Story: Michael Crenshaw

Photography: Andrew Link

In the Donk world (fifth generation), there’s an easy way to discern between the years by looking at the aesthetic features on the outside of the car. The 1972 cars had grilles extending below the bumper; the ’73 had an all-new and larger front bumper to compensate for crash testing; the seven-four also went through refreshes with the grille and headlights. The ’70s Impalas were changing quickly to better suit the market, and just like those days, the new crop of Imps is ever-changing to keep up with the competition.

This fine example of the ’73 model year is laden with orange bits all over. It’s a citrusy wet dream (look at that Kandy tangerine paint) that continues from the outside in. Sudamar’s custom paint job is obviously the overwhelming feature, with the exception of the 30-inch Forgiato Giratos taking center stage. Inside the cabin, Elegance Interiors of Miami suited up four of the bucket seats with custom orange suede and leather, using the suede and leather as opposing materials to set off the seating surfaces. It’s like the love child of Tron and Transformers. Bolstering the seats’ appearance is a Chevy emblem cut-out in the middle console, which also houses four MMATS subwoofers. A digi-dash, a custom Forgiato steering wheel, a JVC head unit and an MMATS equalizer all finish off this exceptional interior.

Though there were roughly 550,000 Impalas/Caprices built in 1973 and countless modified throughout the scene, there’s a place for this Kandy crusader inside these pages based on its tenacity to push the envelope, and that makes it one in a million.

Spec The Technique:

Year/Make/Model: 1973 Chevrolet Caprice Convertible

Performance: Engine build and design by Harvey Sears at GTJ Racing; 427 small block, 4-inch stroke 4.125 bore; Dart 230 cylinder head; CNC pump roller cam; 705 intake, exhaust; 950 CFM carburetor; 350-shot nitro; 400 transmission; 3-inch Dynamite exhaust system; 4.10 gears, rear end, top and bottom; adjustable arm

Exterior: House of Kolor Kandy Burnt Tangerine paint by Sudamar’s New Finish Paint & Body Shop; orange cloth top; custom Forgiato grille

Interior: Four custom orange leather and suede bucket seats; custom fiberglass dashboard, panels and center console with Chevy logo; chrome Forgiato steering wheel; Dakota Digital gauges

Ice: JVC KW-AV71BT head unit; one MMATS MP-5 equalizer, 16 tweeters, 14 eight-inch speakers, four 12-inch subwoofers, five amplifiers; Apple iPad

Wheels/Tires: 30-inch Forgiato Girato-L wheels; Carbon Series CS88 tires, 255/30/30; custom-painted Burnt Tangerine with chrome Forgiato lettering on lip of rims

Shout-Outs: Special thanks to Matthew Bethel and Sudamar’s New Finish Paint & Body; Harvey Sears at GTS Racing; WTW Customs; Ace Whips; Harold and Edwin at Elegance Brothers