Lowriders: The Art of Low and Slow, which opened October 9 and is sponsored by All American Logistics, features a variety of award winning and legendary cars from throughout Northern California that show the range of this unique style of customizing from simple and clean lines to full-on customizing.
"Lowriders follow in the same traditions as more conventional hot rodders," noted Karen McClaflin, Executive Director of the California Automobile Museum. "In both cases, the artistry of the car is in the eye of the owner. Lowriders bring a distinctive style to the sport of hot rodding and each one of the cars in our new exhibit has a customized one-of-a-kind look that is unique."
Lowriding originated in the Chicano culture of the 1930s, originally in the Southwestern corner of the country. Over time, the culture focused on cars of the '40s through the '60s. In recent years, it has become more diverse, incorporating a wider range of cars and is still an important part of Chicano culture.
Cruising has always been an element of all hot rodding. But compared to the tire-smoking, drag strip like performance valued by many conventional, traditional hot rodders, low-riders are stuck in low gear-and they like it that way. "Low and Slow" (Bajito y Suavecito) is their preferred cruising mode, to give bystanders a better chance to appreciate the artistry of a car as it drives by.
In addition, a distinctive characteristic of most lowriders is a hydraulic suspension that can change the ride height of the car at the flick of a switch, so that the car can be highway legal for driving on the street, but lowered for cruising and shows.
The vehicles in the Lowriders: The Art of Low and Slow exhibit cover a wide range of styles and all are classic examples of lowrider machines. Among them are:
A 1939 Mercury coupe that combines a traditional early California customizing with more contemporary lowrider features. Built by the legendary Sam Barris when he lived in Sacramento, the maroon and white coupe still retains many of its original lines but has been extensive reworked by its most recent owner. The car is an Award of Excellence winner at the Good Guys show in Pleasanton and was a George Barris pick as best of show in Modesto.
A 1964 Chevy Impala Supersport that has been owned by two generations of the same family for 32 years. The car is considered a trend pioneer in Northern California, incorporating many features that at the time were limited to lowriders from Southern California, including the use of "520's, skinny tires with wire wheels and unique hydraulics for the front end. The wild custom body was the first car project ever done by the bodyman who had built stage backdrops for rock bands such as the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Starship. The body panels include detailed murals that would be just as appropriate on a living room wall as a car.
A 1948 Chevy Fleetline Aerosedan is as strong a contrast to the Impala as it gets. The car retains the stock look of the '48, but includes many small refinements which are only obvious up close. With its two-tone paint job of Battle Ship Gray over Dove Gray and an interior with original broadcloth wool from Hampton Coach, the car is as refined and classic as a gray flannel suit.
The exhibit doesn't only focus on the customization of vehicles, but the expansion of this genre to bicycles as well. Three bicycles are featured in this exhibit, all with different themes, but are no less a piece of art than the vehicles on exhibit next to them. This exhibit will run through January 9 but the community is invited to attend the grand opening of this exhibit on Saturday, October 16 from 11am - 3pm. This special Lowrider Event Day will include demonstrations, food and beverages for sale, more lowriders on display and music.
This event is free for Gearhead members and included with Museum admission for nonmembers. For more information call (916) 442-6802 or visit www.CalAutoMuseum.org.
About the California Automobile Museum: This spacious 72,000 square foot museum is home to over 150 vehicles of various makes and models, ranging from the early 1900s to alternative power vehicles of the future. Exhibits recreate the love affair we have with automobiles and provide historical information about the automotive industry. The Museum's mission is to educate and entertain while preserving and promoting the automobile and its influence on our lives.
The Museum is located at 2200 Front Street, between Broadway and Old Sacramento with ample free parking. The Museum is open daily from 10am to 6pm, taking the last admission at 5pm and stays open until 9pm every third Thursday. For more information visit www.CalAutoMuseum.org or call (916) 442-6802.
