picked them up for my guy yesterday and forgot to take pics lol.

Hmmmmm. My dad does need to start on his 72 cutlass vert.
 
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FESTER665

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He is actually moving to Texas and I think my car is his last full interior job. I got another guy, the one who is doing my vinyl top. (his shop is by that street with the hookers lol) He jut did my guys 72 Cutlass seats for $1800. That was front and rear seats and included new foam. He did them in the 442 style and they came out really good. I picked them up for my guy yesterday and forgot to take pics lol.
I have the new upholstery for the front seats, just need them to change it out, then need the rears recovered to match the fronts.....

Going to start looking soon so I'll hit you up once I get the rears pulled out this week.
 
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Shawn1112

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Shawn whats left with the painter?
Probably 5-7 business days worth of shit
Fix their fuck up on the passenger 1/4 panel
Adjust drivers door window
Adjust a few trim pieces
Check connections on my LED tails, drivers side not working
Wet sand/buff (he said about 30-35hrs for that)
Custom make and install the A/C lines.
Fog it to chase down exhaust leak that I cant find for the life of me
 
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Shawn1112

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Buckets all around, how are you supposed to lay her down in the back seat now?
Back seats arent true buckets, had him cut the center section out out of stock bench so we can run the center console all the way up.
Believe me, I will find a way to fuck in there
 

Nccstud

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Is this something you can make? Guy that originally did my sounds made the 2 pieces last year. But as you can see on that top panel the Impala logos aren’t even. Told my interior guy reuse them for now until I find someone to remake them.
What is that piece....acrylic? Shoot me a text if you want whenever and I'll get back to you when I can. 815.218.0873
 
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