A motorcycle may give you the freedom to snake through traffic and release the pressures of life, but it’s also a great vehicle for self-realization. Just ask Michael Lang. As the owner of a Harley Davidson Heritage Softail, Michael Langi is no stranger to firing up the beast and taking it out for a weekend drive. Yet the drives that once brought him peace and tranquility, have now seemed to change its focus. Still peaceful, and still tranquil, Michael found himself thinking more about his kids and the time he could be spending with them. He thought about how great it would be to bring them along for the cruise to take in the scenery, and after just a few rides to ponder the idea, he knew that he had to get himself a classic car that could fit the fam.

“My first choice was to go for a ’51-53 Merc but they ended up being out of my price range” says Michael. Looking for options to keep the dream alive, he was lucky enough to have his friend Glynn help him locate the 1966 Cadillac Coupe De Ville he now owns and Michael said that it was literally “Love at first sight”.

At the time, the Caddy was in decent condition but the candy brandy wine paintjob was faded from sitting out in the sun. To bring it back to life, Michael tracked down the original painter, Oscar Ortiz, and had him strip it down for a fresh coat. But the mods didn’t end there, he wanted a completely different look so he opted for a new set of wheels, as well as an air bag setup to help lay this slab on the floor.

Fast forward to present day, and now he’s enjoying weekend cruises with his kids. Yet as he looks back in the rear view mirror, he sees not only his future, but the smiles and laughs of his family. Michael adds, “There is no greater feeling for me than to go for a ride and look in the rear view mirror and see my kids smiling and enjoying the compliments we get from people.”

In short, his kids are getting to immerse themselves into car culture all the while enjoying some quality time with the family and this is what lowriding is all about. Lowriding is about bringing together folks of all ages and races, and sharing our stories about how we got there and where we’re headed.

1966 Cadillac Coupe De Ville

Vehicle Nickname
Brandy

Owner
Michael Langi

City/State
Corona, CA

Club
Kronies SoCal

Engine
350-vortec

Body/Paint
Oscar Ortiz in Garden, CA used PPG Candy Brandy.

Suspension
Airbags

Interior
Stock

Sound
Pioneer stereo with JL Audio amps, JBL mids and JL Audio Subwoofers.

Wheels/Tires
American Racing Max Grundy VN478 Turbine with 20×8.5-inch in the front and 20×9.5-inch in the rear. Falken Tires FK453 with 245/35/20 in the front and 275/35/20 in the rear.

The post Riding a Classic Cadillac Coupe De Ville to Spend Time with His Kids appeared first on Lowrider.

It is 1951. Our now beloved I Love Lucy show was making its television debut and the groundbreaking color television was beginning its first test broadcast. It is this timeless moment in American history that Armando “Mando” Gonzalez, of Yuma, Arizona, wanted to recapture with his recently purchased 1951 Chevy DeLuxe. “I wanted to bring it back to as close to original as possible,” Armando says, “but with a little bit of that lowrider flare, of course.”

With a solid canvas to work with, Mando took on the task of the bodywork himself. The custom two-stage Midnight Black paintjob, as well as custom charcoal roof patterns, were laid down by Orlando of Perfect Color in Indio, California. Jose, of Krazy Kutting, would install the semi-original black-on-black interior. Beto, a close friend, would help out with the Sony Audio head unit and complete audio system. Sinister cross-laced 14×7 wire wheels were installed along with all the chrome plating for the finishing touches. With this project nearing completion, it was finally time for the heart and soul of this car to be rebuilt by Mike, of Mike’s Motors in Yuma. There, he would bring this car back to life by reassembling the original 1951 Chevy small-block. With all the hard work behind him, and feeling that “old-time” nostalgia, Armando found himself cruizing around looking for the nearest drive-in, just like they did back in 1951.

1951 Chevy DeLuxe

Owner
Armando Gonzalez

Car Club
Rollerz Only

City/State
Yuma, AZ

Engine
Original 1951 redone by Mike’s Motors in Yuma

Upholstery
Black-on-black, original stitching leather and cloth combination by Jose

Body/Paint
Perfect Color of Indio, CA, applied the two-stage Midnight Black and charcoal roof

Wheels/Tires
Sinister cross-laced, all-chrome wire wheels mounted onto Remington radial whitewalls

The post 1951 Chevy DeLuxe with a Lowrider Flare appeared first on Lowrider.

When it comes to styling and an imposing stance, the 1959 Impala is undeniable. Their distinct trademark fins flow with ease, and instead of going straight up like the tailfins of Chryslers of the same era, the tail on the 1959 flows at clean angles and makes its way back to the car in an exaggerated V-formation. Simply put, it would be hard to find a car with such historic and easily recognized lines because the 1959 truly is the mothership of classic cars.

Almost a full 2 inches longer than its predecessor, the 1959 Impala is what dreams are made of and the owner of this Impala can surely agree. After spending 20 years in the car game, Texas lowriding enthusiast—and lieutenant of state police—Jesse Valdez may have started off in the mini-truck scene but his heart was always set on a 1959 Impala.

So, after being referred to a lead by his good friend Carlos Salina, he ended up buying a fellow rider’s car in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Once back home, his first order of action was to unbolt the body to start a complete frame-off restoration that would span the length of four years. Inside this classic car is a time capsule that sports a classily restored interior that includes factory analog gauges and all the bells and whistles found in that year, make, and model.

For the suspension, Jesse went with 8-inch cylinders up front and 12-inch cylinders out back, thus keeping this winged beauty ready for whatever, and all at the flick of a switch. But what really gets us is the cleanliness and simplicity of his build. There’s something about a fresh and straight, single-color build that makes the chrome pop and the body lines stick out but ask if he’d change anything about his build and he’d be the first tell you that he would have chose another color than black.

