Debra Dehoyoz was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. She has lived there all her life and she claims that she was bitten by the lowrider bug back when she was about 13 years old. She remembers her grandfather driving her and her oldest brother to junior high school in his 1963 Impala. On weekends, she would go over to her grandparents’ house and would simply dream about that car.
The Chevy “C” indicates two-wheel drive, while the “K”...
As Debra got older, her lowriding-inspired daydreams never went away. Her first ride ended up being a ’77 Monte Carlo. Shortly after getting that ride, she recalls her uncle coming across a ’69 Chevy C10 truck. At first, Debra admits she didn’t see the potential such a truck would have, but after he fixed it up and customized it, she also became motivated to build a truck.
Eventually, Debra did find a ’71 C10. The build was slow at first, but she says she never lost the ultimate look she had envisioned for this ride. Debra’s husband Ricky and some of Debra’s uncles and friends all came through to help her with transforming this ride from an ordinary truck to one mean cruiser!
Debra and her husband (who is also into lowriding) created a Christian car club called Jesus is King. Debra says that without God in their lives, they are nothing. When they started to attend car shows, the married couple found many other lowriders who were also Christian and had other common interests. The club has since grown quite a bit and they continue to “love and honor the Lord and ride for Jesus.” Debra says they minister wherever they go.
1971 Chevy C10
Vehicle Nickname
Oye Morena
Owner
Debra Dehoyoz
City
Phoenix, Arizona
Club
Jesus is King Christian Car Club
Body/Paint
Jose and Jaime Carillo of Javier’s Customs in Phoenix added custom goodies including a rear roll pan, frenched antenna, relocated gas tank, shaved side markers and tailgate handle, and a billet grille. The truck was given a custom copper pearl finish, complete with rooftop flakes and ghost patterns. Bugs of Bugs Auto Art in Mesa, Arizona, did the pinstriping.
Suspension
Airbag suspension built and installed by Kimo of Phoenix
Engine
1971 Chevy 400ci V-8 built by Rick’s Kustomz in Phoenix
Interior
Custom door panels, black cloth seats, and a heart-shaped steering wheel by good friend Felipe
Sound System
A JVC head unit installed by Rick’s Kustomz
When competing in shows, everyone trips over their own feet to make their car stand out, especially when it comes to the sea of Impalas bound to show up. Thinking from the judges backwards and whatever your budgetary constraints are, you have to ask yourself what hasn’t been done before or if you can cleverly come up with a combination of things that hasn’t been done before. While some who have already looked at these photos may be wondering if we accidently transposed them, the answer is no. Robert Arreola set out to build a lowrider that’d shake things up and we feel he definitely accomplished what he set out to do.
Is this the same way Michelangelo created his murals?
Back in the early days, Robert’s ’66 Chrysler Imperial was definitely a departure from what shows up at events, but was never enough to place since it was his daily driver. When saving up for a Harley, a Latin World member in the LA chapter told him about a ’62 Impala in pieces he might be interested in. With little more to go on than a gutted and disassembled body with a wrapped frame, Robert and his friend David Escobar set out to build this SS into something that’d stand out from the crowd and do it all in David’s backyard.
Among the ideas that were tossed around were a Hollywood top, popular in the ’70s and a right-hand drive conversion. It was a difficult task to undertake, but Robert and David jumped in and quickly realized the domino effect of the conversion. The front suspension consists of a Buick Regal setup with the Impala A arms modified to accept the Buick ball joints. The hydraulic system has engraved, chromed, and polished Pesco 777 aircraft pumps mounted on Plexiglas for a floating effect, OG fat 8-inch front and 10-inch rear cylinders, two switches, four Accumax solenoids, and four batteries pushing the juice through hard lines. The stock rearend has been chromed and outfitted with ’84 Lincoln disc brakes.
A 350/350 engine and trans combo powers the car and has been beefed up with an Edelbrock 750 carb, chrome intake, chrome alternator, shaved firewall, and billet valve coves. Because the steering had to be moved, a custom radiator was built by Matt’s Radiator to make room for the ’80s Blazer gearbox and ididit column. The booster and master cylinder were moved under the dash, which was a job in itself to get the brakes dialed in and keep those cross-laced Zeniths coming to a stop.
Inside is where things look a little, well, backwards. The dash is a ’59/’60 unit that had the center section cut out, flipped the ends, and molded back together by Amy’s Body Shop. The glovebox and ashtray were taken out and it was fitted with Dakota Digital gauges and a pushbutton Retro-Tek shifter for the trans. A custom center console is straddled by stock seats covered in beige suede by Santos Upholstery in Bakersfield, California. A Pioneer head unit powers Rockford Fosgate speakers and Avionixx amps and was installed by Car Audio Pros.
Amy’s Body Shop sectioned the roof and painted the car in House of Kolor candy violet with a silver base and it was then adorned with muraling by Jose Hernandez, pinstriping by Al Morales and Mike Lamberson, and engraving by Carlos Salas.
With all the wild changes on this car, needless to say there were a lot of late nights doing things over again when unexpected problems arose. Special thanks in getting Rose Royce through those issues go to Robert’s wife Natalie, his children, David Escobar, and Robert Moreno for helping him out. And yes, Robert is still getting use to this setup and occasionally gets in on the wrong side.
1962 Chevrolet Impala SS
Vehicle Nickname
Rose Royce
Owner
Robert Arreola
Robert Arreola holds his Latin World plaque up proud among his loyal members.
Engine
350 engine from a 1969 Chevy installed by David Escobar with Retrotek pushbutton shifter, Billet Specialties air cleaner/valve covers,Edelbrock 750 carburetor, chrome intake manifold, glasspacks, serpentine belt, custom aluminum radiator from Matt’s Radiators, red top Optima battery.
Body/Paint
Amy’s Body Shop in Bakersfield sectioned off the top to make a Hollywood top before shooting it with a House of Kolor candy violent. Jose Hernandez added the murals while Carlos Salas added the gold and chrome engraving. Al Morales and Mike Lamberson are credited for the striping.
Suspension
Two Pescos 777 pumps, two Baby Adel dumps, four Accumax solenoids, 8-inch OG Fat cylinders in the front and 10-inch in the back, polished hard lines, four Groupe 31-series batteries installed by David Escobar. Chrome stock rearend with a Buick Regal front suspension, early ’80s Blazer gearbox with modified Impala A-arms to fit the Regal suspension and an ididit steering column.
