What are lowriders and how do they work?

During the entire existence of cars, many motorists have tried to distinguish their own transport from the gray mass. There are so many directions in auto tuning that they already need to be divided into groups. Many of them have become a whole culture in the world of car enthusiasts. We recently looked at features Stens technology.

Now let's pay attention to the direction of the lowrider: what is the peculiarity of such tuning, which car is best suited for it, and in conclusion, consider the TOP most beautiful lowcars.

What is a lowrider

It's worth starting with terminology. Low-Rider is a car with practically no clearance (about what it is and why it is needed, read here). This type of car first appeared in America, and today it is a representative of a whole culture, which many films and musical compositions are devoted to.

With the help of the minimum ground clearance, lowriders try to emphasize their status among the representatives of this movement. The direction began to develop in the first half of the 30s of the last century. The pioneers of this style were Spanish immigrants who did not have a lot of money but could afford cheap cars. To stand out, they painted their vehicles brightly. Initially, motorists simply underestimated their transport as much as possible.

Of course, beauty requires sacrifices, so the converted cars lost their practicality - it was almost impossible to drive them on ordinary roads. To get even more attention, every modernized car owner applied gangster-style airbrushing.

Since crime flourished among the Hispanic population, representatives of gangster groups could afford more expensive execution of such cars. For this reason, initially the low-ride style was associated with the underworld, and today it has some corresponding performance (for example, many drivers of such vehicles dress in baggy clothes and listen to gangster hip-hop).

As the direction developed, lowriders chrome plated various elements of the car (on how to chrome some parts at home, prepared separate review), and some were even covered with gilding. The peak of "coolness" is a gilded exhaust system and car levers. Today these cars are equipped with beautiful neon lights on the wheels and underside of the car.

To showcase this finish, the lowriders use a special hydraulic (and cheaper air) suspension that allows the car to bounce. This technology was invented by two brothers Aguirru (Luis and Ron). Their development made it possible to lower or maximize transport without affecting the characteristics of the chassis. Thanks to this, lowriding was brought to the maximum level. Modern cars are capable of bouncing almost upright, and some are capable of lifting all wheels off the ground at the same time.

What cars are ideal for lowrider modifications?

A key principle of lowrider referral is to make old cars as attractive as possible. For this reason, it is the retro cars of the 50-70s that are most often chosen. However, there are also newer models.

Frame cars are best suited for such tuning, because the load-bearing body will experience excessive stress during jumps. Because of this, it may simply break. For this reason, retro cars are best suited. Plus, initially lowrider models were just expensive representative options, which looked quite attractive even without alterations.

A modern lowcar is painted in a variegated color, it must have airbrushing elements, maximum chrome (and in the most expensive version - gilding of individual parts), a powerful audio system and, of course, a "jumping" suspension.

How does the suspension work?

Before getting to know the principle of the "dancing" suspension, it is worth remembering how the standard suspension system functions. It has two key elements:

• Spring - quickly returns the unloaded wheel to the lowest position relative to the body. This helps to maintain traction on uneven roads.
• Shock absorber - prevents the body from swaying while driving over bumps. More details about the structure of shock absorbers are described separately.

So, any suspension of cars is designed to stabilize the body, and absorb the unevenness of the road surface.

How does lowrider suspension work?

Among lowcar pendants, there are several options. The most common modification is pneumatic. It uses a rubber bag instead of a steel spring. It is connected to a compressor unit, which in a split second pumps air into its cavity, increasing its size.

A similar principle has a pneumatic jack, which is used at tire stations. This type of suspension is easier to maintain, provides a softer undercarriage and is easier to install.

However, the most advanced is the hydraulically driven version. Its price is much more expensive, but it is more stable compared to the previous analogue. Instead of a rubber bag, a piston stand is installed in this design. It is connected to a compressor that uses fluid rather than air to force the piston to move rapidly in the rack.

Since the installation uses enormous pressure, which literally shoots liquid into the cylinder, the machine jumps up sharply. This force determines the height to which part or all of the cars will rise.

To activate the drive, a special control panel is used, which allows the driver to be outside the passenger compartment. The reason for this is that the transport jumps sharply to a great height (sometimes the body occupies an almost vertical position relative to the road), because of which a person in the cabin can receive serious damage.

Both pneumatic and hydraulic suspensions allow not only to sharply move part of the body relative to the ground. They enable the lowrider to change the vehicle's ground clearance in accordance with needs: turn up the nose, raise the stern, completely lower the vehicle, etc.

Usually, the drive is powered by an additional battery (and this component is often not one, but several). The system itself will be expensive as it has a complex structure. A separate drive is used for each wheel that has to bounce. Moreover, the coaxial elements must work synchronously, and for this they must be correctly connected so that the car does not overturn when performing a trick.

