To give your car the moniker “Certified Gangster” carries a lot of claim. It sends out a bold message, leaves plenty of room for scrutiny, but in the beginning – and even in the end – this ’64 definitely holds its weight. Still a legend in the game, still a certified OG, this 1964 Impala SS popped up in the show circuit just about a decade ago. The single piece bumpers, magenta paint and chrome undies immediately caught everyone’s attention and it got everyone wondering who the hell it belonged to? Well, the infamous ’64 Impala belonged to “Large” out of Leisure City, FL. As a member of Low Lyfe CC, the level and quality of his build was like nothing that had ever been produced in the East Coast and till today it remains a legend in the game.
Looking back in time, the only time I saw this car in person was about eight years ago at Bowtie Connection. I remember it vividly, I remember seeing it stuffed in the corner of the shop with a car cover on it and since then, it just about vanished. I never heard about the car again, never saw photos of it, and just like any legend, folks still talked about it, but it was hardly seen.
Certified Gangster was the first car from Florida to grace the cover of Lowrider Magazine and it went from being the center of attention to the realm of forgotten. Needless to say, I was walking through the hall at the Miami Lowrider Super Show and there it was in full glory. I walked around it for a few minutes, soaked in all the details, and just shook my head because it was still a work of art, and definitely worthy of all the hype it built up nearly a decade ago. In short, this ’64 is still a panty dropper and just like any real certified gangster, it’s earned its stripes, proven its worth and has every right to earn its title.
In closing all I can say is, “Large….pop your collars and drop the mic, because there’s no words necessary to explain the legacy you’ve built.”
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