Iconic Chevrolet Lowriders On Display at the Petersen Museum
Some of the most significant lowriders ever built are Chevrolets – and now, they’re gathered in one place for a limited time.
In the great pantheon of iconic custom cars, the Gypsy Rose – a 1963 Chevrolet Impala – is the quintessential lowrider. It set the mold that lowrider culture continues to follow to this day. It’s such an icon, in fact, that it was once displayed in a glass case on the National Mall in Washington, DC. It’s also been inducted into the National Historic Vehicle Register.
Since the El Segundo Chevrolet Forum offices are just a few miles from Gypsy Rose’s East LA birthplace, there’s always an off chance of catching a glimpse of this beloved machine. That’s exactly what happened on a recent visit to the Petersen Museum for the “Best in Low: Lowrider Icons of the Street and Show” exhibit. The exhibit opened on May 12.
American culture at large is a melting pot of differing ideas and cultural identities, with a wide-reaching impact worldwide. With car culture so ingrained in the American way of life, it only makes sense that our car culture follows a similar pattern.
Low, Slow, and Beautiful
Lowrider culture may be an American invention, but Mexican immigrants in Southern California did the heavy lifting to form the basis of the style and make it popular. Now, lowriders are beloved all over the world, with their flashy, ornate styling imitated as far as Japan.
One of the more interesting cars in the exhibit is a 1958 Chevrolet Impala built by Takahiko Izawa of Nara, Japan. Thanks to a pioneering three-dimensional paint technique, the Impala looks as if it’s made entirely from engraved bare metal. It’s a striking take on the lowrider concept.
Another Japanese creation, the 1954 Chevy 210 known as “Sphinx,” was also on display. Its intense, multi-colored paint job reminds us of an LA sunset. It’s a further example of the international lowrider cultural exchange. It was built by Hisashi Ushida, a member of the Pharaohs Japan car club.
It’s a sister club to its counterpart, the Pharaohs, here in LA. Despite an ocean and a language barrier, the clubs share a close relationship. Custom cars are a universal language.
Want to see these incredible works of art in person? Visit the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles. The “Best in Low: Lowrider Icons of the Street and Show” exhibit runs through Spring 2025.
Photos: Derin Richardson for Chevrolet Forum
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