Sound System
Car Audio Pros in Bakersfield, CA, installed the Pioneer touchscreen head unit, Avionixx CXA1220 and Avionixx CXA640 amps, Rockford Fosgate 6×9-inch and 6.5-inch mids with 12-inch Rockford Fosgate subwoofers
Interior
Custom build right-hand drive using 1959/’60 Impala dash, Dakota Digital gauges, wood-grain steering wheel, custom built center counsel and custom suede upholstery by Santos Upholstery in Bakersfield, CA.
Wheels/Tires
13-inch cross-laced 72-spoke Zenith / OG Premium Sportways
What’s New for’62
The Impala’s third generation in 1962 saw significant changes. Two new engines appeared with the 283 being punched and prodded into the 327 and the 348 into the famous 409, which were only available with a manual transmission. The Turboglide trans was discontinued and the venerable two-speed Powerglide remained the only automatic transmission until 1965. Some features the Impala boasted were full-length upper bodyside molding with a contrasting color insert, a ribbed body sill molding, stainless steel window reveal trim, Impala script on the rear fenders, and C pillar styling and wrap-around rear window on sedans. A mere $156 at the time would’ve upgraded your SS option to a convertible – highly sought by collectors. Even the hardtops with their “convertible style” roof on coupes are popular with collectors and helped bump production numbers over the 700,000 mark for the Impala that year.
During our trip to Japan, we got a chance to shoot this timeless 1955 Chevy Bel Air convertible thanks to our friend Noriyuki Nakoshi of New Jacks. This American classic is a milestone in automotive history. The introduction of the first Tri-Fives helped GM brake sales record with its fresh new styling.
This ’55 owned by Mituhisa Ishii of Ibaraki, Japan, captures American history perfectly with its turquoise paint (a favorite among Tri-Five owners). The white and turquoise two-tone interior complements the look of the car. To enhance the original look, Mituhisa added duel spotlights to the outside. A compass and Guide traffic light viewer were added to the dash and power windows.
Under the dash are four switches that control the two old-school pumps in the trunk. The hydraulics are controlled by four batteries. The minimal amount of batteries are enough to lift and lower the car without weighing it down and letting the 13-inch 100-spoke wires get more pavement time.
It wasn’t until Mituhisa had the Bel Air in excellent condition that he was able to add the final accessory with his club plaque. Sixty years after its introduction, the ’55 Bel Air is still a head turner and this one is doing it overseas.
1955 Chevy Bel Air Convertible
Vehicle Nickname
Ishii ’55
Owner
Mituhisa Ishii
City/State
Ibaraki, Japan
Club
Excellent CC
Engine
Stock 265 SBC
Interior
Stock
Body/Paint
Axalta turquoise
Suspension
Bottoms Up Hydraulics in Spring two old-school pumps with four batteries
Wheels/Tires
13-inch 100-colored spokes
Enter the Tri-Five
Chevrolet knocked one out of the park when they introduced the completely restyled Bel Air in 1955. The sleek, Ferrari-inspired grille, flat horizontal planes on the fenders, and dip in the beltline not only made it look fast, but Chevrolets went fast as well with the introduction of their first overhead valve small-block V-8. Buyers could opt for the 235 inline-six or the new 265ci V-8, available with a two- or four-barrel carburetor, the latter of which was offered as the “Power Pack” version on Bel Airs with dual exhaust and rated at 180 hp. A convertible Bel Air would’ve run you about $2,206 in 1955, but with only 41,292 made, you are really sitting on an automotive icon if you’re lucky enough to have one today.
The Impala was introduced in 1958 and positioned as the top-of-the-line Bel Air.
Chicago isn’t just the windy city or home to deep dish pizza. It’s also home to some of the finest lowrider vehicles in the world. Felipe Villarreal from Independent CC holds an annual car show in Chicago that brings out over 400 custom vehicles. The show is held at Tilted Kilt, a popular eatery in Chicago Heights, Illinois. Felipe, who some call the king of promotion, made sure there was plenty of activity at the event.
The lovely Georjah Jaymes was brought in for pictures with everyone. Music acts were on stage all day and plenty of food and drinks were available. Some custom vehicles drove from as far away as Texas to showcase their vehicles. The hop went off in front of the stage with 10 high risers showing off their moves. Independent Lowrider Show has become a ritual for the Midwest lowrider community and will only grow larger at each show.
When it comes to sourcing out a rearend for any of our lowrider projects, there is really only one choice — Currie Enterprises. They’ve built tens of thousands of rearends over the past 50-plus years, especially since their axles became synonymous with the performance aftermarket in the ’80s.
With the availability of original parts drying up (face it, you don’t see many 8- or 9-inch rears in junkyards these days), Currie set out to produce its own axle center housings, gear cases, yokes, and differential carriers. 9-Plus products are brand-new manufactured components and assemblies, meeting or exceeding OEM specifications. The housings and covers are made from high-tensile steel, almost 40-percent stronger than conventional 1010 low-carbon steel.
Building an axle housing to a customer’s required width or for the lowrider “skirt” preferred on Impalas, Caprices, and Ford LTDs is the “easy” part, as assembling the differential is somewhat more time-consuming and technical, yet the team at Currie makes it look simple.
Incidentally, all the 9-Plus components are available individually, should you want to build your own axle. Currie even sells an assembly alignment bar under its 9-Plus brand (www.new9inch.com), as well as everything from gear cases and mini-spools to T bolts, bearings, gaskets, and retainer plates.
1. Currie Enterprises recently moved to a new location, allowing the opportunity to redesign its facility. The result is a near production line of rearends. Here is a portion of the stock for various applications.
2. Once Currie has the desired width of a rearend, the axle tubes are cut to length from 3-inch diameter, 0.188-inch wall steel tubing.
3. With the axle housing placed in a jig, a gear case is installed with collars in place of the bearings, and an alignment bar installed through the collars. The axle tubes are then put in place.
4. The bearing housings (in our case largebearing Torino-style housings), also with collars in place of the bearings, clamped in place using Vise Grips, are slid over the alignment bar, and the housing width checked.
5. With the front face of the gear case set level, the bearing housings set perpendicular to that and all four bearings aligned using the bar, the assembly is tack welded.