The cost of one drive in America ranges from $ 700 to $ 1000, and this does not include the cost of batteries. You will also need to spend money on installation, since the system is complex, and it requires certain knowledge and skills, so you will need to pay for the work of a specialist.

How much do lowriders cost?

The car itself, made in the low-ride style, can be inexpensive. So, some models in the secondary market are sold for only 2-3 thousand dollars. It all depends on what kind of suspension they use. The model of the converted car also affects the price.

The most expensive models can reach 40 thousand dollars or more. They will use expensive equipment, they will be able to perform more functions (for example, raise one part of the body, and so go).

However, as for lowriders, their cost is more due to the rarity, since each car is unique, and more interesting for participants in spectacular car shows, and not for those who like a comfortable ride. For this reason, the range of prices for lowcar is very large.

If some pay attention to the appearance of their car, then some of the most important thing is that the car effectively "danced". Here's a short video on how it looks live:

Jumping cars Lowrider hydraulics and pneuma

Lowrider bikes

If we talk about the meaning of the term Lowrider, it means not just an upgraded car that can bounce or drive with extremely low ground clearance. Rather, it is a lifestyle or culture that many categories of vehicles belong to.

Moreover, even cyclists belong to the culture of lowriders. In this case, the bike is modified to look like a chopper bike. A key element of this tuning is a more relaxed driving position. Often the seat for such a landing is set lower, and the steering wheel, on the contrary, is higher.

Although a bike that has undergone such an upgrade will cost much less than a car tuned for a lowrider, if an exclusive studio worked on the bike, the cost of such a vehicle will be several thousand dollars.  

Exteriors and interiors of lowriders

For cars tuned in this style, the key is the "pumped" suspension. However, it is not the only component that such cars are valued for. The very first thing that catches the eye of an ordinary passer-by is the original exterior, and upon a detailed examination of the transport, its interior.

Moreover, great attention is paid to the details. The lowcar style can be accentuated by overly large or too small wheels. In the first case, you will need to change the size of the wheel arches. To emphasize any element, it or the adjacent parts are chrome plated, and in more expensive versions they are gilded.

If a large diameter wheel is used, the driver will install tires with a reduced profile (its size is inversely proportional to the size of the wheel disk). Low-profile tires are less soft, so the lowcar will have increased stiffness, which will negatively affect comfort, especially if the road is rough. However, visually, such a car, of course, looks quite impressive.

Another distinctive element of any low-ride car is a non-standard body color. Most often, the owners of such vehicles use bright colors, and those who can allocate more funds create beautiful drawings on the body elements.

As for the interior of such cars, it will certainly have the most luxurious performance that a car owner can only afford. Some people turn their cars into a real luxury room in the most expensive hotel. Others prefer a more restrained approach, and restraint will reign in the interior of their car. However, what any lowrider will definitely do is install a powerful audio system.

This is an integral component, since when performing a car "dance", the owner of the car independently reproduces pre-selected musical compositions. Appropriate music is an important part of lowrider culture.

Lowrider in everyday life

Although a stylishly modified car will look impressive enough and can get the coolest suspension, the daily operation of such a vehicle will be associated with some inconvenience.

Here are just some of them:

1. Firstly, despite the reliability and efficiency for different road conditions, the airbag needs constant care. For example, air suspension often suffers from air leaks due to poor fixation of the line hoses.
2. Secondly, the "dancing" car is quite hard on the road, which negatively affects the comfort while driving.
3. Thirdly, if the clearance and suspension in the car are simply lowered without the ability to raise the car, any obstacle, including an ordinary speed bump, will become a real problem.
4. Fourthly, regardless of the type of suspension (adjustable or just low clearance), when driving on a road with poor coverage, even a slight hole can be fatal for the exhaust system, gas tank or the same suspension. For example, in a car, when it hits a pothole, a lever can be pulled out.
5. Fifth, the upgrade of the lowrider is primarily aimed at the show, and not on the comfort and handling on the road. This is especially true for "dancing" cars. In order for the machine to be able to rise to one side, the transverse and longitudinal (if any) stabilizer is removed. With such tuning, the car loses stability in corners and is worse in driving.

The key disadvantage of such tuning is a serious intervention in the design of the car, which is prohibited under the laws of most countries. In order not to have to constantly pay fines for unauthorized modernization, you will have to obtain a number of permits, which will result in additional waste. For this reason, such cars often sit in garages until they are brought to an auto show.

