Australia is home to plenty of iconic wildlife, but one of the its latest attention-grabbing creations is a very different kind of beast.
Brisbane-based installer DriveSound has completed a full audio upgrade on a 1963 Chevrolet Impala, combining classic American styling with a modern high-end sound system featuring equipment from Focal, Audison and Image Dynamics.
The specialist is known for its bespoke installations, with a focus on integrating premium audio systems into everything from European luxury vehicles to unique enthusiast builds. For the Impala, the goal was to deliver serious sound quality while respecting the character of the classic vehicle.
The finished system includes Focal 165KX2 component speakers in the front doors and Focal 165KE2 component speakers mounted in the rear parcel shelf, creating a detailed front stage and balanced cabin sound.
Low frequencies are handled by a pair of Image Dynamics IDQ10-D2 10in subwoofers, while amplification comes from Audison’s Forza range, with an AF M18.14 bit multi-channel DSP amplifier controlling the system and an AF M1D mono amplifier dedicated to the subwoofers.
An Audison DRC AC digital remote controller provides convenient system adjustment, while an Out of Sight Bluetooth audio receiver brings modern connectivity to the 60-year-old Chevrolet.
The installation also features Stinger cabling and distribution, alongside STP (Standartplast) sound deadening to reduce unwanted vibration and improve the overall acoustic environment.
DriveSound said: “Apart from a final tune, our latest project, this '63 Impala, is all done. Some primo quality equipment and a tasty install all add up to an amazing system.”
The DriveSound team is used to working across a wide range of vehicles, including Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Aston Martin and other premium marques, and says that product selection is only part of creating a great system, with installation quality and integration playing an equally important role.
The Impala shows how classic cars can benefit from modern audio technology without losing their original character, proving that even a six-decade-old cabin can become a serious listening environment.
If you’re inspired to build something similar in the UK, Stinger and Focal products are available through distributor Midbass, while Audison is distributed by Four Car Audio. Image Dynamics and STP are currently harder to source, with no official UK distributor. Finding a 1963 Impala, however, may prove the biggest challenge.
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