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