History Low Riders, Zoots Suiters and "Pachucos"

Most true lowriders seem to still use hydro's.

 

Someone I respect says it this way. We all like the same thing in different ways.

 

I went to San Diego High in the late 70s early 80s and as a white boy I was a minority. But since I was into cars it didn't matter in the auto shop . I didn't care if it was a hot rod or a low rider. I pulled out a few small blocks and installed six cylinders in there place for gas milage . Also swapped 235s in place of 216s. Mounting 5.60 14s on wide true spoke wheels was always an adventure. We were all car guys and some are still my friends to this day. The most scared I have ever been in a car was in the back seat of a lowrider going north on the I 5 ... A guy from a different club pulled up next to my buddy Ceasar at 70 mph driving a Cadillac and dropped his front crossmember onto the pavement and a shower of sparks ensued... Apperently that is a big insult and Ceasar starts Hopping this bitch on the freeway at 70 mph. All I could see was the freeway and the sky over and over while the car was changing several lanes I'll take a ten second Drag car any day. But these guys are a riot to hang out with!

 

I was just working at a shop that dealt with lowriders 95% of the time. Hydros, grocery bags and "hamnered" static drops were all used.

 

Not true.

 

I guess for me the a lowrider is a low stance but the trim isn’t removed like most customs. There are some exceptions to that and some that fit both lowrider and Kustom vibes.
Lots of accessories, chrome, stockish bodies.
Wires are prevalent but so are hubcaps.
Astros Supremes are popular.

 

The black one you posted?
I’m no expert either, but if your talking about the black merc you posted, I think you could cruise that to a “lowrider” event.

 

I think ya might be pleasantly surprised.

 

I'd drive it to one with full confidence that I would see open arms.

 

Back in the late 70s / early 80s, Cragar S/S wheels were popular and you still see them today on lowriders

 

I noticed these OE gm wheels on this one

 

I get the impression that the lowrider community is much more open minded and welcoming than a lot of other car cliques.

 

That has been my experience.

They even put up with me!

 

A few from this years Sacramento Autorama.

 

https://kustomrama.com/wiki/Tats_Gotanda's_1959_Chevrolet

 

Love this.

 

A lot of the vehicles being posted aren't really low riders. They are customs.

 

I love the lowrider scene. Trying to define one is as controversial as drawing a line between a hot rod a street rod and a rat rod. Dig back into the early 70s and before and there's no real hard line between customs, bombs, street machines etc. The lowrider as you see it today is an icon of the Chicano movement of the 70s. The stuff that came out of lowrider magazine especially in the 90s, rode the cultural slant real hard. on one hand that's great on the other it's a loose overview of what's really going on at the street level. It's fascinating to read about American automobile restyle history and get inspiration from it. Today lowrider,kustom,hot rod blends together more as we realize that it's us against those who'd want to take it away.

 

Low riders are customs.
So are hot rods.
The pics I posted all came from lowrider forums.
The older pics came from Kustomrama archives for hydraulics/lowriders or from articles on the history of lowrider/lowrider culture.

 

These pics all came from the same forum titled “Lowrider culture”
I’d trust their opinion over mine

This 56 kinda looks like something Larry Watson would paint.

building beautiful rides from cars hot rodders would call parts cars aka 4 doors

 

Here's a custom built by a Chicano that got refered to as a lowrider and a lowrider built buy a white dude that got refered to as a custom in a couple of newspapers of the day. Clear as mud.

 

True. Hydro a '61-'70 Chevrolet= Lowrider's that I was exposed to in the early '70's. Cragar's & pinners w/the occasional Supreme or real wire baskets.

 

I as a guy who liked the lowered cars of the 50’s in the Chicano neighborhoods seeing hoppers and 3 wheel cruisers of today is different territory. I don’t see the really low 30-40’s Chevrolets in the same light as all the late 50’s up ‘stink bug jumping cars’ of today. I appreciate their paint and enginuity but not much else.
Watching them on YouTube is entertaining bouncing into each other and catching fire but they don’t need to do that for me.

 

Some of the So Cal low rider cars amaze me with build/upholstery quality, as well as the finding and use of OEM and aftermarket (from back in the day) accessories. Where those guys find that stuff I don't know, but it sure makes for some interesting rides! I'm partial to static drop, though, not bags or hydraulics. JMHO

 

Woah! You got a front angle shot of this Hupmobile?

 

I wish.
All they had on that site
A search came up with this


Mmmmm

 

Couple drop tops