Petersen Automotive Museum Set to Open Lowrider Exhibit

The Petersen Automotive Museum will celebrate the artistry, culture and history of lowriders with its largest and most comprehensive lowrider exhibit, set to open on May 11. “Best in Low: Lowrider Icons of the Street and Show” will showcase some of the most significant lowriders in history.

Located in the Mullin Grand Salon, the exhibit will celebrate the unique identity of lowrider culture by highlighting the intricate and labor-intensive craftsmanship that goes into creating these mobile masterpieces. The display will showcase the techniques that have become a hallmark of the lowrider scene, including custom paint, engraving, complex suspension and plush upholstery. The exhibit will also feature artwork and photography from influential artists from the Chicano lowrider art scene.

Vehicles on display will include one of the world’s most famous lowriders, the 1964 Chevrolet Impala known as “Gypsy Rose.” The iconic ride earned its initial notoriety in the 1970s television sitcom “Chico and the Man.” In 2017, Gypsy Rose became the first lowrider to be inducted into the National Historic Vehicle Registry.

Other notable lowriders include the 1958 Chevrolet Impala convertible “Final Score” and 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air “Double Trouble,” both three-time Lowrider magazine Lowrider of the Year award winners, as well as the 1958 Chevrolet Impala “Dead Presidents,” built by Albert De Alba Sr. and Albert De Alba Jr., who are among the most established and respected craftsmen in the lowrider community. The exhibit will also feature the 1954 Chevrolet 210 Sedan “Sphinx,” an influential car in the Japanese lowriding community, and numerous other award-winning lowrider cars, motorcycles, bicycles and more.

Today, lowrider communities can be found across the United States from the West Coast to the Southwest, and even in Chicago, Kansas City and New York City. Internationally, there are lowrider communities in Japan, Brazil, Thailand and France.

“The lowrider displays are always a fan favorite, and we are excited to open the most comprehensive lowrider exhibit in the museum’s history,” said Petersen Automotive Museum Executive Director Terry L. Karges. “This exhibit celebrates the rich history of lowriders and will give visitors the opportunity to learn about their impact on the automotive world, the culture at large and the history of car customization.”

“This Lowrider exhibit will be a new chapter exploring the craftsmanship of lowriders and the impact of this culture on the customization scene,” said Dr. Denise Sandoval, guest curator at the Petersen Automotive Museum. “We will also highlight the diversity of the culture through the region for the first time, including cars and motorcycles from Northern California, New Mexico, Texas and Japan, as well as feature cars owned and worked on by women.”