Lowriding has been an expression of cultural identity in the United States for decades, born in the Mexican-American experience in southwestern states, including in California.
Pachuco culture of the 1930s and 1940s grew in popularity among Chicanos and Mexican American youth in the U.S. It was associated with zoot suit fashion and jazz music popular at the time among people in the counterculture movement.
Lowriding started as a culture of repurposing, specifically in the 1940s, when there were plenty of inexpensive cars from the 1930s available after World War II.
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It's been over 8 years since I've even seen a lowrider, praise the Lord.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMkwuz0iXQg
ReplyDeleteLow Riders weren't banned.
ReplyDeleteCruising was banned.
Carolina Squat to Low Rider, hold my cerveza
ReplyDeleteI'd laugh when they got stuck on speed bumps or when they would rip the bumper off pulling out of the driveway.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I've seen Lowriding is a status thing: you are so rich you never have to drive off paved roads. If you've ever been south of the border you know the roads are only halfway decent in town and in the wealthy areas.
ReplyDelete"Repurposing"
ReplyDeleteCars were repurposed for use as ... cars.
Last couple of local cars shows we checked out had some low riders and totally "bagged" cars. Also, quite a few real classics that were nicely restored and then ruined with Rent N Roll wheels & tires.
ReplyDelete- WDS
and I thought Albuquerque, New Mexico was the official home of Low Riders. Guys just migrated to LA for the jobs.
ReplyDeleteNah, the lowrider capital of the world is Espanola, NM. Used to be, you could go through there on a Saturday night and there would be several dozen of them blocking traffic on main street.
DeleteMaybe it's not your thing, but some of those rides were pretty damn sweet.
best way to ruin a '64 Impala that I've ever seen
ReplyDelete