But building up his Impala into what is today was no easy task, and in turn forged many great memories and friendships with the family and friends who helped him assemble his dream. The traditional ground-up restoration is finished off with the body being doused in layers and layers of black paint and the end result is a car that represents not only the lowrider community but also his fellow brothers and sisters from the West Texas USO Car Club.

1959 Chevrolet Impala

Vehicle Nickname
La Jura

Owner
Jesse Valdez

City/State
Lubbock, TX

Club
USO West Texas

Engine
350 engine with Edelbrock intake/carburetor, powdercoated air filter/valve covers, and aluminum radiator

Body/Paint
Axalta black

Suspension
CCE whammy pump, two dumps, two switches, six solenoids, four 31-series batteries, 8-inch cylinders in the front, and 10-inch in the back.

Interior
Original kit from Ciadellas

Sound
Alpine stereo with all Alpine speaker and amps

Wheels/Tires
13×7 OG Wire Wheels with 155/80R13 tires

The post A Texas Lieutenant Riding Clean in his 1959 Chevy Impala appeared first on Lowrider.

Miami show participants vividly remembered the last time LOWRIDER held a show in their hometown (which was roughly eight years ago), but since then, loyal lowriding fans seem to have held onto those great memories. Upon our return in 2016, one after another, I had people approaching me with a detailed recollection of that last show. They shared all the great memories, were happy that we made a comeback, but now I’m happy to say that they can now add some even greater memories to their memory bank.

Thanks to CuanThom Productions who helped execute the return of our show. The two-day show dropped bombs at the Dade County Fairgrounds, with well over 500 cars in attendance.

Coming out of retirement was the one and only “Certified Gangster.” This 1964 singlehandedly placed Miami’s lowrider scene on the map, and it did it in a major way. Now, some might argue about the magnitude of this build, but I’ll tell you firsthand that this has became one of the most famous cars to ever come out of the Sunshine State-and it’s a build that will go down in the history books.

In addition, Bobby Garcia brought out his 2015 LOWRIDER of the Year. Traveling all the way from Texas, his Cutlass took center stage in the main hall, along with a solid lineup of cars from Goodtimes Car Club right behind him. Adjacent to him was Bernardo Casian with his 1950 DeLuxe. The pink and white Chevy ended up taking home Best Bomb, and I’m sure that award alone was enough compensation to make the 45-hour drive worth his while.

Another California car that made the long road trip was “El Perrucho.” This ride came from Stockton and its owner Jeff Fisher couldn’t be happier with the love he received from Miami. And who could forget Johnny Salters’ 1956 rag-one of the cleanest sixes to have ever been built.

It should also come as no surprise that Florida car clubs rolled in deep, and boy let me tell you, they sure do produce quality rides as good as any other state.

The show packed a full house and it was great to have Miami Super Car Rooms sponsor the VIP lounge. The VIP lounge hosted free drinks, live DJ, bikini models, and a beautiful lineup that included a 1932 Rolls-Royce Bootch and 1935 Delahaye Pacific on display. The outdoor stage had the necessary source of entertainment that included live performances from Trick Daddy and DJ Laz.

Other highlights of the show include:

• 25th Street Riders showed up with a solid lineup, which included a red 1957 rag and a sand-colored 1964 standing guard and reppin’ on the front lines.
• Classic Angels had a small lineup of cars, but it’s key to mention that every ride was of quality, and that included a deep blue 1979 Continental and lavender big-body.
• Low Lyfe is a club made up of a mixture of lowrider and dub rides, and they came out deep with a kaleidoscope of colors. Their outdoor lineup was dripping in candy hues, and one of the highlights included their 2009 EXT that took home the Axalta “Outstanding Use of Color” award.
• As expected, the Miami USO chapter came out strong.
• Out-of-state clubs came with a vengeance and it was great to see clubs like Justified Riders from South Carolina and Obsessions from Atlanta, Georgia.

Needless to say, the 2016 Miami show was a success, so we’ll let the pictures do the talking.

The post 2016 LOWRIDER Miami Super Show appeared first on Lowrider.

The Grand National Roadster Show is a dream just to attend, but having your car on display is a whole different level. In short, the Grand National Roadster Show is reserved for the best of the best and it speaks volumes about dedication, patience, and craftsmanship.

“Busting out at the Grand Nationals and having my car showcased alongside my other LTD, which I call ‘True Blue,’ was the most memorable experience so far,” owner Rudy Sandoval says. Incredibly, the car you see before you only took two years and the end results are striking, phenomenal, and quite unreal.

With many cars being photographed in our studio, we’ll be the first to say that they’re all beautiful specimens, but the intricacies of this paintjob, and the color palettes used all work in perfect harmony to create a vision of depth, mystery, and power. It might also be the fact that it’s not your traditional 1963 or 1964 Impala, but a Ford LTD, and this was all done by design. For Rudy, he built this car to be different, while also reminding people of the beauty of Fords and their relevancy and influence in the world of lowriding.

Along with the help of his friend Sal Marquez, the LTD was brought back to life in the grandest of forms. Ray Customs built the suspension and it features all stainless hardlines, four pumps, four dumps, and four batteries, that are beautifully encased in a custom fiberglass enclosure, which is art in and of itself. The trunk setup is so far out of the norm that you can’t help but give him kudos for his creative vision. Far from the standard flat panels, which you usually find, it’s almost a sin to have a trunklid on the LTD.

Moving on inside, it’s safe to say that you might sh!t yourself. Executed by the gents at California Upholstery, it’s a translation of modern utility with traditional roots. The fiber-optic mood lighting found on the roof liner is sure to put a grin on your face, and the auditory excellence is controlled by a head unit that is in a custom fiberglass dash, surrounded by Dakota Digital gauges and a host of products from Apple and JL Audio. The fart catchers were all stitched in leather to perfection and to sum it all up, its inner beauty is as striking as it is outside—definitely no Kim Kardashian here.

