Dave Prey's 1963 Chevrolet Impala - Cherry Heering

The first version of the Cherry Heering photographed at an indoor car show in 1968. At the time, it was owned by Dave. Photo from The Howard Gribble Collection.

A later version of the Cherry Heering as it appeared after Walt had given it a vail paint job. Dave's father, Ralph, owned this version, and the photo was developed in April of 1969. Photo from The Howard Gribble Collection.

According to Billy Cooke, Dave's childhood friend, the Prey's was a real car family. Cooke recalled that the Cherry Heering was their mother Muriel's daily driver. He also recalled that Ralph had a cool Falcon and an even cooler 1949 Ford Coupe that was hopped up with a Mercury flathead and 3-2s. Photo from The Howard Gribble Collection.

1963 Chevrolet Impala originally owned by Dave Prey of Inglewood, California. Dave's Impala was known and shown as the "Cherry Heering."

Dave is the younger brother of the legendary pinstriper and custom painter Walt Prey. While many celebrate Walt for his iconic work on the Gypsy Rose, his roots trace back to the South Bay, where he earned the moniker "Kid Striper." In those formative days, the Prey driveway in Inglewood was a hub of creativity. With a brush in his hand, Walt turned ordinary cars into dazzling works of art.

A photo of the Impala that Howard Gribble developed in April 1968 captures an early version of the car. Back then, it was owned by Dave, and it sported a custom paint job by Walt and Dave Kent of Kent's Customs. A year later, the Impala had been given a makeover, and it featured a vibrant vail paint job by Walt, further cementing the Prey family's indelible mark on custom car culture. The vail version was owned by Dave's father Ralph.

According to Billy Cooke, Dave's childhood friend, the Prey's was a real car family. Cooke recalled that the Cherry Heering was their mother Muriel's daily driver. He also recalled that Ralph had a cool Falcon and an even cooler 1949 Ford Coupe that was hopped up with a Mercury flathead and 3-2s.