History Low Riders, Zoots Suiters and "Pachucos"

^^^^^ that is one gorgeous car

 

Surplus aircraft hydros. 1961


you can see the pump behind the grill

 

https://www.facebook.com/reel/604497351798989?fs=e&s=TIeQ9V&mibextid=0NULKw

 

Outstanding info. I saw hydraulics in the 60’s and rarely ever saw them used while driving most were used for driveways and deep dips in roadways. The pumps were from “Tommy Lift Gates” installed on pickup trucks and many were from the midnight auto supply.
I’m definitely not of fan of the hoppers today especially the ones used in such a way to destroy the cars showing off or in contests Their craftmenship is outstanding along with paint.

 

Hello,

Rules were made for safety. Back in the early days of hot rodding and cruising, people cut coils, adjusted the springs to lower the car, took the springs out to see how low the hot rod or custom cruiser can sit and move down the street. but, h0w low is safe? At first, no limits were in the law books. So, folks lowered their cars to what ever they wanted to use. Afterall, it is your own car and looks were important.

This is not a "lowrider," so to speak, but a couple of teenagers took out several coils to lower the Oldsmobile to the legal limits of safety. It may look cool, but the ride was awful and very inconvenient. At every road dip or intersection with drainage dips, one had to go so slowly. Or sometimes the drainage dip was so deep that the Oldsmobile had to go forward at an angle.

Drive-in movies are notorious for steep ramps and dips. This Oldsmobile was relegated to the outside speaker poles or one of the back row spots. But, those were usually taken by “empty” cruisers… ha!

Jnaki

How low can a car go to be CHP legal?

The lowest part of any car cannot be lower than the bottom of the rims of the car in question. In case of a blow out, the rims will keep the car above s****ing. Or so we all think that is what will happen. The gas tank is usually the lowest and the 4 rims have to have enough space to keep the car from a blowout flat and s****e the tank.

That was the worst effect the CHP was trying to prevent. If the blow out happens, that side of the car will sag. If there are several teens inside, then it is lower than legal and s****ping will happen. Then of course, causing an explosion from the leaking gas.

So, by the skimpiest of measurements, this Corvair is legal in So Cal.


Note:
Recently, California p***ed a law to allow cruising in all forms of cars. No checkpoints crossed in 15-30 minutes as previously noted. No checking to see if the car is lowered below the legal limits. Most cars with folks inside are illegal when the people are inside. the weight makes the car lower than when the car is standing still without anyone inside.

My wife saw this Corvair, compared it to her old 62 Corvair during our college days and said that yellow Corvair is so low, it is illegal, isn’t it?

After getting home, I compared the photos, did some art drawings and it showed that while empty and parked on the street, it meets the legal “above the rim” scenario measurement. But the minute several folks get inside, the springs sag and now, it is a ground s****er and dangerous.

The recent law p***ed says the measurement will be not a stopping point for those cruisers on their adventures… YRMV

 

On display in an art gallery.

 

https://www.tiktok.com/@46to64/video/7243662389432814891
maybe this will work.
Has some nice pics.
Wish I had better pics of this.

it’s better than the Kustomrama pic though

 

Yes I saw this on Spanish News here in Los Angeles, looks like law enforcement gave some input with a 58 Chevy Delray near them.

 

Attended a low rider show in Goodyear, AZ today at the Cleveland/Cincinatti Spring training ballpark. Beautiful weather, nice family atmosphere.