Kobe Bryant’s 1963 Impala sold for more than $220,000 at auction

Kobe Bryant’s old 1963 Chevy Impala, which was a Christmas gift from his wife Vanessa and once featured on MTV’s “Pimp My Ride,” was sold for a hefty price tag at an auction on Monday.

The car, which was initially listed at $100,000 at Goldin Auctions, was sold for $221,400 on Monday. West Coast Customs, which is perhaps best known for its association with the MTV show Pimp My Ride, stripped the rust-free Chevrolet Impala body down and sandblasted it to the bare metal before covering it in a shiny paint mixture of purple and royal blue. The shop also refinished the chrome exterior trim at this time and installed new glass, moldings and weather stripping.

This is a true lowrider, so naturally, it features a “comprehensive hydraulic system,” with Pro Hopper pumps, front and rear hydraulic cylinders, eight solenoids and eight batteries, among other related equipment. It of course has the quintessential lowrider wheel setup, as well: 13-inch Dayton wire wheels with 155/80R13 Reliant Super Ride whitewall tires.

 

West Coast Customs also gave the interior a complete overhaul, installing all-new white leather upholstery with embedded genuine Swarovski crystals and royal blue piping and new thick pile carpets. In addition to basketball, Kobe Bryant was also a big music enthusiast, so Vanessa also had the shop install a trunk-mounted stereo system with a pair of trunk-rattling subwoofers and a Sony amplifier.

 

The original 327 cubic-inch V8 engine remains in Bryant’s 1963 Impala, but has been completely rebuilt and now features Edelbrock headers and various other billet accessories. The front brakes were also converted to a power disc setup, while a tachometer and power tilt steering wheel were added for improved driver confidence and comfort.