Outside, the exterior was massaged and purified using a double D combo. The bodywork was done by Danny Galvez and the paint and pintsriping was done by none other than Danny D. Just looking at the details of the paintjob is enough to make you wonder how one human can lay down the details like that, and in all honesty it makes me feel like I have arthritis for Danny D. With countless hours of work in just the patterns alone, we couldn’t imagine how many miles of tape was used just to make this magic happen, but no matter how long it took this was definitely worth the wait.

In all, the car was inspired by the streets and to be appreciated by the masses. It’s also yet another fine example of what lowriding is all about and this car is sure to become one of the greats, and a case study car in the world of lowriding.

1976 Ford LTD Landau

Vehicle Nickname
Bad Blood

Owner
Rudy Sandoval

City/State
Los Angeles, CA

Club
Groupe SoCal

Engine
V-8

Body/Paint
Molded trunk, moonroof, and electronically opening and closing trunk. Multicolor Axalta paints were used

Suspension
Chrome whammy setup with 10-inch cylinders all around, four Delta dumps, four switches, four solenoids, and four hidden Optima batteries

Interior
Fiberglassed and candy-painted dash, Dakota Digital gauges, polished steering wheel, custom center console, Rolls-Royce starlight headliner, and the custom seats wrapped in leather

Sound
iPad head unit with JL Audio amps and speakers

Wheels/Tires
14-inch cross-laced Zenith with 520 Premium Sport tires

The post Rudy Sandoval Breaks Out His Bad Blood 1976 Ford LTD Landau appeared first on Lowrider.

The heart of any lowrider is the wire wheel. While some would argue that the candy paint, chrome, or flake is what truly defines a lowrider, the bottom line is you can do any of those mods, but without a set of wires it’s just NOT a lowrider.

For those of you who have been around long enough, you’ll probably be keen enough to know the 14-inch wire wheel and 520 tire size has long been the “heart and soul” of the lowrider movement. Wire wheels are one of the main reasons we can lay our cars down low, and factually speaking, over the past 45 years, 520 tires have become the literal support system for thousands of lowriders across the world, which have collectively amassed millions of miles.

While the 520 may appear to be the same cosmetically, technologically it has evolved into something so much better than when it was first introduced. Today, the Coker 520 Premium Sport Tire has been the undisputed safest American-made lowrider tire anywhere in the world. The leader in collector vehicle tires and wheels, Coker Tire Company knows when it’s time to make a change for the better—even if it means improving something in their existing product line.

The new-and-improved Premium Sport tire is a testament to Coker’s devotion to customer satisfaction and it proves to be the ultimate choice for lowrider enthusiasts and collector car enthusiasts alike—and we’re not bragging, it’s a simple fact. The brand-new Coker Premium Sport features an improved eight-ply rating for increased load capacity and when it comes to safety and tread wear, well, they’re leading that segment as well.

Coker has long been committed to producing a quality, rolling product that supports the Lowrider movement. Always in stock and ready to ship, the retail price remains at $125 each, and the classic tread pattern provides a traditional look that provides excellent aesthetics and performance when it comes to traditional lowriders, bombs or customs.

Source

Coker Tire Company
(866) 516-3215
www.cokertire.com

The post Coker 520 Premium Sport Tire appeared first on Lowrider.

The post 2016 Denver Super Show Coverage appeared first on Lowrider.

Last summer I flew out to Montreal, Canada, for the 9th Annual Luxurious BBQ at George O’Reilly Park. As always, I was the early bird trying to get the worm, so when I spotted this 1985 Buick Regal sitting at the edge of the park, I knew I had found a winner.

The car belonged to Olivier B. Rozon of Luxurious. I approached him about shooting the vehicle and with a big smile, and the flick of a cigarette he said, “Sure. Hop on in.” Needless to say, we hopped into the G-body and drove it out to the other side of the park next to St. Lawrence River to shoot it.

With short resources to build a lowrider in Montreal, Olivier sought to build a car that was partially built to his likings. After searching through thick and thin, he found this 1985 Regal in Portland, Oregon, with its vermillion red flake paintjob, three-pump setup, and tan leather interior. He purchased the car after working out a deal with the Gary Anderson (the original owner) and had it shipped to Canada five years ago.

Since then, Oliver swapped out the original motor with a 350 that he has customized with aftermarket parts, such as an aluminum radiator, Optima battery, and Edelbrock carb and intake. He also made minor modifications to the interior. In all, it’s a solid car that’s been modded with some personal touches, and it’s yet another fine addition to the world of lowriding.

1985 Buick Regal

Vehicle Nickname
Taste of Kandy

Owner
Olivier B. Rozon

City/State
Montreal, Canada

Club
Luxurious

Engine
350 with Edelbrock carburetor/intake, aluminum radiator, dual-electric fans, and Optima battery

Body/Paint
Vermillion red with flake, striping, and leafing

Suspension
Three HiLow hydraulics pumps with eight batteries

Interior
Tan leather with orange tubing and buttons

Sound
Pioneer deck with Focal speakers and JL Audio subs

Wheels/Tires
13×7 OG Wire Wheels with 155/80/R13 tires

The post Cruising a Canadian G-Body Buick Regal appeared first on Lowrider.

If someone told me there was a body and frame of a 1964 Impala being sold for $1,000, I’d drop everything—including finishing this story—and scoop it up with speed. Aside from winning the lottery, that’s the stuff that dreams are made of, and I’m still waiting for one of those magical offers, but I’m pretty confident it’ll never happen. But Davy Bernabe of Azusa, California, was blessed to have scored that exact deal.

