More Highlights from The Grand National Roadster Show 2025

1959 Chevrolet Impala “Smooth Criminal”

Sometimes, the right car finds you, and when it does, you don’t question it—you just make the deal and get to work. That’s exactly how it went down for Francisco “Cisco” Franco when he got the call from Kita Lealao, better known as Big UCE. When Kita told him he’d found the ’59 Impala of his dreams, Cisco thought something had to be wrong. Turns out, the only thing wrong would’ve been not jumping on the deal. The seller was willing to part with it for a steal, but only to the right person, and thanks to Kita, Cisco was that guy. Before the car even arrived in his driveway, offers were rolling in at double what he paid. But some things aren’t about the money. Some cars are meant to be yours.

With a name like Smooth Criminal, you know this ’59 wasn’t going to be just another lowrider. Cisco wanted a driver—something that turned heads but still let him and his family cruise without a trailer in sight. The tuxedo black and polo white paint stays true to GM’s original style, but the murals by Sunny the Artist give it that unmistakable Smooth Criminal vibe. Under the hood, the small-block 350 gets a fresh breath with an Edelbrock intake and carb, billet goodies, and an MSD ignition system. The stance? Just right, thanks to airbags out back and a rebuilt front suspension with StopTech 8-inch disc brakes. Sitting on 13-inch 72-spoke Zeniths wrapped in Coker 5.20s, this thing is every bit as smooth as its name. Cisco might’ve gotten a deal that felt like grand theft auto, but this car wasn’t stolen—it was meant to be.