Lowrider. Lowrider classification

Among the representatives of this type of auto-tuning, there are 5 types:

1. Traditional lowcars ​​are ordinary low cars from the 60s and 80s. These are mainly sedans or coupes, whose roof can be either rigid or folding. The emphasis in such models is on the interior design and body paint.
2. "Bombs" are tuned cars of the 30-50s era. Most of those cars are barrel-shaped. The variants included in this group have a lowered roof, a visor on the windshield, side exhaust pipes. Some of these cars do not have bumpers, which makes the model more aggressive.
3. Euro - models included in this category are also subject to technical tuning. So, their engines are chipped (about what chip tuning is, read here), and advanced audio systems are installed in the cabin and in the trunk.
4. Minitrucks are small trucks equipped with different suspension modifications. Owners who want their car to be included in this category should definitely boost the engine and minimize ground clearance.
5. Transformers are shoukars, in different systems of which a hydraulic drive is used. It can be not only the suspension, but doors, roof, hood, etc. It should be noted that some representatives of this category cannot move quickly. The key principle of such models is “posturing”.

Separately, it is worth noting one category, which does not yet have a large number of representatives. To be more precise, there is only one such car in its pure form. This Volkswagen Beetle, tuned in Resto-Cal style.

This style came from California. Its features are:

• Minimum ground clearance;
• A roof rack is installed (an analogue can be additionally installed on the hood);
• Swap cooler (predecessor to car air conditioning)
• Special wheels: at the front - the narrowest, and at the rear - the widest (in this case, decoctions);
• At the rear, the car has features of tuning in the style of a stencil car.

Classic or Traditional (OG Traditional)

A representative of this class of lowriders is the Chevrolet Impala (late 50s - early 1960s). As the name of this class implies, these lowriders are built on the basis of powerful American cars of the 60s-80s era.

The following models also harmoniously fit into this category:

• Chevrolet Monte Carlo;
• Buick Regal;
• Oldsmobile Cutlass;
• Pontiac Grand Prix 1973-77.

The key elements of a classic lowrider is an excess of chrome, not only on the outside, but also in the interior. Vinyl is often present in the exterior, and the entire body is painted in glossy paint. The suspension of such a car can be adjustable or permanently lowered.

Bombs

This class got its name due to the body type of cars included in this category. Representatives of lowrider bombs are cars of the era of the 30-50s. The vast majority of cars of those times had a "puffy" massive body with voluminous wings and a barrel-shaped shape.

Such cars are not without chrome parts, often equipped with an exhaust system with two tailpipes, light protection visors and other accessories.

Representatives of this style are the following models:

• Pontiac Torpedo (1947 onwards);
• Cadillac El Dorado;
• Buick Skylark;
• Chevrolet Fleetline;
• Chevrolet Fleetmaster.

EUR (Euro)

This category includes all modern cars of American or European manufacturers. In addition to low ground clearance and original body coloring, such lowriders feature a powerful audio system, an exclusive chic interior, huge rims and engine tuning.

Pickups and SUVs (Minitrucks)

The list of lowriders in this category includes only SUVs and pickups. The advantage of such models is the adjustable suspension, thanks to which the car can “show class” on serious off-road, making a real show. But to a greater extent, such cars are also representatives of megacities with ideal roads.

Basically, these are representatives of the American auto industry. A distinctive feature of such lowriders, in addition to extremely low ground clearance and non-standard wheels, is:

• Forced motor (sometimes the fuel system receives a nitrous oxide installation);
• Pneumatic or simply shortened suspension;
• Premium acoustics (powerful subwoofers are often installed), often located in a tipping body;
• Sometimes, along with a premium sound system, such cars may have a large LCD screen.

Transformers

For representatives of this class, air springs are installed not only on the suspension, but also on individual parts of the body. For example, if it is a pickup truck, then its body can roll over in different directions. Also, the transformer itself can raise the hood (in some models, the lid is double-winged) and separately the entire front part of the body.

It is worth considering that such modernization is done exclusively for the show. In motion, any manipulation of the body, especially its front part, can lead to an accident. For this reason, many transformers are extremely difficult to register as a vehicle, and they are used exclusively at car shows.

10 great lowriders - Retro cars

When in the circles of auto-tuning enthusiasts there is a conversation about the modernization of cars, then most often the hood opens first. However, the visual change in the style of the car is also in no less demand. In this direction, the car no longer shows technical superiority, as in sports competitions, but focuses on pretentiousness (even while driving).

Lowriders primarily pay attention to the appearance of their cars. Moreover, if their tuning has the maximum number of small parts, the longer the onlookers with cameras will stay near the car.

Let's consider for what reasons some models were chosen as lowcar, as well as the most original versions.

Chevrolet 1939

There are several reasons why people chose these particular cars as models for the style in question.

1. For two decades, starting in the first half of the 1930s, these cars were less expensive and were the most common in the automotive market. For emigrants from Mexico, this option was most suitable, since transport was reliable and affordable.
2. Mexicans also chose Chevrolet models for aesthetic reasons - the cars had a beautiful body and were technically easier to upgrade.
3. The suspension of the cars was easily lowered by means of bags containing earth or sand.