As expected, he paid the thousand, transported the Impala back home, and it sat in his driveway for four years while he showcased his 1983 Cadillac. As most of the stories go, he ended up meeting a local painter who agreed to paint his car, and the painter promised a spectacular job, so Davy sold a 1948 Chevy to sink the proceeds into the paint—and that’s exactly what happened. The car came back freshly painted, and in the months to follow, Davy soon realized that his hard-earned money would sink into the cracks and crevices of the paintjob that began to peel. Unhappy, unmotivated, and disappointed with the paint, the Impala was set aside to sit for yet another two years while he contemplated his next move. It’s a story that many of us have heard—and plenty have experienced—and that incident alone wasn’t enough to permanently curb his enthusiasm to finish off the car.

During his second attempt, the car was dropped off to Area 51, which came highly recommended by his friend Robert Reyes and this is what got the ball rolling once again. The Impala came back with stellar results, and it was doused in sheer perfection in a hue of Bermuda Blue. Happy with the results, the car was then sent directly over to Mike D from Majestics for patterns and a flake top, and once complete, he doubled up on the custom accents by sending it over to Edgar from Maxima Image for some custom mural work.

In total, the car is a looker that sports a classic look with a twist. The patterns, the pinstriping, and the flake magically disappear into the Bermuda Blue paint, but once just a shimmer of light hits the top, they all come back into play in a major way.

Inside, the interior flaunts a primarily stock upholstery scheme, but the use of Gucci fabric on the inserts adds a panty-dropping touch that’s sure to please. Auditory pleasure is brought to the occupants by way of a Pioneer/Fosgate system, and the shake, rattle and boom is provided by a pair of Fosgate F1 woofers, which are housed in a fiberglass enclosure and accented by the soul of his hydraulic system components that feeds the Adex (front) and Baby Adel’s (back) dumps. The entire hydro system is controlled by a four-switch system, which provides the front, back, and side-to-side action.

Classic, clean, and built to drive, this Impala definitely holds its own. It’s also proof that the pain, the patience, and the money put into building a classic car are all part of the process that keeps lowriding alive. Besides, there is no good without bad, and all the headaches makes us that much more appreciative of the final result and quality builds like this one here.

1964 Chevrolet Impala

Vehicle Nickname
Insatiable

Owner
Davy Bernabe

City/State
Azusa, CA

Club
Thee Artistics

Engine
350 engine with Edelbrock carb

Body/Paint
Dre at Area 51 Kustoms Inc. in Bellflower, CA, used Bermuda blue to paint the car. Mike D of West Coast Auto Body & Paint patterned the top while Edgar at Maxima Imagen added the murals.

Suspension
Davy and Oso Rivera installed the candy painted whammy pump with an Adex dump to the front, Baby Adel to the back, 8-inch cylinders in the front, 10-inch in the back and four batteries.

Interior
Covina Auto Upholstery brought the interior back to its stock state but with Gucci inserts.

Sound
ASAV in Azusa, CA, installed the Pioneer deck/mid-speakers and Rockford Fosgate amps and subwoofers.

Wheels/Tires
13×7 Zenith with 5.20s Premium Sportways

The post The Long Journey of a ’64 Chevy Impala appeared first on Lowrider.

There’s no point spending tons of money on a lowrider if you can’t get it to stop. Now, when it comes to building a lowrider (or any custom car for that matter), many of us are enamored with getting all the aesthetics in place yet fail to take care of the “hidden” and overshadowed mechanicals. I get it though, buying mechanical parts that are hardly seen by the general public seems like the last thing you’d want to do but if you take your investment seriously then you’ll want to make sure it can stop on a dime.

That said, Russell Brake Products has been producing a selection of brackets, hardware fittings, and brake lines that are unmatched. All of their products are technologically advanced, backed by years of research and design, and to top it off they are tested both in the lab as well as on the streets by millions of staunch supporters. In addition, their product line extends beyond the basics and also includes brake proportioning valves, brake bleeders, and a speed bleeder bag to make fluid changes a one-person job.

So after looking at their incredible lineup—and using their products far before I got to LOWRIDER—I’ve always been a fan and a customer, so I’m breaking down just a few of their key products and components that caught the eye.

Street-Legal Brake Hose Kits
All Russell lines for their street-legal brake hose kits are direct bolt-on. They provide the ultimate performance when it comes to braking and they also reduce brake hose expansion for more consistent braking. Featuring stainless steel braided hose with zinc-plated fittings, these brake hoses are factory assembled for convenient installation.

Competition Brake Hose Assembly
If you are looking for the ultimate brake lines, then be sure to scope out their competition brake hose offerings. These lines provide the ultimate performance and firmer pedal feel, and all units are constructed from high-quality stainless steel hose, featuring zinc-plated hose ends. You can choose from -3 or -4 brake hose from lengths of 9 inches up to 53 inches for your custom needs.

PowerFlex Brake Hose
Specifically designed for high-performance brake applications, PowerFlex brake hoses feature a combination of a PTFE inner liner with the corrosion and abrasion resistance of stainless steel braids for maximum pressure use. PowerFlex braided hose lines come in 3-, 6-, 10-, 15-, 20-, 50-, or in 100-feet length sizes if necessary.

Adapter Fittings & Hardware
Russell’s wide variety of lightweight aluminum adapter fittings allow for the connection of Russell hose ends to almost any component. Adapters are offered in standard thread, metric thread, and pipe thread with three finishes that are available: Ultra-Bright Endura, traditional blue anodized, or their new black anodized fittings. Retaining mounts, clamps, and proportioning valves are also featured for your view

Russell Brake Products E-clip Brake Line Retaining Mount.

These brake line clamps offer a professional and secure method of attaching brake hard line to a framerail. They are designed to work with 3/16-inch od hard lines.

