Owning and building custom classic cars is a dream of many automotive enthusiasts, but plenty of factors keep many people from pursuing that dream. However the staff of Hot Rod desired to prove that having a sweet classic ride doesn’t have got to cost a fortune. With the assistance of some friends and hosting a “party” Hot Rod magazine associate editor Jesse Kiser and his friends and co-workers re-painted a 1967 Chevrolet Impala, with the assistance of Summit Racing.

If you’ve ever visited an expert paint shop, they’re equipped with hundreds and hundreds of bucks worth of specialised equipment, from sprayers, mixers, ovens, and other equipment to handle the high volume of custom and service work they need to care for. But if you’re only doing a one-shot or occasional paintjob, a brief setup will do the trick. Just following some simple prep tips will ensure an expert-looking job for an affordable price.

After an unpopular vinyl flame wrap over white, then followed by an excellent more unpopular yellow-green matte finish, the Impala finally got the look it deserved all along, a classic hot rod red. Kiser and the new Rod crew couldn’t be happier.

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