A massive collection of Kobe Bryant memorabilia is crossing the auction block, one year after his sudden death. Included in the collection is one of his most prized cars, a custom 1963 Chevy Impala lowrider.
One year ago, NBA legend Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash above the hills of Calabasas, California, along with eight other people, including his 13-year-old daughter GiGi. Authorities determined that the Sikorsky S-76B helicopter was not equipped for flying in low visibility conditions, and that the pilot had ignored warnings of taking off in heavy fog, which left him flying in the blind.
Goldin Auctions is currently selling a Kobe Bryant memorabilia lot, including signed sneakers, t-shirts and rings, with benefits going to the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation set up by Vanessa Bryant, Kobe’s wife, after the tragedy. Also in the lot is the 1963 Impala, though whether proceeds from its sale would go to charity as well is not mentioned.
It is a truly gorgeous, one-off piece of machine, with plenty of history to go with it. All custom work on it was done by West Coast Customs, famous even to non-car enthusiasts for their involvement in the reality series Pimp My Ride, starting with a solid, rust-free 1963 Impala that Vanessa had bought specifically for the occasion. She wanted, the listing says, the “ultimate lowrider.”
WCC rebuilt the original 327cid V8 engine, installed hydraulics, and finished it off in a multi-coat paint finish of purple and royal blue mix, created by House of Kolor. The interior is just as stunning, in purple and white, with royal blue carpets, with real Swarovski crystals embedded into the seats and the carpets (there’s a number 8 in each of the footwells).
All glass was replaced, the brightwork was “fastidiously” re-chromed, and a custom sound system was installed in the trunk, the listing further notes. The odometer reads 24,729 miles (39,800 km), and the car is overall in impeccable condition, “boast[ing] connections to one of professional basketball’s all-time greatest legend and personality.”
The custom lowrider was offered to Kobe as a Christmas gift in 2006, and it remained in his possession until 2013. It was sold to its current owner at auction in 2014. Goldin Auctions estimates it will now fetch $250,000, given its celebrity pedigree and condition. The current auction ends on January 30, after which the new owner will have to make his or her own arrangements for getting this gem to its new location, from Indiana.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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