Jay Leno Floors Travis Barker’s 495-HP 1959 Impala And Wakes Up A Sleeping Bruiser
Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker recently rolled into Jay Leno’s Garage with something almost as loud and attention-grabbing as his day job. His black 1959 Chevrolet Impala convertible stretches across the pavement like a customized land yacht, complete with wire wheels, a Continental kit, and enough polished metal to create its own weather system.
It also hides nearly 500 horsepower under the hood. That becomes extremely important once Jay stops admiring the paint and puts his right foot down.
Travis Barker Gave His Impala Two Personalities
The 1959 Impala featured a wild one-year-only body design with enormous horizontal fins, a dramatically sculpted rear, and enough length to occupy several ZIP codes. Travis bought this example as a stock Texas car and kept the beautiful black paint exactly as it was.
The factory 14-inch wheels were replaced with Dayton wire wheels, while the Continental spare-tire kit makes an already enormous car look even longer. Adjustable suspension allows Travis to drop the body close to the ground when parked, delivering the proper lowrider stance without forcing him to scrape his way across Los Angeles.
Inside, the car retains a mostly factory appearance, but Travis replaced the enormous original steering wheel with a smaller version. The change gives the driver more room and allows his wife to turn the car without entering an arm-wrestling competition.
Its Old 348 V8 Has Been Replaced By An LS3
The original 348-cubic-inch V8 is gone. In its place sits a modern LS3 that Travis believes produces approximately 495 horsepower. The conversion also includes Wilwood brakes, Vintage Air conditioning, and a MagnaFlow exhaust that stays relatively quiet until somebody gets greedy with the throttle.
Travis wanted a classic that could travel anywhere without carburetor drama or worries about an engine approaching its 70th birthday. The LS3 delivers modern reliability while preserving the car’s old-school appearance, creating what he calls “two personalities, one cruiser, one bruiser.”
Jay discovers the bruiser during the road test. The Impala accelerates far harder than its enormous proportions suggest, prompting him to bury the throttle more than once. It still floats down the road like an old Cadillac, but now it can wake up and move whenever a Porsche appears in the mirrors.
This Impala Connects Travis Barker To His Childhood
Travis grew up around Chevrolets and Cadillacs in Fontana, California. His father worked at Kaiser Steel and usually kept one running Cadillac alongside several broken cars waiting for attention. He also rode a Harley, although Travis says his childhood drum practice was still considerably louder. The neighbors apparently agreed and regularly called the police.
That upbringing explains why Travis gravitates toward big American cruisers. His current collection includes a 1960 Cadillac, a 1962 Impala wagon, a 1963 Impala convertible, a Buick GNX, multiple Chevrolet K5 Blazers, and a K10 pickup. He is also trying to locate the 1982 square-body truck he previously owned.
Jay contributes his own 1959 Impala memories and offers one valuable convertible tip. Owners should store the car with its roof raised to keep the material tight and prevent creases or damage around the rear window.
Travis may be famous for producing chaos behind a drum kit, but his Impala demonstrates surprising restraint. It looks beautifully period-correct, cruises comfortably, and keeps its serious firepower hidden until needed.
Then Jay floors it, the LS3 clears its throat, and the peaceful boulevard boat suddenly remembers it has 495 hp.
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