6. The entire assembly is then transferred to a slowly rotating jig for final welding.
7. Once welded and cooled, the housing is moved to this heavy-duty press, which, with the assistance of another alignment bar, is used to perfectly align the bearings.
8. The housing is next drilled and tapped for a vent.
9. The completed housing is media blasted and hot tanked prior to delivery to the assembly area.
10. The new components for the third member; a 3.55:1 ring and pinion, open carrier, new yoke, and pinion support, plus bearings and bolts.
11. Assembly starts by pressing tapered bearings onto the carrier.
12. The ring gear is bolted to the carrier and torqued to 65 lb-ft. Note the splined tool used to hold the carrier in place while the ring gear is torqued.
13. The bearing and seal are pressed into the pinion support…
14. … and the pocket bearing is installed in the gear case.
15. This jig is used to hold the gear case while it’s assembled, and is capable of being flipped to work on both sides. Here the pinion support is bolted in…
16. … before the case is flipped and the ring gear and carrier are lowered into position. The spanner nuts and caps are then installed, the cap bolts tightened to 85 lb-ft.
17. After backlash is set using a dial gauge, depending on the gear manufacturer’s recommendations, gear marking compound is applied to the ring gear to establish the contact pattern between the ring and pinion. An electric drill is used to spin the pinion to determine this.
18. Once any adjustments are made, by readjusting the spanner nuts, and the pattern is central on the ring gear teeth, these lock tabs prevent the nuts from moving.
19. The yoke can now be installed on the pinion to complete the third member assembly.
20. Moving to the assembly area, and with the rearend housing clamped in a jig, an air-powered rotary wire brush is used to clean the axle tubes of any debris.
21. A magnet is glued in the bottom of the “pumpkin” to catch any metallic debris once the rearend is in use.
22. With a bead of RTV on both sides of the gasket, the third member is lowered into position in the casing.
23. While the third member was being assembled, the axles were cut to length and splined.
24. Currie has this neat press for installing wheel studs.
25. Do not forget to install the retainer plate prior to pressing the bearing onto the shaft!
26. With the retainer in place, the collet and bearing is pressed on.
27. Put a little grease on the bearings to install the shafts. The retainer plates use the same studs that hold the drum brake backing plates.
28. Strapped down, crated, and ready for delivery to your Impala classic garage.
Axalta Monthly Tech Tip
Just Trying to Blend in
By Axalta Coatings Systems
This month’s Axalta Coating Systems Paint Tip is about color matching. When it comes to blending light metallics, or even solid colors, it is one of the more challenging things for a new painter to master. The techniques below can be used for solid colors, metallics, pearls, and even tri-coats.
These blending recommendations are fast, easy, and durable.
Blending Tips for Success:
Lower air pressure usually helps blending.
On tough blends, use a narrow fan, reduced fluid flow, and reduced atomizing air pressure just high enough to give sufficient breakup. Gravity and HVLP equipment usually perform better than siphon.
For optimum results, use smaller fluid tips (1.5 mm or smaller) set to the lowest air pressure that still gives good atomization.
Agitate ready-to-spray paint thoroughly, especially high metallics and pearls, and be sure to spray immediately after loading the gun. Do not allow paint to settle in the gun cup. Stir paint again between coats if necessary.
Apply base color over properly prepared surfaces, and be sure to allow ample flash time between coats.
If you’re painting in a shop that uses Axalta water-base products, it’s pretty simple. All you have to do is add 50 percent of their blender to 50 percent of the solid basecoat that you have left over after coverage. Mix them together, stir thoroughly, then spray it on to the blend panel.
To achieve this same invisible blend with Axalta solvent basecoats, go through the same process but use reducer instead of a blender at 50 percent to achieve the same results. For more technical advice please feel free to contact Axalta’s product specialist Steven Chaparro at steven.c.chaparro@axaltacs.com.
To say that 22-year-old James DeHerrera of Colorado Springs, Colorado, is a natural in the game is an understatement. He’s young, but the amount of experience he has is astounding. When he was 8 years old, James’ father owned a few lowriders. “I remember sitting at the kitchen table with my dad and he was looking through magazines with the name LOWRIDER on it,” James tells us. “I didn’t know what they were at the time, but I soon found out.
His father was browsing the magazine for new and creative things to add to his classic lowrider. At that moment, James became a true enthusiast and he was never the same. After first building a ’64 Impala and then later selling it, James was on the lookout for an older body style. He found a 1961 Chevy Impala for sale in Texas, laid down the asking price, and brought the Chevy back home to Colorado. To bring the Impala straight into true lowrider status, James added a set of wire wheels.
To match the already perfect paint, James brought the car to Bill Crider’s Auto Repair shop and they put the Impala on the rotisserie to ensure the entire undercarriage carried the same gold standard as the outside. His friend Chuckie came in and laid down some gold leafing and pinstriping to make it stand out even more.
James wanted to thank his sisters Emily and Estrella as well as his father James Sr. James’ father also has a custom ’63 Chevy Impala SS and on weekends they make time to cruise together. With friends like Chuckie, Bill Crider, and all the local car clubs in Colorado, it makes sense that Pot of Gold isn’t the only thing high in the Rocky Mountains.
1961 Chevy Impala
Vehicle Nickname
Pot of Gold
Owner
James DeHerrera Jr.
Car Club
No Affiliation
City
Colorado Springs, CO
Engine
Stock 283 with two-speed Powerglide transmission, chrome dress-up kit
Interior
Tan suede doors and seats, pinstriping on dashboard, NOS White Donut steering wheel
Body/Paint
PPG Camel Beige, gold metalflake, white pearl top, pinstriping and leafing by Chuckie
Suspension
Two CCE pumps, fat boy blocks, four batteries, four switches
Jesus “Chuy” Villegas used to take his younger brother Rick to cruise Mooney Boulevard in Visalia, California, and local car shows when they were younger. It didn’t take long for them to fall in love with the lowrider culture and get their own lowriders. They dreamed of building a car worthy of being featured in pages of LOWRIDER Magazine.
The Buick Regal still endures as a favorite style to the younger generation of...
