While not every lowrider hugging the road today can be expected to be a turntable glamor puss held together with lint-free cloths, it's the founding connection that brings a family together both in the garage and in their relationships. And that's what this piece is about-lowrider cars bolted together by the love of a familia.
Family Ties
Owner: Alex Cruz (son)
Vehicle: Black '67 Chevy Impala
City/State: Fresno, California
Engine/Drivetrain: Powdercoated V-8, 350-cid block with a four-barrel, chrome polished Edelbrock carburetor, an automatic 350 turbo Powerglide transmission, and a Flowmaster exhaust for minimal sound volume and interior resonance.
Body/Paint: Freelance body and paint man Jesse Fierro made the body so smooth you'd think it came fresh from the factory's assembly line. Also, the proper paint spray stroke is in its consistent thickness and shade.
Interior: Updated black vinyl with cornered edge tubing and standard upholstery foam keep his passengers super comfy while cruising to cool tunes. The black textured dash and gauges have also been restored to green light readiness.
Sound System: Alex toiled into the night installing a digital Sony AM/FM detachable head unit, which sits under the steering column connected to Sony and Lanzar speakers, amplifiers, and a Sony 10-disk CD changer.
Setup: No setup, just a nice big trunk for tools and ice coolers.
Tires: 155/80/R13 with fat white walls
Wheels: 13-inch, 100-spoke chrome Kool Ds with two wing knock-offs
Owner: Louis Cruz (father)
Vehicle: Silver '62 Chevy Impala convertible
City/State: Fresno, California
Engine/Drivetrain: Louis tested and tuned the V-8, 350-cid powerplant himself. The engine block is powdercoated with chromed-out engine essentials and accessories. The ride also features an automatic 350 turbo transmission and aftermarket glass pack exhaust tips to ease engine back pressure.
Body/Paint: With years of experience, Louis magically restored the body's unsightly blemishes to lowriding perfection and aligned the body's quarter panels to factory specs. The gleam with a slick Silverado Silver paint scheme was dawned by Lil' Sammy of Mastercraft in Fresno, California.
Interior: Matching the paint in silver vinyl complements on the inside with custom-ordered carpet and accessorized polished foot pedals.
Sound System: It has a Kenwood AM/FM digital stereo component system with two 400-watt Punch amplifiers, Kenwood speakers, and two 12-inch Planet Audio woofers.
Setup: The setup is Showtime hydraulics with 10 switches, six 12-volt batteries, and 8-inch (front) and 10-inch (rear) cylinders in a specially (fully or partially) reinforced frame, along with chassis work completed at Molinas in Fresno.
Tires: 13-inch Premium Sportway all-season whitewall radials
Wheels: 155/80/R13 Kool Ds