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To quote the band War, "the lowrider is the one to meet". For almost
one hundred years, lowriders have been not only the one to see, but the one
to meet. Stemming from an old Mexican ritual called paseo which made horses
the utmost symbol of prestige, lowering stock cars to almost sidewalk level
and customizing them dramatically has evolved into the same sort of symbol of
status.
From Mexico to Los Angeles to Chicago to the rest of the world, the art of
customizing a stock car into a lowrider has been an evolution. In the 1940's
lowriders only graced the streets on Sundays. As their popularity began to grow
lowriders not only became more plentiful but they became the vehicle of choice
for anyone who wanted attention and accolades and cruised the highways on a
daily basis.
George Barris became the early face of lowriders by combining his creativity
with his passion for cars and developing one of the first businesses to customize
lowriders for sale. George and his brother, Sam, used their expertise in body
work to straighten fenders, bolt on accessories, and use paint schemes that
were unheard of during that time. Lowrider creations from the Barris brothers
flourished into a very lucrative business. George used his business sense to
introduce lowriders to Hollywood which resulted in not only the use of lowriders
in many well known movies such as High School Confidential, but it also helped
him "become the person" to contact when Hollywood stars wanted to
transform their personal vehicles into lowriders.
The original lowrider artists focused mainly on customizing Chevrolet cars
because they were less expensive than other manufacturers' vehicles at the time.
Today, any brand, make, or model vehicle is fair game to become a lowrider.
The art of creating a lowrider has also evolved well beyond using heavy weights
and chopping springs to bring the body close to the ground. Modern lowriders
feature hydraulics which not only raise and lower the car, but also make it
hop, and tilt it from side to side.
By today's standards, the modifications the Barris Brothers made famous with
their business Kustoms of America, look pretty minor. Today's lowrider can feature
triple dipped chrome accessories, gold plating, spectacular paint schemes, twin
side pipes, spot lights, and everything from wire
wheels to spectacular
chrome spinners. The same pride which motivated early Mexican horse owners
to sacrifice their own necessities in order to put more glitz into their horses,
still drives modern day lowrider owners to spend a small fortune to craft a
vehicle which is a tremendous source of gratification.
Exploding from early Mexican-American Sunday cruising to become rap video
stars and the utmost way to display cool-status with a car, lowriders have come
a long way from their modest beginnings. Back then it only took a little effort
and a little time to create a lowrider vehicle which would turn heads. Now lowrider
enthusiasts spend thousands and thousands of dollars along with countless hours
of body work and modifications to create their show-stopping lowrider masterpieces.
The methods may have changed, but the madness is the same the lowrider is the
one to meet!