“When I found out I was going to be a father, I decided to take a break from lowriding to focus on my family. My brother kept lowriding and he was able to make his dream come true.” His brother Rick Villegas’ 1994 Cadillac Fleetwood was featured in the February 2011 issue of LOWRIDER Magazine. “I remember him telling me that it would be nice if I could get a feature in the magazine also. When he told me that, I thought it was an impossible goal.” With the support of his wife Molly, Chuy bought this 1986 Buick Regal. With stock white paint, rims, and hydraulics, he began riding and showing his Regal.
Chuy’s car ended up displaying between two candy painted Cadillacs at a car show in Corcoran, California, that were featured in LOWRIDER Magazine. He noticed that everyone would take photos of the cars in front and behind his. “It didn’t bother me until my 5-year-old daughter asked me why no one looked at her car. That really choked me up and I promised her that we would do everything we could so people would notice her car.”
Soon after that, Chuy and his wife Molly sent the G-body to Trends Auto Body in Bakersfield, California, to begin its transformation. After receiving the Le Mans Sunset Orange with metallic orange paintjob, it received some leafing and striping by Curly’s Pinstriping in Paramount, California. The next stop was to take it to Alberto Herrera in Visalia, California, for one-of-a-kind murals. “We needed to come up with a unique theme before taking it to Alberto. My wife suggested going with an Egyptian theme and once we heard the song Egyptian Lover we knew it would be a perfect theme.”
Next stop was a custom interior with center console and bucket seats by California Upholstery in Bell Gardens, California. Finally Alberto Tapia installed the setup, Lugo’s Engraving and Edgar Castaneda did the engraving and the chrome was done by Moreno’s in Fresno, California. After 18 months of work, the car was completed and it accomplished everything it was set out to, from gaining notoriety at shows to getting featured in LOWRIDER Magazine. “My brother always told me ‘magazine or bust’ and now it’s a great accomplishment for two brothers from a small town to be featured in LOWRIDER. I want to give a special thanks to my wife who has always been supportive and to everyone that had a helping hand in building Egyptian Lover.
1986 Buick Regal
Vehicle Nickname
Egyptian Lover
Owner
Chuy and Molly Villegas
Car Club
United Central Valley
City
Corcoran, CA
Engine
Stock V-8
Interior
Ultraleather, butterscotch with saddle and yellow accents
Body/Paint
Le Mans Sunset orange with metallic orange, striping, leafing and Egyptian-themed murals
Suspension
Three Pro Hopper pumps and four AC Delco batteries
Wheels/Tires
13-inch good wheel with chrome dish and engraved knock-offs / 13-inch Premium Sport 5.20s
Sound
Pioneer deck, with all Cerwin Vega speakers and amps. The sound system consists of a 600-watt amp to power four 5-inch mids and an 800-watts amp to power two 10-inch subwoofers.
Club Family
The Villegas family are proudly representing their one-of-a-kind, beautiful Buick Regal.
People’s misfortunes can often lead to life-changing moments in our own lives. Such is the case with Dyse One of San Diego, California, who bought a 1967 Chevy Impala fastback from a friend who was preparing to leave on an extended stay to “college.” For years, this car sat and would become nothing more than a primered street cruiser for Dyse One. He would go on to sell it as well. Having always regretted the sale, he set off to find another fastback and, with help from his wife, he would soon be the owner of another ’67 Chevy Impala…only this time he was ready to give it the full Klique Car Club treatment.
The project would begin with a trip to 760 Kustom where Tiny would install the custom Black Magic two-pump setup with four dumps and six batteries. From there, this fastback was off to visit the Riviera Brothers, who would team up with Manny Cisneros to create this black candy base paintjob, featuring numerous custom gray metallic patterns, as well as layers of blue faded tape shade combinations and miles of fine-line pinstriping.
He decided to keep the interior semi original and resurrected the black-on-black stitched seats with vinyl and cloth inserts and added an updated digital dash cluster and Pioneer head unit. With all the existing metalwork chromed and polished and the Chevy small-block 350 overhaul nearing completion by John Alley and crew at Muscle Car Alley in San Marcos, California, it was finally time to bolt on the all chrome custom Zenith wire wheels with 5.20-13 Premium Sportways tires. Dyse One’s latest creation has become a fixture on the San Diego streets just like many of his one-off custom murals as well as his clothing line aptly named Dyse One Clothing.
Projects of this caliber can only be completed with the help of great friends and family says Dyse One and so special thanks are in order to all his fellow club Klique Car Club members and of course to his beautiful wife for helping him turn this dream into a reality.
1967 Chevy Impala
Owner
Dyse One
Nickname
Dyse One
City/State
San Diego, CA
Club
Klique C.C. San Diego
Engine
Chromed-out 350 Chevy small-block assembled at Muscle Car Alley in San Marcos, CA
Interior
Black on black original stitched vinyl and cloth inserts with an updated digital dash
Body/Paint
The Riviera Brothers and Manny Cisneros did the black candy base paintjob featuring numerous custom gray metallic patterns as well as blue faded tape shade combinations
Sound System
Pioneer sound system
Suspension
Black Magic two-pump custom hydraulic setup installed by 760 Kustoms
Wheels/Tires
All chrome Zenith wire wheels / 5.20-13 Premium Sportways
’67 Fastback
The body style of the new 1967 Impala was redesigned to give this car a longer look. The rear quarter panels took on a rounder, fuller look as well. This look became known as the “coke bottle” look.
We got invited to the Saint Hilary Church in Pico Rivera, California, on Saturday, October 3, for the 3rd Annual ShowLows Car and Bike Show. The weather could not have been any better for October and was actually pretty hot. The atmosphere was totally family oriented with plenty of kids, great vendors, a live band, and enough food for all the spectators to go back for seconds. All proceeds from the show go to benefit the Faith Foundation, but since we got a dash plaque/magnet and beer coozy as part of our entry swag, that was pretty cool. Check out the rides and bikes who showed up to make this very family-friendly scene. Even a priest from the church was on hand to give his blessing to the cars. We’re already looking forward to 2016.
Saturday, April 23 and Sunday, April 24, Lowrider Magazine is taking over the Dade County Fairgrounds for the 2016 Miami Super Show.
Featuring over 500 of the hottest lowriders in the world, live music and DJs including DJ Laz of Hits 97-3 , and hydraulics exhibition, and a kids zone filled activities this is guaranteed to be weekend of nonstop fun.
For vehicle registration, sponsorship, vendor booth, and general show information please visit www.miamilowridercarshow.com or call 954-642-1848.
