One of the most beautiful things about lowrider culture is that it allows for the ultimate expression of personality across the car canvas. There are no restrictions on whether you slam a car or truck into the ground, dance with an airbag, or jump into three-wheel movement with hydraulics, but there are definitely models that will help modern lowrider cultures.
Here are 10 old school cars that have had a major impact on the low rider scene.
Chevrolet Impala
It is impossible to discuss the history of lowriders without underscoring the importance of the Chevrolet Impala. Many early lowriders wore Chevrolet badges because they had bumpers that were affordable for cars to buy and not drag when they fell as low as possible to the ground (especially compared to the Fords of the era).
Since the arrival of the second-generation cars in the late 1950s, the Impala has been popular as a low rider, with the dramatic tail fins on the 1959 model giving it a distinctive look. However, it is a 1961-1964 edition, and is burned into public consciousness as a prototype low rider. This was due to both the possession of the axle in the original Chicano culture that produced the phenomenon and another culture in the hip-hop world that adopted the ’64 Impala as its icon. Impala continued to be prominently featured among lowrider fans until the mid-1980s when the body version of the car was removed from production.
Mercury Eight
The Impala are just as important as they are in low-rider cultures, so getting low-submarine treatment was far from the first car. Mercury Eight, especially the 1949-1951 model, was a staple of early hot rod cultures in the form of “lead sled” and, in addition to featuring a carved roof, was often given a significant suspension drop.
It, coupled with the enormous exposure that James Dean’s film Rebel has given to the no-cause model, leads to serious cross-pollination with lowrider fans, continuing to be one of the most prominent cars since World War II on modern lowrides.
Chevrolet Advanced Design/C10 Pickup
Remember when you said that Chevrolet was overrepresented among lowrider fans? This wasn’t just limited to cars. The Chevrolet pickups that have become the staple food of the scene have at least two generations of Chevrolet pickups.
Moving into the middle of the next decade from the late 1940s, the Chevrolet “Advance Design” track (as it was known at the time) was a strong choice for lowrider builders. Easy to work with and inexpensive, these trucks provided plenty of space for hydraulic suspension setups and cargo beds for air compressors after their technology replaced static suspension setups.
Almost 20 years later, another Chevrolet pickup model, the 1973-1986 “Square Body” C10), has also become a lowrider favorite for many of the same reasons. Given the extremely long production run and the support of the huge aftermarket, the C10 continues to hold a strong show as a low rider platform to this day.
Lincoln Continental
The Lincoln Continental from 1961 to 1969 represents the high water mark of American automotive design, with its slabside and rear hingdoors resonating in the industry decades after leaving production. It also made the impression of being extra large in the lowrider community. There, its imposing proportions made it a general choice after lengthening the original glory year.
Much of its many glory strengthened the reputation of the Continental Coupe Mark series, which followed the sedan in the 1970s. With its hidden headlights and an acre hood, these giant cars were perfect for hopping and dropping.
Chevrolet Monte Carlo
In 1973, General Motors introduced the Coronade, a large, medium-sized group of models that sit near the top of the lineups of the Buick, Chevrolet, Pontiac and Oldsmobile families. Of these, Chevrolet Monte Carlo developed the Cult Follow. This eventually expanded into the lowrider community.
That love continued in the 1980s when Monte Carlo was reduced to a G-Body platform, but as you can see, the G-Body had its own hero that surpassed Chevrolet over time.
Buick Regal/Oldsmobile Cutlass
When the G-Body arrived, General Motors pulled a typical “spray and please” strategy, with almost all of its brands giving a crack in building coupes in frame-on designs. These rear-wheel-drive two-door gobs and gobs were produced, many of which feature V-8 power, and their ubiquitity and style have become a major target for lowrider builders.
In particular, the two models survived time testing as hot low rider platforms for Buick Regal and Oldsmobile Cutlass.
It becomes a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy, as the mechanical and aesthetic knowledge base for these car changes is huge and even more appealing to those who want to engage in the low-rider world. With a low-cost admission fee, it’s easy to see why the imposing cutlass and cutlass are towering figures of lowrider culture.
Chevrolet S-10 pickup
Ever since the first mini trucks arrived on the scene in the 1970s, they have attracted enthusiasts trying to express themselves with custom vehicles. The Chevrolet S-10 pickup, which has been growing ever since 1982 and the 1990s, quickly became a popular choice among lowrider fans interested in the mini-track scene. In some respects, it was even more rough than the world of full-sized, slapped pickups that pre-processed with that boxed attitude.
The S-10 follows a pattern that has always been familiar to this list of popular lowrider options. It’s cheap to buy, easy to work with, and plenty of room to add trick suspension gear. It also does not hurt that these vehicles were built by millions of people.
Cadillac Eldorado
The 1980s brought more premium fares to those who wanted to push low riders of their class down to the block. Cadillac fell into difficult times in the 70s, with its fame being pushed to its side by anemia, smog choke engines and high-tech European imports. However, the 1979-1985 El Dorado still had a cache among lowrider enthusiasts who praised the possibility of being offered by the large coupe square line and its full frame design.
Ten years later, as El Dorado prices fell sharply in the second-hand market, these cars went into the hands of those looking for upgrades on the G-body. The collectors market has yet to keep up with ELDOs in the 80s, so builders can change most of their money instead of the purchase price.
Cadillac Fleetwood
Let’s say you had more friends than you could fit inside a two-door coupe, but you still wanted a Cadillac coat of arms on the front of the Lowrider. Enter Brougham Sedan. This is a car that unleashed the brand’s rear-wheel drive tradition when most of the other fleets moved to the front wheel movement.
This is a boon for lowrider fans, making it much easier to change. It is also an impressive machine with its upright grille and thick styling, making it an ideal choice for over-the-top representation of frame scraping designs. When they arrived in 1987, Broum was gone by 1992, but lived spiritually in a Fleetwood sedan.
Chevrolet Caprice/Impalas SS
It’s just as important as the original Impala low rider. It remains an engraved on lowrider culture, rather than the two generations of Chevrolet’s full-size sedan (and more rarely, coupes).
The first is the “box,” the name given to the squared-off Caprices that were sold from 1977 to 1990. Also offered with the Impala badge (with very few differences between the two models), these cars became the template for ’80s lowriders alongside their smaller G-body siblings thanks to similar attributes (body-on-frame, rear-wheel drive, V-8 power) and the huge number that were built for both taxi and police fleet.
In 1991, the box gave way to the “bubble.” This is a more rounded generation of Caprice that continues until 1996. It featured a more modern drivetrain and a rather comfortable cabin, but the design details resemble the box under the new body surprisingly. This allowed us to transfer previous knowledge about changing Chevrolets with minimal hassle and continue to remain popular in the lowrider culture.
This also applies to the high performance Impala SS available from 1994 to 1996.
Photo of an old fashioned low rider car
1951 Chevrolet Truck Advanced Design
1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Buick Legal 1985
1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
As shown in the 1962 Chevrolet Impala SS, Lowrider Magazine cover car from September 2011 (see more details here)
1995 Cadillac Fleetwood
1976 Chevrolet Caprice (see more details here)
1978 Lincoln Continental
The old-fashioned car that gave birth to the lowrider culture
- Chevrolet Impala
- Mercury Eight
- Chevrolet Advanced Design/C10 Pickup
- Lincoln Continental
- Chevrolet Monte Carlo
- Buick Regal/Oldsmobile Cutlass
- Chevrolet S-10 pickup
- Cadillac Eldorado
- Cadillac Fleetwood
- Chevrolet Caprice/Impalas SS
Photos by Motortrend staff. Illustrations by Ryan Lugo
