Lowrider: A motor vehicle having customised hydraulics that lower the chassis close to the ground; any vehicle whose riding position is low.

That’s the Oxford English Dictionary’s description of a lowrider. Simply, lowriders put style above everything else.

Yet amongst all aspects of car culture, few bring me as much joy as seeing a big American car three-wheeling on a set of small wire wheels. Objectively speaking, that doesn’t make any sense. I was born and raised in London, England, and I can assure you lowriders have never been a part of my local car culture.

Lowriders just don’t work in the UK. Our roads are too small and congested, and our health and safety laws would never permit a car hopping along a main thoroughfare or dragging sparks down a highway.

Let’s not forget the cultural differences, either. Driving through a sleepy, grey English town with your ‘candy paint dripping’ would likely cause as much of a scene as turning up to a funeral with a pink boa and Elton John’s sunglasses on. You would certainly get some looks…

Fuel in the UK is cripplingly expensive, the weather is sh*t, and our salted roads can turn steel to rust faster than a lowrider can turn heads. And yet for all of the downsides, people adore lowriders over here.

Lowriders are aspirational. They appeal to the part of us that wishes we were out in Los Angeles, cruising down Hollywood Boulevard and turning heads in the evening heat.

They speak to the part of us that wants to cruise carefree, listening to music at maximum volume and causing a bit of a scene.

The culture looks incredibly chilled too, especially when compared to what we usually see in the UK.  Lowrider meets on social media appear to be as much about appreciating the artistry behind the cars as they are an opportunity to hang out in a beautiful location.

Meanwhile, most meets over here are just a load of questionably modified hatchbacks and M-Lite BMWs deafening the locals around car parks and generally being a nuisance.

The rarity of lowriders in the UK has seemingly resulted in a very tight-knit community of enthusiasts, who will often support each other with knowledge and make the extra effort to appear at shows and events together. The most well-known local club is Lay’N’Play.

What I admire most about the lowrider community is the high level of commitment it can bring out in the owners and the high level of detail in their builds as a result.

This Chevrolet Nomad took home ‘Best in Show’ at the 2024 Retro Rides Weekender, and for good reason.

Not only was the paintwork immaculate, but the trim was too. This is a 1956 model; you can tell because of the chrome trim pointing towards the front of the car, the top of which kinks up behind the front door while the lower section stretches to the rear bumper.

This Nomad is a rare beast, being a top-of-the-line model based on the Chevrolet Bel Air and only around for three years in the body shape you see before you.

Its owner has gone all-out with period-correct accessories, such as a genuine Chevrolet cooler box to go with the powder blue-themed picnic set, blankets and deck chairs.

The interior is gorgeous too, a reminder of a bygone era when the world was full of vibrant pastel colours and actual metal details.

America was jet-obsessed in the 1950s. I won’t indulge in my aviation nerdiness here, but look at the details around cars from this era and it is easy to see the Jet Age influence.

To answer my titular question; low riders can be nostalgic, aspirational, or examples of gorgeous craftsmanship. Maybe all of the above. I suppose it depends on your life experience. For me, it would be the two latter categories. Plus, lowriders are just fun.

Have I missed anything? If so, then let me know. I would love to hear why lowriders appeal to you.

Mario Christou
Instagram: mcwpn
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