Donald Montoya of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was born and raised around Harleys. “My dad, my brother, my sisters, my uncles, and my aunts all ride.” His father owned a Harley all his life, but after having a few kids he decided to sell it to focus on raising a family. “When I was about 10, my dad got a Harley again. Since then I’ve always wanted one to be able to ride with my dad,” explained Donald.
This 88ci motor with fishtail pipes roars down the road.
In 2008, Donald was approached about selling his lifted 1999 Chevy Silverado work truck. “I was hoping to get seven or eight grand, but he ended up offering me $12,000 for it.” As soon as he was cashed out, he went with his mom to purchase this 2004 Road King.
He met Mark Lujan and the guys from La Vida Customs at a local show. Mark explained all the different customizing possibilities one can do to a Harley. “Mark told me to go to his shop the next day to check out some stuff. I did, and the next thing I know, we are tearing down the bike and fully customizing it. We added 21-inch wheels in the front, stretched bags, beach bars, fishtail pipes, and a new paintjob.” That was the first of four transformations this Harley would receive.
The Road King looks mean from any angle you look at it.
The latest build took Donald and the La Vida Customs crew four months. They began by stretching the hard bags, molding the taillights, and stretching the rear and front fenders. Mark Lujan then sprayed a House of Kolor candy teal. Victor Cordero and Joey Demny added pinstriping, while Pete of Innovations in Albuquerque used black leather and alligator for the seat.
A raked neck, center kickstand, and 26-inch SMT Machine wheels with 26×3.5-inch Vee Rubber tires were added. For the final touches Victor Cordero of San Diego, California, added the murals of Kings and Queens. “Harley Davidson made all kinds of bikes, but only one king and that was the Road King. To me the Road King is the king of the road, so I ran with that for a theme and named it Rey De Reys (King of Kings).
Currently the bike is receiving its fifth and craziest transformation yet. The build should be in its final stages by the time this issue hits newsstands. “I want it to look more like a sled,” says Donald who wants to thank Mark Lujan, Jerome Rocha of Southwest Choppers, his brothers at La Vida Customs, and his wife for supporting him.
“Originally, the BBQ was something we would do with the club at my house,” explained Marvin Shivnarain. The BBQ was never meant to be a big event, but many other local riders heard of the BBQ and the club kept inviting more and more people. Eventually they ran out of room for all the cars and decided to move it to the park and began an annual event. In 2001, Drastic hosted their first official BBQ at Valley Stream State Park. “The event could have been a lot bigger, but we decided to keep it more exclusive to lowriders,” says Marvin.
This year, Drastic Auto Club hosted their 14th annual BBQ and admission to the show was one can of food per person. The canned food is donated to the Island Harvest Foundation to feed the homeless. Members of Drastic worked the grill all day to feed show participants and spectators. With about 300 cars, the club had their hands full.
Many clubs from New York showed up such as Tekniquez, Certified, Ghetto Fam, Lunatics, and Grounded For Life. Many out of state club showed up from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and South Carolina like So Co Lowz, Chicanos, Tru East Siders, Modern Times, Skrape House, Individuals, Obsession, Loyalty, and Lowrider Connection. Also in attendance was Andrew with his blue Cutlass who showed up to defend his King of New York title. Andrew was crowned The King of New York for the seventh straight year.
If you haven’t attended the show before, check it out in 2016. We’ll be out there and looking for cars to shoot. Until next year.
When we have our heart set on a certain car, sometimes we’ll do anything to find it. Matt Smith perused the Internet in search of a ’61 Impala rag, but alas, he came up empty. When he reached out to VMax of Ultimate Hydraulics in Norco, California, to help him find one, only two weeks went by before he found Matt a potential project car. As with many of us who finally find what we’re after, it was in pieces with no motor and trans. That didn’t discourage him from moving forward on it and having VMax turn it into the sweet silver ride you see here. After all, he’s a true gambler who knew this was a bet worth making.
VMax took care of the custom undercarriage that’s totally chromed out with hardlines running to two custom engraved tanks, two pumps with external pump heads and covers, three dumps, and six hidden batteries. The rear sports a 9-inch with a Y bar and it’s all brought to a stop courtesy of four-wheel disc brakes by CPP. For power, a chromed-out LS3 puts out plenty of oomph and a 350 trans keeps it all churning nicely.
The interior also sports the gambling theme with embroidering on the suede seats and door panels. Custom armrests were made and have controls for the power windows, while a custom console holds the four switches for the juice and TV monitor. A Pioneer head unit and amp powers all the JL Audio speakers.
The exterior was shod in silver with Oriental blue accents and gambling murals can be seen throughout the trim on the car. The gas tank door is also adorned with the car’s name: “Aces Up My Sleeve.” Matt knows his way around a deck of cards, so believe it or not, some of the money that went to fixing up the car actually came from his winnings.
Although there’s still a lot more Matt would like to do to the car, it’s certainly another masterpiece to come out of the Ultimate Hydraulics’ garage. Special thanks go to VMax and crew for all the work. “I’ve got a lot of love and respect for that guy,” Matt says. Keep the card tricks coming Matt. Apparently you know how to push your luck.
1961 Chevy Impala Convertible
Vehicle Nickname
Aces Up My Sleeve
Owner
Matt Smith
City/State
Salt Lake City, UT
Engine
LS3 and 350 trans
Interior
Stock with blue suede, custom console and door panels
Sound
Pioneer head unit and amp, JL Audio speakers
Body/Paint
Silver and oriental blue by Ultimate Hydraulics. Engraving by Hernan. Patterns and pinstriping by Ultimate Hydraulics.
Suspension
Two custom Ultimate Hydraulics pumps, three dumps, two tanks, six batteries. All hardlined.
When it comes to safety issues and classic trucks, gas tanks are probably one of the most highly debated subjects. While some will argue that it’s safer in the rear, others will argue that it’s best by the cab. Depending on whom you ask, the answers will always vary and the debate will carry on.
That said, the best decision to go with is the one that makes you feel safest, and for this ’54 build, we opted to mount a new 19-gallon tank out back on the frame. At least for us, there was something quite unsettling about driving near a tank of combustible liquid, so we decided to throw it out back. To top it off, we didn’t want to go through the process of restoring an older tank, so we decided to with a custom-made unit from Classic Performance Products.
