Well ...I was kinda testin you guys...wanted to see what you'd say. From my understanding --pre-49 chevrolets are referred to as bombs/ bombas/ or bombitas....& 49-54 chevys are bombitas implying to be a "lil" bomb. This post was more of a confirmation that my avatar is considered a "bombita"..I'm doing my leather jacket & wanted to script that word below it. Thanx.
If I am not mistaken (and if I am I'm sure someone here can set me straight) 'bomba' is Spanish for pump. With the use of hydraulics and the ***ociated pumps that were needed for a lowrider, the term stuck. But then again, I'm a pastey white dude from Illinois, what the hell do I know???
Being originally from The E.P. ( El Paso, Tejas ) Bombas were always used to refer to the older, 50s, 40s style lowriders ( round , bubbley, full fendered, Bomb shaped) as opposed to the 60s Impalas and 70s Rivieras that floated by on 13 inch Daytons at 5 MPH on Sundays around the park back in the day... But then again I'm just half breed metal head so what do I know.
it would be a cool name for a kid to give his big wheel!!! check it out, quick and dirty: http://www.lowridermagazine.com/historybook/
Good reads, I grew up at the right time in El Paso. The 70s, (pre mini-truck, pre-tuner cars, pre Hip-Hop...mexicans-americans listened to either oldies,Vicente Fernandez, Santana, Malo or Black Sabbbath) Lowriders everywhere, hot rods everywhere ( G.I.s), Harleys everywhere ( Bandidos ) it was really cool. My parents house was ( is ) caddy corner to one of the big parks. On Sundays we would sit for hours watching the parade. Vivid and touching memories of a miss-spent youth. I still love lowriders and hotrods and choppers and cholas and Tecate. Thanks for letting me ramble....I better go iron my bandana and watch Boulevard Nights.
The Jalopy Journal
