Rita Brena’s 1962 Chevrolet Impala

Diehard Los Angeles Lakers fan Rita Brena recently watched her basketball hero, Kobe Bryant wrap up his illustrious 19-year career. Season after season she has supported and cheered on her favorite player.

Another career that she has been following is her father’s, who has been a member of New Class Car Club for about 30 years. For a better part of that time, she has been accompanying him to car shows and helping him build his lowriding masterpieces. “New Class has been a family to me,” Rita says. So it was only natural for her to one day build a lowrider of her own. What a way to blend both her favorite things than to build a lowrider paying homage to her favorite player with the help of her dad, Jesse.

Rita’s 1962 Impala was first outfitted with a 350 Chevy small-block with upgraded cam and new 700-R transmission, along with custom Nascar-style exhaust system. From there, it was off to Jesse Brena, at New Class Shop, who covered the car in a two-stage midnight Black with Laker Purple adorning the side trim. Bugs, of Phoenix, was then called in to add accenting pinstripe lines, which flowed along the vehicle’s body lines. Zavala upholstery, in Yuma, Arizona, installed a black suede, tweed, and vinyl interior adorned with stitching of Kobe Bryant’s signature and Black Mamba snake logo embroidered into the seats and doors. A set of custom midnight black and chrome Galaxy Wire Wheels with Black Mamba logo emblems were then mounted onto 155/80-13 whitewall, radial tires. Jesse would also install the double-pump airbags special ordered from Universal Air.

“The lowriding industry is still very much male dominated,” Rita says. “And though, more often than not women’s roles are reserved and in the background, today women’s participation in this culture is no longer to be skimpily dressed and modeling in front of cars. We are active contributors in building these cars. I love when someone is admiring my car and asks who the owner is. I am privileged to say ‘Me!’ Seeing that look of surprise, especially on a guy’s face, is a proud feeling. Today women are capable of building a car just as exceptional and eye catching as any man.”

1962 Chevrolet Impala

Nickname
Black Mamba

Owner
Rita Brena

Car Club
New Class

City/State
Yuma, AZ

Engine
350 small-block with upgraded cam and 700-R transmission

Upholstery
Zavala upholstery in Yuma, AZ, installed the black suede, tweed, and vinyl interior, complete with Kobe Bryant’s signature and Black Mamba snake logo embroidered into the seats and doors.