Since we used a new frame from the artisans at TCI, all we had to do was supply the dimension to CPP and they hand crafted a new gas tank that would drop right in between the rails on the rear of the frame. To be honest, doing a step-by-step installation may come off as quite comical because it really was as easy as dropping it in and bolting it up. Of course you have to install the fuel filler and down tube along with the brass fittings, and necessary fuel sender, but it’s pretty self-explanatory.
On some applications you may have to shorten the fuel sender, but other than that, the install is relatively easy. CPP makes one of the finest aftermarket tanks on the market. The aluminum gas tanks simply fit between the framerails, are fully baffled, and are compatible with EFI or carbureted applications. Once the tanks are installed, fuel can be added through the bed floor, or custom side fills can be added. These tanks are pre-notched for leaf spring clearance and install without having to move the crossmembers.
While CPP gas tanks offer a slew of benefits, the greatest benefit we’ve experienced is the peace of mind that it brought us. To know that your fuel is being carried far away from the cab is enough for us to make the switch, and it’s also good to know that you’ve got a fresh clean tank to hold the juice to your lifeline.
Should you hate trips to the gas station, CPP offers their aluminum gas tanks for many applications and you can even opt to go with higher capacity tanks. In addition, they’re all crafted in the USA and their quality and customer service is unmatched.
We loaded up the Project ’54 Lowrider Truck frame, manufactured by Total Cost Involved, and made a trip down to the great and helpful people from Classic Performance Products. Measuring tape, a pen, and drawing paper came along with them as they took a look at the location where their aluminum 19-gallon tank would be set and mounted. Even though CPP has a complete line of fuel tanks, they wanted to make sure that their tank would fit on to the rear of the framerails like a glove. Once the mounting specs and modifications were made for EFI compatibilities, we received the tank for installation.
Advantages of an Aluminum CPP Tank:
Rust Prevention
Aluminum fuel tanks are less susceptible to corrosion. To be honest, purchasing one of these CPP aluminum tanks will last a lifetime. Steel is also more susceptible to rust and corrosion when exposed to moisture and the rust factor multiplies when it’s exposed to road salt and sea air.
Low-Sulfur Fuel
Nowadays, the increased use of low-sulfur fuels promotes an increase in interior corrosion of fuel tanks. Aluminum is not nearly susceptible to this type of corrosion and it is yet another added bonus when going with a CPP tank.
Weight Savings
Aluminum tanks are much lighter. Weight reduction is one of the best ways to reduce pollution and increase gas mileage, so this is a win-win.
Baffles:
CPP tanks come with baffles, which are located inside the tank. These baffles help provide internal support to help withstand fuel sloshing loads, and keeps slosh to a bare minimum. That means that it keeps your fuel from beating up your fuel sender lever and float while keeping the fuel gauge reading steady.
The Lowrider Project ’54 Bomb Truck undercarriage mockup build is now complete, except for the upcoming exhaust install. As you have followed along in our special series of articles containing the early step-by-step build, we will soon begin the next stage of disassembling the entire Total Cost Involved Lowrider Truck frame. We will be removing all of the modern suspension components, including the Wilwood disc brakes, air suspension, high-performance brake booster, and Currie rear axle. We will also remove the Chevrolet Performance Crate LSX engine and 4L85 E Transmission so that we can send over everything chassis related to get powdercoated. Stay tuned for another upcoming Project Bomb Truck segment, as we reinstall the truck’s chassis, and then further down the road we slightly chop the top of the truck’s cab?
The Classic Performance Products EFI aluminum tank, which specifically fits onto the...
Spark plugs ignite the air and fuel mixture within your engine’s cylinders. This continuous ignition is what keeps your car moving down the road. If you don’t check on your spark plug’s performance with regular services, or change them when necessary, they can cause problems.
Here are some indications that your car’s engine probably needs a new spark of life!
Rough engine idle: The sound an engine gives off is constant and smooth, but if your spark plugs aren’t performing as they should, your engine will produce a rough and jittery sound and create larger vibrations throughout the car.
Trouble starting your car: Many people think that their car not starting right up is because they probably need a fuel filter or their battery is going dead. It is also possible that faulty spark plugs are causing your battery to drain.
Engine misfiring: When your engine misfires it causes the vehicle to halt for a fraction of a second and then continues it’s usual movement. One or more cylinders aren’t firing properly, which can also lead to higher amounts of emissions.
Wasting fuel: If your spark plugs have deteriorated, you’ll notice that your vehicle is starting to eat up gas a lot more and you wind up making more visits to the gas station.
Lack of acceleration: If your vehicle is accelerating poorly, it is pretty easy to tell. It feels as if the vehicle doesn’t want to respond when you put your foot down, or it does, but not as quickly as it used to.
If your vehicle’s performance relates to any of the above warnings, and if you’re not able to change the spark plugs yourself, then it’s about time to have your vehicle serviced and ask for E3 Spark Plugs with the DiamondFIRE power to work in your car, SUV, minivan, truck, motorcycle, snowmobile, or even your ATV. E3 Spark Plugs are not ordinary plugs either! The diamond-shaped architecture flame kernel moves toward the air/fuel mixture to create higher combustion pressure. This in turn allows for a better burn to improve fuel efficiency and engine performance. Please visit www.e3sparkplugs.com or ask for them at any auto parts store.
Local San Diego radio personality, Xavier “The Xman” continues to bring cancer awareness to our barrios with his Cruise for the Cause benefit car show. Going on its 12th year, this family-friendly event with sunny San Diego serving as its backdrop has it all, from an array of custom cars to local bands and vendors.
Bombs, traditionals, and even originals like this ’56 Bel Air showed up to...
Having outgrown its previous location, this new bigger venue was filled to capacity with the likes of Groupe, The Crowd, Individuals, Pachucos, and local favorite Amigos Car Club. Even the exclusive Elite Car Club came to show support by displaying many of their full show cars along with Lowrider Car of the Year “El Rey.”
“We all know someone that has been diagnosed with this terrible disease,” says Xman, “so I decided put on this free event each year in an attempt to put a spotlight on cancer, especially on the children and the families that have been directly affected by it.” No doubt, this much-needed event will continue to bring the lowrider community together continuing its donations and awareness for this cause.