Residual brake proportioning valves are manufactured from billet aluminum and anodized. They are adjustable up to a 60 percent pressure reduction. These valves include 3/8-inch -24 inverted flare hard line adapter and they utilizes anticorrosive brass internal components.

Proportioning valves eliminate spongy-pedal feel by retaining brake line pressure and keeping your pedal firm. The valve stops brake fluid from draining back into the master cylinder; this keeps your caliper pistons and brake shoes from fully retracting so your brake system stays primed without brake drag. The result is a firmer pedal that engages quicker and provides increased braking response. These residual valves are polished for great looks and available in 2 psi for disc brakes and 10 psi for drum brakes; drums require more pressure to compensate for return spring tension.

Straight hose ends.

Straight elbow hose 45-degree flare.

Straight hose elbow fitting.

Brass ferrules.

Banjo hose end.

Female fitting.

Male fitting.

Female inverted flare component and fitting.

Female fitting/nut.

NPT pipe thread fitting.

NPT pipe thread with a 45 degree.

Male “T” fitting.

Bulkhead fitting.

Male ends fitting.

Banjo-style fitting.

Banjo straight bolt.

Banjo bolt 90-degree angle.

Banjo bolt.

Flare 45-degree pipe.

Brake switch junction.

Through frame pipe fittings.

Be sure to check out their site for a complete catalog of parts because this was just an overview on the specific products that Russell Products can provide for lowrider builders. Please visit www.russellperformance.com.

The post Russell Performance Brake Products & Components appeared first on Lowrider.

During high school, Jose Luis Camacho worked at a local pizza parlor. It was his intent to save up as much as he could before going to tech school, and prior to leaving he was on a mission to purchase a truck—in specific, a truck that he had been eyeing down the street. A few years later, his father had found out about his plan, and even though Jose had the money ready he said, “Save your money, and take my truck.”

The truck he handed down was a 1984 GMC Sierra, which was purchased new by his father back in the day. With a new truck in hand, it even came with a few extras, which included a huge camper, bug deflector, and a set of off-road wheels. Happy to just have a vehicle, Jose wound up driving it as is, and began working on it one piece at a time. Since he was a fresh graduate, money was limited so he started putting in his own work.

He began modding the truck by making the roll pan, shaving the tailgate handle, and dropping the truck. As he kept working on it, he kept learning more and more until he finally decided to install an airbag setup and then paint it on his own. Along with his brother who worked a local stereo shop, the duo fed off each other’s knowledge and good vibes and collectively created a build that would continually evolve into different looks and phases.

Right now, the truck is on its seventh makeover and he’s already thinking about an eighth. “All of the looks had the street truck look to it but in 2014 I joined Xplizit Car Club and they had a different style,” Jose says. The mix style of lowriders and modern-day trucking really caught his eye and he’s steadily planning on another revamp, which we’re sure won’t be his last.

In what could easily be called the gift that keeps on giving, this truck is sure to become a staple part of the family and it’s a build that not only has history, but love infused into its bloodlines.

1984 GMC Sierra

Vehicle Nickname
Fearless

Owner
Jose Luis Camacho

City/State
Greenfield, CA

Club
Xplizit

Engine
Stock 350 with Mr Gasket chrome valve covers, Spectre cool air intake, and 40-series Flowmaster mufflers

Body/Paint
Modifications include Escalade frontend conversion, shaved tailgate, Cadillac taillights, motorized tilt frontend, suicide tailgate, Tiarra engraved grille and frenched in license plate. Jesus Soto used House of Kolor Candy Brandywine and Alan Signs added the ‘striping

Suspension
The suspension consist of ViAir compressors, 14-inch C-notch, nine switches, four Kinetik batteries, Rey slum specialties airbags, R-1 Concepts brakes, and DJM tubular arms.

Interior
Intrend in Salinas, CA, did the black and white gator stitching. Other interior modifications were fiberglass and painted dash, billet steering wheel, AVS billet and engraved mirrors, and fiberglass center console with monitors

Sound
Clarion 7-inch screen for a head unit, Sony amps, Pioneer 6.5-inch speakers four 10-inch Zapco subwoofers.

Wheels/Tires
16×10 2Crave number 4 rims with 255/25/26 Lionhart tires

The post A Customized GMC Sierra that was a College Gift appeared first on Lowrider.

The Los Angeles Convention Center was at one time the mecca of lowrider car shows. Although venues and times change, the people who would show and attend those events will always carry the passion they had to build their masterpieces. At age 16 Louie Villa Jr. found himself at the convention center displaying a Trans Am, which would take Best Paint and eventually receive a full feature in our magazine. As Jaime grew older his love of traditional lowriders would shift to motorcycles. This newfound passion led him to build a full custom bike, striving to capture some of the glory he had admired at such a young age.

This build would revolve around a custom 30-inch chrome wire wheel with engraving by Cadillac Jay. The plan was to lay frame, a task that few, if any, had achieved before. In order to do so, the entire body had to be fabricated, along with a new custom dash. With bodywork completed by Eddie Delahuerta, it was off to Bugs Auto Art in Mesa, Arizona. Once there, Chris Harwood covered the bike in an Oriental Blue Candy with Bugs adding layers of contrasting Blues, along with his signature pinstriping lines and silver leafing. Louie Villa himself would take on the task of installing the front/back airbag suspension, allowing the bike to lay all the way on the floor. While Pete Cisneros of Diversified Metals was completing all the chrome and polishing, Mike Estrada was busy installing the Fosgate stereo audio system, which includes an iPod docking station. Finishing touches would consist of a dual fishtail exhaust also engraved along with a projector system allowing videos to be displayed on either side of the bike. Louie’s hard work has allowed him to return to his glory days of years past, winning every show he entered, including Best Bagger of Las Vegas in 2015 and Builders Choice at the infamous Sturgis motorcycle rally.

