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