Inspirations for builds come in many shapes and forms. For many, it’s something we’ve dreamed of our entire lives, and for others it’s simply something that has been passed down from generation to generation. Raul Salazar of Azusa, California, had purchased a 1954 GMC pickup. After tinkering with it for over 20 years, he was still a long way from bringing this antique relic back to life. That is until his granddaughter Victoria was born in 1998. As a baby, he would take her to all the car shows and as she got older she would proudly say, “Your truck is going to be mine one day grandpa.” Ruben was not about to let his granddaughter be seen cruising around in a half-completed lowrider. So with newfound vigor and enthusiasm, Ruben set off to finally complete a lowrider worthy enough to carry his granddaughter’s name.
Noah Duran of LDuran bodyshop in Azusa was called upon to give this truck its signature two-toned dark blue and Deep Sky Blue color combination. Longtime friend Agustin lent a hand by sewing together the interior’s cloth bench seat with a contrasting dark slate gray. Rene Salinas installed the custom Clarion audio system. The original 1954 GMC 235 was tuned up and firing on all cylinders when the custom wood-grain bedliner was installed. With numerous NOS accessories bolted on, like passenger-side spare mount and OE Firestone whitewall tires mounted onto 16-inch artilleries it, was finally time to take La Victoria out on the boulevard.
1954 GMC Pickup
Vehicle Nickname
La Victoria
Owner
Raul Salazar
City
Azusa, CA
Engine
Original 1954 GMC 235
Upholstery
Agustin in El Monte sewed together a contrasting dark slate gray cloth bench seat
Body/Paint
LDuran in Azusa gave this truck its signature two-toned dark blue and Deep Sky Blue color combination
Suspension
John Teagarden in Riverside installed a custom front and back air ride suspension
Rosendo and Jackie Romero are no strangers to lowriding. With their latest project recently sold and while on the way to Paris, France, this dynamic duo of husband and wife suddenly found themselves looking for a new car to build. As luck would have it, they ran across a 1966 Chevy Impala at a local junkyard and instantly knew this was exactly what they were looking for. “This project would start out as most, I just wanted a simple paint and interior,” says Jackie, “but the more we worked on it, the more we ended up doing to it.” So with an eight-month deadline, the project was up and running.
A husband and wife machine that’s now crusing The Strip.
A mechanic by trade, Rosendo and longtime friend, Jorge rebuilt a 1987 Chevy small-block 350. They would go on to update it with numerous chrome and billet accents, as well as the custom paint that now adorns the engine compartment. Soto Upholstery in Las Vegas, Nevada, would create custom patterns with a blend of burgundy and red vinyl and light red cloth inserts.
In order to create this car’s signature look, Rosendo would team up with local renowned artist Zack Felix of Felix Dezigns. They would paint their latest canvas, creating an unprecedented five-stage paintjob using a special custom blend of colors from Matrix FX candy paints. Together, they would lay down a candy apple base with various white undertones, layer it with plum, violet, and Tantalizer Purple patterns, and accent it with pinstriping, tape shades, water-drop effects, fan shades, and gold leafing. With a custom two-pump hydraulic setup in place and triple gold plated OG 72-spoke Zenith wire wheels mounted onto OG Premium Sportway 5.20s, it was time to shuffle this “Baraja De Oro” and test their luck at one of Sin City’s local casinos.
1966 Chevy Impala
Vehicle Nickname
Baraja De Oro
Owner
Rosendo Romero
Car Club
Goodtimes C.C.
City
Las Vegas, NV
Engine
1987 Chevy small-block 350 w/chrome and billet accessories
Interior
Soto Upholstery created patterns with a blend of burgundy and red vinyl and light red cloth inserts
The Goodtimes Car Club and their many chapters across the country come well...
Body/Paint
Rosendo and Felix Dezigns teamed up to lay down the cranberry candy base with numerous plum, violet, and strawberry red patterns with accenting pinstriping, tape shades, and gold leafing
Wheels/Tires
Triple Gold OG 72-spoke Zenith wire wheels / OG Premium Sportway 5.20s
New for 1966
In 1966, triple rectangular taillights replaced the triple round lights used on fullsize Chevys since 1958.
The Groupe Car Club plaque has been a well-known symbol in lowriding since 1971, busting out in East L.A. This club, like many others since then, began to prosper and with its name, and became an assemblage of over nine chapters. One of its newest additions is the Tucson, Arizona chapter, which became official November 10, 2012. Mother Chapter President Steve Alvarez Mott provided the guidance and approval for this chapter to fly its own plaque with the Tucson brand attached.
The Arizona Chapter is lead by President Jesus Rivera, and Vice President Tony Gomez. The club’s Sergeant of Arms is Jesus “Chuy” Olivarria, and Treasurer Sal Paz Jr. The club’s membership consists of 11 members who also include their families as an important support system. This club takes their members’ families along for the ride as illustrated in their mission statement: “As contributing members of our community, we encourage respect, love, and support to our families, friends, and others for the good of Groupe.”
Club meetings are held at Rodeo, Kennedy, and Joaquin Murrieta Park in Tucson. Club business usually involves local and out-of-town events, local charities that may need help, and progress on new cars being built. Members are from all around Tucson and as far as Casa Grande and the town of Maricopa.
Treasurer Sal Paz Jr. notes family is what holds the club together. “We always have our families’ input and that is what’s best for the club, including getting together for birthday parties, baby showers, weddings, and for the holidays. These type of things are the main parts of our lives.
“One of the club members, George Wood, is hearing impaired and just finished building a radical car hopper. So we have our own unique way of communication with him, while some members are learning sign language. Also, club member George Rivera is a heart and kidney transplant recipient who works with the Donate Life Organization, informing people of his story and other recipients’ stories in the community. I firmly agree with Sal’s convictions regarding his club because I have seen firsthand this young man grow up. I first met Sal decades ago when he was a small boy and his father, Sal Paz Sr., brought him and his brother Sebastian to the Mesa Super show. Sal Sr. was always so friendly and respectable, and was a great example for his children to see. The fruit seldom falls far from the tree, and in this case, Sal was being groomed into becoming a lowrider leader back then and didn’t realize it. But I have seen his father in his eyes and this part of our unique culture can only be taught with love, respect, and discipline, which is carried on to the next generation.”
