Rowdy Friends Comin' Over

For the past 4 years if you were to ask Max Ornelas what he had planned, he'd tell you all my rowdy friends are comin' over tonight. Now it's not quite in the sense of breakin' out the moonshine, tellin' lies, and callin' up the women. It's more like him, a few friends, and his two sons slavin' away on a '64 Malibu Convertible. Which still isn't a bad way to spend a Friday or Saturday night.

One day while cruising down the highway Max happened to pull up next to a '64 Malibu convertible. For kicks Max asked the owner if he was interested in selling the Malibu. To Max's surprise the owner said, "Actually, yeah I am." Ornelas bought the car on the spot and finally Max had the car he had always wanted since the day he turned 16. Well actually the way the Malibu sat wasn't exactly Max's dream car. Therefore, he hit the drawing board. What he came up with was the fact that he loved the original bodylines of the Malibu, but figured he would do things his way when it came to the engine, interior, wheels, stance, and so on.

Ornelas and his sons Max, Jr. and Jonathan ripped the car apart and began the 4-year build. Max, his two boys, and friends Saul Santana and Tony Urias decided they would tackle the mechanics of the car. For the most part the mechanics of the frame were pretty much left stock, besides the Air Ride Technologies system. However, the frame was completely detailed and powdercoated. The newly revamped frame then received a Chevrolet 454 big-block. For some added excitement the crew installed a 150-shot Edelbrock Nitrous System to the rat. Backing the motor is a 700-R4 transmission and a 12-bolt rearend.

While Max and company were handling their part of the build, Tony's Body Shop in Baldwin Park, California, began massaging the body. Once it was time to lay down some coats of paint, only one color came to Max's mind, House of Kolor Tangelo Pearl. Tony's finished up the paint job and then the body was dropped back on the old but new chassis. The Malibu was then dropped off at Rojelios Auto Upholstery in Baldwin Park. Rojelios covered the seats and door panels in tan suede leather. Then Rojelios handcrafted a custom center console and trunk for the Malibu. The Malibu was finally done; all that was left was to break her in.

Max and the family took the car out for a spin and immediately every member of the family fell in love with the Malibu. In fact they loved the car so much Max is currently building a '65 Malibu Convertible for his wife Ivonne, and a '64 Malibu Convertible for his son Max, who will get the keys when he graduates in 2 years. I guess you could say what once started as all his rowdy friends comin' over turned into a family tradition.