“I’m glad to be back in the Lowrider scene,” Louie says. “Couldn’t be back without the help of friends and family, especially Nick of Hubcaps and Hotrods, Eddie Delahuerta, Bugs, Chris Harwood, Pete Cisneros, and Cadillac Jay. But most importantly, thank you to my wife and kids for helping me and supporting me throughout my latest build.”

2014 Harley-Davidson Road King

Nickname
Respect The King

Owner
Louie Villa Jr.

City/State
Surprise, AZ

Engine
2014 Harley 103

Upholstery
Hand sewn black leather stitched together with navy blue treading by Guy

Body/Paint
With bodywork completed by Eddie Delahuerta, Bugs Auto Art in Mesa covered the bike in a Candy Blue with Bugs adding various colors of pinstriping lines and silver leafing

Suspension
Front and back airbags installed by Louie Villa at Bagger King

Wheels/Tires
Custom 30-inch chrome wire wheels with engraving by Cadillac Jay

The post 2014 Harley-Davidson Road King – Show Winner appeared first on Lowrider.

Jeff Fisher of Traffic car club has been showing his 1969 Impala called “El Perrucho” all over the West Coast. As the Miami LOWRIDER Super Show approached, Jeff got the bug to go out there. He’d always wanted to go to Miami and this was the perfect excuse to go out there. The issue was that he was on the opposite coast and only had a couple of weeks to plan everything out if he wanted to make the trip. He decided to go for it. The first thing he did was to go out and buy an enclosed trailer, register and hit the road. After 59-hours of driving, he made it to Bowtie South in Miami were he offload and got ready for the show.

The ’69’s candy green paint under the lights attracted the crowd towards like a flies to a bug zapper. “Miami showed me a lot of love for brining the car to the show.” From spectators to celebrities like reality star Ted Vernon of South Beach Classics all approached Jeff to thank him for bringing the car. “The love I got from everyone made this trip well worth it for me,” explained Jeff. At the end of the show Jeff walked out with 2nd Place Best of Show Lowrider, 1st Place in its class, Best Interior, Best Graphics and the Customs Excellent Award. To celebrate, he hit the Miami streets for a little cruise in his show ride.

The Monday after the show, Jeff loaded up and headed back to Miami. He took advantage of the road trip to make a few pits stops. The main one was in Texas were he went to Gas Monkey Garage. There he met up reality start Sue from Gas Monkey Garage and Tom Smith of Misfits Garage. Before they knew it, they were pounding beers and going out to the bar. What was supposed to be a quick stop at the shop turned into a few days of hanging out, eating and drinking. “It was a great experience for me to hangout with them like if we were family.”

So far, its been four days and Jeff hasn’t made it back to Cali. We think he might be the new employee at Misfit Garage and we think he will fit in just fine.

The post Following Jeff Fisher from Stockton, CA to Miami, FL and Back appeared first on Lowrider.

If you remember coverage of Super Bowl 50, there was much to remember but one thing definitely stood out, and that was the orange 1963 Impala that was riding up and down the boulevard behind the scenes. With that image deep in thought, I decided to do a little research (aka Instagram stalking), and I was able to find out that the Impala belonged to man known as Rico Chips.

With a moniker like that, it didn’t come as s surprise to see the Frisco native draped up in Versace and Gucci. Then again, he’s not your average lowrider, and he was the first to admit that his lifestyle was on full lux. “I’m an international gentleman of leisure and nothing can hold me back from my true passion of lowriding,” Rico, who purchased this 1963 way back in the ’90s when he was in high school, says. “I bought it off my cousin who made me promise to give him first dibs if I ever sold it.”

Rico began the build by sending the frame off to 760 Kustoms, where he had it fully wrapped and molded. “Your game is soft if you ain’t frame-off,” Rico exclaims. With the frame off, Anthony Arroyo stripped the body to bare metal, and then he doused it with House of Kolor tangelo pearl paint. All the while, West Coast Plating was busy dippin the convertible rack, bumpers, and plenty of parts in chrome.

Displacement came by way of Pechavar Racing who installed a 383-stroker motor with a lot of aftermarket goodies. Inside, a suede headliner and Dakota Digital gauges accessorize the interior and the final touches came by way of some mural work done by Alberto Herrera. Of course no Bay Area ride would be complete without a set of Zeniths.

Being featured in LOWRIDER was always a dream for Rico and that day is finally here. Congratulations on the coverage … it’s well deserved and been a longtime coming.

1963 Chevrolet Impala convertible

Vehicle Nickname
Hoe Depot

Owner
Rico Chips

City/State
San Francisco, CA

Engine
Pechavar Racing in San Francisco, CA, installed the 383 stroker with Edelbrock intake/carburetor, aluminum radiator, dual electric fans, flexhose, Hooker headers, Lokar dip stick, ball milled wire covers, K&N filters, and Eddie Motorsport hinges

Body/Paint
Anthony Arroyo laid the House of Kolor tangelo pearl paint

Suspension
Fully wrapped the frame holds the Ford 9-inch rearend, ABS disc brakes, and three Black Magic pumps

Interior
Orange Cars1inc interior kit with Dakota Digital gauges

Sound System
Alpine deck with Kicker amps/subwoofers and a color bar

Wheels/Tires
13-inch Zenith wire wheels

The post Rico Chips’ 1963 Chevrolet Impala appeared first on Lowrider.

Some families pass down jewelry, photos, or furniture as family heirlooms but the Garcia family went a slightly different route and passed down a 1964 Chevy Impala. From his earliest memories Leo Garcia would help his dad work on the Impala to ensure that the love of classic cars was carried on. Leo’s dad passed the Impala down to him, cementing his love of classic cars.

