The History of Lowriders

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