Joe Burgasser's 1959 Chevrolet Impala

At the Compton Drive-In

The Burgasser Impala as it appeared on a used car lot in 1961. Sporting its signature Danube Blue Pearl paint, reversed side trim, and custom grille opening made from 3/4-inch conduit, the car was a radical expression of early 60s show car styling. Photo from The Dave Pettner Collection.

The rear of the Burgasser Impala featured 1959 Buick taillights set in custom rod and metal housings, with expanded metal grille inserts. Photographed on a used car lot in 1961, this Barris-built custom was up for grabs for $1,200. Photo from The Dave Pettner Collection.

1959 Chevrolet Impala owned by Joe Burgasser of Torrance, California. Burgasser had his Impala restyled by the legendary Barris Kustoms, and the build featured a number of signature custom touches that reflected the cutting-edge trends of the early 1960s.

One of the most distinctive exterior modifications was the reversal of the factory side trim, giving the car a sleek, streamlined profile. The door handles were shaved for a cleaner look, and the doors were operated by hidden micro switches, a popular custom trick of the time.

Up front, the stock grille was removed entirely. In its place, a custom grille opening was crafted from 3/4-inch conduit tubing. The conduit was carefully bent to match the contours of the opening, then welded into the fenders and grille shell, creating a seamless and futuristic face for the car. The rear of the Impala was treated to a matching design theme. 1959 Buick taillights were integrated into rod and metal housings, and the grille backing in the rear featured expanded metal with oval protrusions, mirroring the custom craftsmanship seen up front.

The step-by-step construction of the grille and rear modifications was documented by George Barris himself in Popular Hot Rodding July 1962, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at how the radical styling was achieved.

The interior was upholstered by Eddie Martinez, who covered the cabin, trunk, and hood liner in blue and white rolled and pleated leather. Martinez also fabricated a custom tarp to cover the rear seat area when not in use, adding a practical yet stylish touch. Special features included a half steering wheel and an in-car telephone, luxury details that elevated the car's futuristic vibe. The blue interior perfectly complemented the exterior, which was finished in Danube Blue Pearl and topped with 30 coats of hand-rubbed lacquer.

The Impala sat low over a set of deep-dish reversed chromed wheels, capped with knockoff hubs, completing the car’s show-stopping presence.

Photos developed in November of 1961 show the car sitting on a used car lot, up for sale. These color photos, shared with Kustomrama by Dave Pettner, show the car in full custom trim, gleaming in its Danube Blue Pearl finish. According to Dave, the asking price was $1,200. "Sounds cheap," he recalled, "but you could buy a new car for $1,800. Twelve hundred dollars would have been a dream to me. I was only making about $200 to $250 a month." Dave also noted that despite the booming custom car scene, there were still a lot of financial struggles in the U.S. after World War II.

Magazine Features

Hot Rod November 1960
Trend Book 197 Custom Cars 1961 Annual
Popular Hot Rodding July 1962