For some a multi-colored old truck that looked like it was painted with house paint would not scream diamond in the rough, but to Leo it did. For a few years the next-door neighbor had a rough-looking 1955 Chevy that was being neglected until one day the neighbor asked Leo if he was interested in buying the truck. After a brief negotiation a price of $3,000 was agreed upon and the project that would become Viejita Bajita began. First on the list was to pull the tired old 235 straight-six and transmission for a rebuild. While the drivetrain was out for rebuild the frame was taken to get sandblasted for paint. The original plan was to do a basic restoration and keep the truck close to stock. Plans changed when driving home one day as he drove past a 1948 Chevy. Wanting a better look at the ride he followed it for a short distance until it pulled into a driveway. At first the owner of the 1948 stepped out and looked at Leo like he was crazy for following him home. Explaining that he was a fellow classic car enthusiast shifted the awkward encounter into a long conversation about each other’s projects. The owner of the 1948 was a member of Oldies and suggested to visit Conrad Ramirez at his shop. This chance encounter dramatically shifted the build from a semi-original restoration to a full restoration with lots of modern custom updates.

Once in the shop Conrad stripped the truck to bare metal to get a full understanding of what the project would need. With the truck stripped a plan was formed on how the build would go. He wanted to dedicate the truck to his son and father who both died. The truck was torn apart and rebuilt from the ground up. Custom touches like the plexiglass bed floor and full air ride suspension make this truck stand out and more than doubled the original budget. Seeing the end result and all the positive feedback he gets everywhere, the truck made all the hard work worth it. Leo was so happy with the build and all the support he received from the club that he joined Oldies Car Club, reaffirming the brotherhood that started with a chance encounter. Leo would like to thank his wife, Grace, for putting up with all the long nights and money spent, his son Jr. for all his work on finding parts, and Conrad Kustomz for all their blood sweat and hard work making this dream a reality.

1955 Chevrolet 3100

Vehicle Nickname
Viejita Bajita

Owner
Leo Garcia

City/State
Houston, TX

Club
Oldies

Engine
350 engine with March serpentine kit, polished manifold, Holly four-barrel carb, custom-made Sampson headers

Body/Paint
Red Axalta chromabase and clear

Suspension
Boxed frame. Airbag setup consisted of two ViAir chrome compressors and a 7-gallon polished aluminum tank.

Interior
Billet Specialties steering wheel with black suede upholstery

Wheels/Tires
14×6 cross-laced and 175/75/R14 tires

The post Cementing the Love of Classic Cars with a Chevy 3100 appeared first on Lowrider.

America’s customary love affair with automobiles is both legendary and an important part of our cultural DNA. In fact, for almost 60 years, custom car shows have paid tribute to the innovative workmanship of builders worldwide, and it is through their patience, hard work, and vision that they have continued to reinvent and improve the vehicles of yesterday to make them icons of today.

That said, Championship Auto Shows produces the largest custom car show series in the business. Also known as AutoRama or World of Wheels, the organization assembles roughly 20 events annually, which span across the United States and Canada. While hot rods are always the heart of each show, they actively recognize other forms of customization, which include trucks, bikes, and, of course, lowriders.

In recent years, the AutoRama Show Series has expanded to include even more lowriders and we’re proud to have been chosen as partners in helping create and promote a special niche section called ” Lowrider Nation.” As a result of that blessing, AutoRama shows now feature aisles of lowriders in Houston, Salt Lake City, Kansas City, and Omaha.

Successfully creating this segment of the show is a culmination of efforts by local car clubs and lowriders and the display is backed by the attendance of the infamous LOWRIDER “big rig.”

Just recently Lowrider Nation was at the Century Link Center in Omaha, Nebraska, for the 2016 Omaha AutoRama Show, and like their other 18 events, this show did not disappoint.

Packed shoulder to shoulder with large crowds, spectators were entertained by the award-winning show vehicle competition, booth displays, as well as celebrity entertainment and autograph sessions from WWE’s superstar the “Big Show” and the reunion of the Dukes of Hazard and Daisy Duke.

Don’t sleep, and be sure to scope out our coverage of the show, and be on the lookout for more of the Lowrider Nation segment at an upcoming Championship Auto Show. You can visit their site to see their upcoming calendar of events, and if you want to enter your ride or bring out the family to one of the many AutoRama events near you then be sure to RSVP in advance.

Please visit www.autorama.com for vehicle entry forms or info on any of their three-day events.

The post The 2016 Omaha AutoRama appeared first on Lowrider.

Make
House of Kolor

Model
Varies

URL
www.houseofkolor.com

MSRP
Varies

Overview
House of Kolor by Valspar announces their launch of eight new products, including four limited-edition colors that debuted at the SEMA Show 2015 in Las Vegas. The limited-edition colors are Black Forest, Blue By-You, Blood Orange, and Righteous Rojo and will be available as a factory pack for a limited time. They are also available to be mixed in the Shimrin2 Intermix System. House of Kolor will also release a new Urethane Flat Clear (FC21.001), a low-VOC, flat finish clearcoat that can be used over all solvent-based basecoats. They’ll also release a new Sprayable Primer (SP1600.G01), a premium, low-VOC, high-build polyester primer surface that provides excellent adhesion to fiberglass and primed surfaces, such as aluminum and steel.

Make
CON2R

Model
’57 Chevy Superstock Instrument Set

URL
www.con2r.com

MSRP
Starting at $1,095

Overview
The look may say “Old Skool!” but everything behind these beautiful faces from CON2R represents the latest in electronic instrument technology. Authentically styled, this direct-replacement gauge set provides a full range of vital information. There are six instruments in a layout that feature their dual-needle, concentric drives. With textures and windows that mirror the original design, these units provide understandable, accurate, and reliable system monitoring. Black or white faces are available, as are 120-, 140-, and 160-mph speedometers. At night, the CON2R LED “halo” lighting provides an elegant accent to any interior.