One of the most beautiful modern lowcar is the Chevrolet Precioso. It only looks like a car of that era. The vehicle is equipped with air suspension, which makes it possible for the car to change the ground clearance even while driving.

1941 Ford

More expensive cars that were used for such modernization were models of another American brand - Ford. Initially, more prosperous motorists could afford them. Tuning with an understatement of the car was accompanied by additional troubles.

So, the body kits did not make it possible to achieve the desired effect, so they removed the bumpers, and instead installed non-standard modifications, which at that time was a costly procedure.

But already in the post-war period, the population could afford more expensive transport. For this reason, iconic American cars have also appeared among lowriders.

1950 Mercury Eight

The Mercury has an original design already from the factory. Its wide radiator grille and massive bumper fit perfectly with the styling, making it easy to change visually.

The brand was popular among lowriders in the 70s and 80s. Models from the 50s turned out to be beautiful, and today they are excellent examples of the popular auto show. One of these cars is shown in the photo.

Chevrolet Impala

Today this model continues to enjoy popularity, and its tenth generation has already appeared on the market. However, modern models do not look as impressive as their “older brothers” of 59-64.

The peculiarity of those cars lies in the sturdy body, as well as the classic look in the "cigar" style. This allows you to install a powerful air suspension in your car.

The owners of such models pay considerable attention to the interior, installing unique seats and using non-standard interior upholstery.

In America (states close to the equator) convertibles are very popular.

1965 Buick Riviera

This model does not belong to the category of cars that were used for such tuning. Nevertheless, the premium interior and original body parts (for example, the fishtail) allow the model to bring charm to any auto show with the participation of lowriders.

The massive body and straight lines are great for such a modernization. Such cars were initially based on platforms of budgetary analogs, so motorists of different material incomes could afford them.

Chevrolet pickups

Small trucks tuned to the Low-ride style, especially those from the 1950s, are now the most popular in this category. Of course, when a machine is changed accordingly, it is no longer practical. The maximum for which the body is used in this case is to transport large speakers, which are closed by a kung in the form of a cover.

As you can see in the photo, there is no limit to imagination in this style.

Motorists are reworking everything: from headlamp covers to a forced engine.

The only drawback of such cars is a small interior, which is why it does not stand out with special decoration and luxury, as, for example, in sedans and coupes.

Lincoln Continental

If we compare cars produced in the 1950s, then the Continental of the 1970s. in terms of size, it has many advantages. When such a car bounces, the person standing next to it looks like a dwarf in front of a giant.

In addition to the dimensions of the body, the car has massive bumpers and a huge radiator grille. The chrome on these elements makes their size even better.

These models also provide their owners with a lot of room for various interior design solutions, as the Lincoln interior is also widespread.

Most often, the owners of such lowcar leave the factory paint on which they apply neat geometric patterns.

1984 Buick Regal

Often, the shape of the car does not allow its owner to realize his idea. The angular design of the models from the 70s or the "blown" shape of the representatives of the 40s are not always combined with some ideas.

As for the models from the early 80s, they allow you to customize the transport to suit every taste. Many low-rider lovers repaint their cars in bright colors, install a large number of chrome elements. Particular attention is paid to the spare wheel mounted on the rear bumper.

Chevrolet monte carlo

This is another great car from the 80s that is great for tuning in this style. Its peculiarity is that the transport is similar to the previous representative, but due to its modest technical layout it costs less.

American models lend themselves well not only to visual, but also to technical modernization. The converted body is able to withstand the "dancing" of powerful hydraulics or pneumatics.

2007 Toyota Camry

The Low-ride culture is not only widely known today, but is popular almost all over the world. Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the famous Japanese manufacturer (you can read about the history of the brand creation separately) created the original factory version of the lowcar. It was based on the 2007 Camry model.

Specialists from the Japanese brand, as well as engineers from the Camino Real Collision studio, worked on the machine. Most of the auto components have either been upgraded or replaced.

As you can see in the photo, the model fits perfectly into the concept of low-ride.

Here's a short video about lowriders:

Jumping and dancing cars on hydraulics

Related videos

In conclusion, we offer another video about the culture of Lowrider:

Exotic - Lowriders: yesterday and today

Questions and answers:

What kind of cars do Lowriders have? Among lowriders, classic American cars are popular - an example of real luxury muscle cars. For example, a classic lowcar - Cadillac Deville Coupe, Chevrolet Impala, Mercury Eight, Buick Riviera.

What does lowrider mean? Literally from English, the expression is translated as a low rider. This is a car with as low a clearance as possible.

Who came up with the lowrider? The first to come up with such a modification were Luis and Ron Aguirra. They used a ground clearance mechanism to confuse the police.

How does the lowrider work? Such a car is equipped with an air suspension system, which changes the ground clearance of the car beyond recognition (in some cases, even disproportionately - very high in the front and very low in the back).