PHOTOGRAPHY BY NOTSTOCK PHOTOGRAPHYor the past several years, Eugene Bothello’s 1959 Chevy, built at BBT Fabrications, has appeared at Goodguys, the Grand National Roadster Show, the Triple Crown of Rodding, and twice at Barrett-Jackson Auction (Scottsdale, Arizona). That doesn’t include the roughly seven appearances in Modern Rodding magazine, including the Sept. ’24 cover, showcasing its metal finish. Much like family, we’ve watched this Impala Sport Coupe evolve into something Chevrolet Motor Division would have been proud to produce. Yet, it wasn’t GM but the talent and guidance of Troy Gudgel and the team at BBT Fabrications that allowed us to witness the entire process. It’s rare for cars of this caliber—creativity, imagination, skill, and budget—to be followed from their inception to their debut, but we were fortunate enough to see this process with the 1959 Chevy Impala. We’ve included several links on page 50 to the Modern Rodding website, allowing you to go back and see “up close” exactly what it took and what was changed from the original build over 65 years ago.
Back in March of this year, the Impala became a finalist for the 2026 Vintage Air Custom Rod of the Year award while attending the Goodguys Spring Nationals in Scottsdale. (The Impala is now among what will eventually be 12 regional finalists. The Top 12 winners will be chosen online in October, with a specialty display available in person in Scottsdale at Goodguys November 20-22, 2026.)
Getting this power rearward involves a GM 8L90E eight-speed automatic transmission, routed through its gears via a GM 8/10-speed shifter and an Intek/Otto shift adapter. (Adapter accepts any standard shift knob, allowing for a modern shifter in any early car while maintaining the classic look.) Next, the trans is paired with an Inland Empire aluminum driveshaft, ultimately delivering power to a Moser 9-inch rearend equipped with a Detroit Truetrac, a helical-gear limited-slip differential, spinning 4.11 gears, and 31-spline axles.
The body is built from 1959 Chevy Impala sheetmetal with extended rocker panels. It features new floorplans, widened wheeltubs, extended lower quarter-panels, a rear valance, and custom-built, tucked front and rear bumpers. The factory hood keeps its original skin, but the underside highlights BBT custom metalwork. All the custom metalwork, along with body prep and paintwork, was done by BBT Fabrications. The paint and final bodywork were completed by Relic Restomods, using PPG paints in a custom Twilight Blue mix. (Did you know that “Twilight” is the soft glowing light from the sky when the sun is below the horizon? Photographers call this “sweet light,” which is perfect for shooting car features.) IntekOtto was also chosen for the side mirrors.
Moving inside, we notice that the dashboard retains its factory upper sheetmetal, but the lower section is entirely crafted by BBT Fabrications. Dakota Digital RTX-59C-IMP (direct-fit) gauges, which resemble factory units, are installed here, while the lower part of the dash houses the Vintage Air vents and switches for the headlights and windshield wipers. The center console contains a pair of pods that hold additional controls: the stereo controls closest to the firewall and the Vintage Air A/C controls nearest the shifter. The steering column is an Ididit unit fitted with a 15-inch wheel (cut down from 18 inches). The IntekOtto shifter is topped with a custom-machined cap. The seats feature custom buckets in front and a split bench in the rear. Cato’s Custom Upholstery did an excellent job with the stitching, using Cognac-colored Moore and Giles leather, accented by Seat Belt Planet lap belts.
Stay tuned, as we are sure that Eugene’s 1959 Chevy Impala with lots of BBT Fabrications craftsmanship will be making the rounds again this summer. But this time it will be in “full force” with its subtle color and stunning interior.