Make
Auto Meter

Model
Battery Backup

URL
www.autometer.com

MSRP
Starting at $40

Overview
Auto Meter has your back with their all-new BEX Series Battery Extenders, the BEX-1500 and BEX-3000. Features include compatibility with all lead acid batteries-standard (flooded), AGM, or gel cell-parasitic drain protection, and its fully automatic smart charging with advanced circuitry enables energy efficiency and safe charging that will maintain batteries without overcharging and desulphurizing worn cells. BEX series battery extenders are purpose-built to resist water. Simply bring the charger to the source without removing your battery and connect the leads.

The post September 2016 New Products appeared first on Lowrider.

When it comes to owning your own business, it’s a full-time grind, and the God-honest truth is you’ll never know what occasion, or what new person, may open up a new creative platform, or revenue stream. Simply put, having a business is a full-time hustle. The constant headaches, the worries, the sleepless nights, are all a part of the art, and as with any business you have to constantly traffic your talents and explore different paths and avenues. Just ask Izzy, the owner of Tintaz based out of Buena Park, California. He’ll tell you plenty of stories about how business has been gained, but his later collaboration with Fortaleza Guitars is one that happened by chance.

Some time ago, Izzy decided to hire a group called Inteligencia Nortena to play at his father’s birthday party. He decided to have the party over at his shop, and the festivities turned out great. But after playing, Rick Ramirez, the guitarist for the group, asked what kind of work they did at the shop. Izzy went on to show him some of the custom paints he had laced onto a few lowriders, and as Rick was looking at all the cars he had expressed that he had always wanted a lowrider, but never got around to building one.

On that quote, Izzy decided to offer Rick a custom paintjob for his guitars and Rick took him up on the offer. After a few weeks of waiting, the finalized piece was delivered to Rick and he was floored. He showed the guitar to his manager Luis at AfinArte, and from there the guitar made its rounds and all the way up the ladder to the owner of Fortaleza guitars.

At that point, the owner of Fortaleza examined the piece, and he was impressed with the attention to detail and the paint quality. Needless to say, the owner saw the potential in this custom piece and reached out to Izzy to have all his custom guitar builds painted by him. As the purveyor of guitars for many of the top Norteno artists, like Voz De Mando, Canarios De Michoacan, Grupo Antrax, and many others, you will no doubt see many of Izzy’s collaborative works in action with Fortaleza. Since the day they’ve connected the orders keep pouring in and it’s great to see two master craftsmen working side by side.

As always, it’s also great to see how facets of lowriding have crept into other industries. It’s great to see that the influence of our culture is gaining the recognition it deserves, and it’s equally compelling to see how cross-cultural promotions have merged the world of guitars with the world of lowriding.

Till next time … keep your six-string tuned and your sixth sense sharp.

The post Fortaleza x Tintaz Guitars appeared first on Lowrider.

Saturday June 25th, from 2PM-10PM LOWRIDER Magazine is taking over the Fresno Fairgrounds with over 600 of the best classic and custom cars the West Coast has to offer.

Featuring a Boulevard Art exhibit as well as live performances by Colonel Loud, Miss Lady Magic, Lighter Shade of Brown, Lil Moco, New District, Matt Woods & Young Cas, and Tyga.

Save time at the gate and purchase your tickets online here.
General Admission tickets are $30.00.
VIP Meet & Greet with Artists tickets are $75.00

For more information please visit www.motorsportshowcase.com.

Get pumped up for the show with this quick video from the Kings of Cali.

The post 2016 Fresno Super Show appeared first on Lowrider.

Lowriders were built to cruise low and slow and nothing compliments that vibe more than a good classic joint – and we’re talking joints of the musical variety, not herbal. But hey if you’re dedicated to being medicated than it’s not a bad thing to take a dose of both. But all joking aside, oldies just set the mood off right and create a sense of empowerment that puts you in touch with your soul.

For most of us in the lowriding scene, oldies will be our first love, and our last. Hearing certain tracks from the Stylistics or Blue Magic bring us back to a time when life was simpler, when life was on cruise control and when super stars actually had talent. In short, it was a time of purity when men and women actually courted each other, a time when conversations were sincere. Since then, conversation has been replaced with texting, beef is handled online and music nowadays is pretty much trash and a disposable product that is formulaic.
But who knows, maybe that’s why classic tracks can’t be replaced or emulated. The memories attached to this genre of music are priceless, and the lyrical content of these songs actually told stories about love, heartbreak and the struggles of life. In short, this music marked the end of an era.

While I could go on forever about this topic, I’ll just leave you with my top 20 picks for old classic jams. It’s an eclectic smorgasbord of tracks from some of the music industries finest so check ’em out and let us know what you think. You know…they say that music becomes the track of our lives so go over the list and see what memories it brings back. Some may make you cry, some may make you smile, but either way it’s good to reconnect with your past while strolling through memory lane.

1. Dreaming Casually – Thee Midnighters

2. It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World – James Brown

3. Somebody Please – The Vanguards

4. Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood – The Animals

5. You Can’t Keep A Good Man Down – James & Bobby Purify

6. We Belong Together – Richie Valens

7. Where Were You – Brenton Wood

8. Sitting In The Park – Billy Stewart

9. At Last – Etta James

10. Oh How It Hurts – Barbara Mason

11. Cruisin’ – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

12. Confessing A Feeling – Sly, Slick & Wicked

13. Darlin’ – Brenton Wood

14. Laughing Boy – Mary Wells

15. Since I Don’t Have You – The Skyliners

16. Mary Jane – Rick James

17. Ooo Baby Baby – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

18. I Do Love You – Billy Stewart

19. I Like The Way You Love Me – Brenton Wood

20. Night Owl – Tony Allen

The post 20 Classics to Cruise To appeared first on Lowrider.