In the short time that Groupe has made its stake in Tucson, they have been civic minded in many ways. These include partaking in the Tucson Holiday Light Parade where cars are decorated in Christmas lights, the University of Arizona Lowrider Showcase in downtown Tucson, donations to local charities, volunteering at CPLC Tucson Para Los Ninos Christmas Event, and coordinating car washes in the community with the proceeds going for funeral costs or health costs to someone within the club, family, or community. They also assist in helping a local youth group Semilla De Fe so that they could attend a Youth Conference in California.
The Tucson Chapter has also been very active in entering the LRM Las Vegas Super Show, Mesa Super Show, LRM Arizona Super Show, LRM Espanola Car show, as well as local shows in Tucson, Phoenix, and Superior, Arizona.
Congratulations to the Groupe in Tucson as they continue in the long tradition of over four decades of serving their color of blue and remaining true!
Stepping foot into Greenspans is like taking a step back into time. In its simplest form, Greenspans is a time capsule of fashion that is backed by organized chaos and a plethora of knowledge and history. Considered the last OG clothing store, Greenspans is a collective of the most hard-to-obtain deadstock fashion from the ’50s and ’60s. From Hush Puppies to Imperials, Stacy Adams to Pendletons, their inventory litters each and every aisle of the store. Even more impressive is that they know exactly where everything is.
To be honest, there really is no way to summarize what Greenspans has accomplished. To do so in a few pages would not do justice to the brand, as it would take volumes to properly give them the justice they deserve. The company, which was first started back in 1928, is a family-owned and operated business now run by a third generation of Greenspans. With Evan and Josh at the helm of the throne, the low-key duo continue to be silent influencers and tastemakers in the business of OG apparel, and their accomplishments run deep.
Raul is a longtime customer who has been shopping with Greenspan’s since he...
They’ve provided the wardrobe for hundreds of your favorite movies, have become a destination point for treasure hunting, and the understanding they have of their niche market makes them a powerful voice to manufacturers, especially the Pendleton brand. In fact, it was the strength of their opinion that ultimately led Pendleton to making and including XXXL through 5XL sizes in their lineup. In addition to that, they release one to two exclusive Pendletons that are sold only at their location.
Stepping foot into their shop is simply unreal. There’s something wholesome and family oriented about the character of the shop, and it was reminiscent of the days when my parents used to pay visit to their favorite “mom and pop” shops. The staff’s knowledge of the Pendleton and OG apparel game is unrivaled, and with over 100,000 pieces in inventory, it’s testament to their faith, pride, and dedication to the OG apparel game.
It’s hard to visit Greenspans and not want to spend money on some of their...
Within the first 30 minutes inside, I was impressed to say the least. I watched as one customer from El Paso, Texas, came to buy some shirts, followed by a lady from Miami, and just when things got interesting, another customer from New Mexico dropped in, followed by a Fender executive who came in to buy a Pendleton and some old-school shoes. The clientele at Greenspans is diverse and it’s safe to say that it remains a destination for travelers all across the world. In short, this is where the underground and ruling elite meet.
But what you won’t find here is a store that’s been prettied up to sell you product, and what you will find is a store that values its relationships with its customers. Couple that with the largest inventory of nostalgic fashion in North America, and you’ve got a recipe for success. In short, Greenspans provides an old-school ambience and experience that can’t be matched. While one could easily purchase a Pendleton online, you’d be robbed of the experience and the education you’d get at Greenspans. The stories you’ll hear and faces you’ll see are all a part of the experience and you just never know who you’ll run into.
Celebs such as Lady Gaga, Madonna, Ice Cube, and B-Real have shopped with the historic South Gate location, but ask Evan if celebs are treated any different than a regular customer and he’d be the first to say no. “Every customer is treated with the same amount of respect and integrity as the next,” says Evan. He further adds, “If I make one customer angry I stand to lose 20, so it’s up to us to build relationships and a rapport with each and every customer”.
When asked what he attributes his continued success to, his response was simply, “Dumb luck.” He adds, “We’ve been very lucky to have been blessed with some great and talented customers. My website was done by Big Tiny who I consider a renaissance man. He had just graduated from his trade school program and built my site to include in his portfolio. Back in the ’70s and early ’80s people from Goodtime Charlies in East L.A. used to shop with us and when they blew up, they told hundreds of people to come shop with us.”
Yet as our discussion carried on, he was quick to mention many of his supporters who have helped build their reputation, from Kid Frost and East Side Rendezvous mentioning them in lyrics, all the way to Australian band Boom Crash Opera who makes it a point to mention that their inventory and a blessing of good people is what has powered them through even the worst of times.
He talks about a time when he used to sell clothes to N.W.A. before they were big. Years later, when Ice Cube was doing the movie, “Boyz in the Hood,” he talks about how Ice Cube’s wardrobe stylist was having a hard time finding period-correct fashion, and that’s when Cube sent his wardrobe stylists to them. He goes on to talk about Chuco (RIP), and artists who have contributed art and referrals including L.A.’s own Freddy Negrete who told Lady Gaga to come check them out. In the end, these interesting stories were further proof that he’s held some key relationships that have paid off.
It’s almost safe to assume that his family’s love affair with old-school clothing goes far beyond passion. His old-school principles and values have followed suit and they are seen in the way he conducts himself. A man of his word and principle, Evan continues to expand his business based on respect. Respect for the fashion, the community, as well as the lifestyle. It also becomes quite apparent that he believes in building relationships, and these same relationships have become the foundation of their business. That said, we tip our hats to the Greenspan lineage for staying true to the game and giving us all a portal to keep our lifestyle covered – literally.
Just A Few Of The Movies That Feature Greenspan’s Clothing:
Straight Outta Compton – JFK – Kingpin – La Bamba – The Green Mile – Fearless – Fast & Furious – Elvis – Dogtown – Deuces Wild – The Doors – Austin Powers III – The Avengers – Baby Boy – American Pie – American Me – American History X – Bullet Proof – American Beauty – Blood In Blood Out – Born In East LA – Boyz ‘N The Hood – Boogey Nights – CB4 – Higher Learning – House Of 1,000 Corpses – I Am Sam – Pootie Tang – Poetic Justic – Of Mice And Men – The Whole Ten Yards – The Wood – Transformers – Training Day – Torque – Storage Wars – Starsky & Hutch – Stand And Deliver – Something About Mary – Sinatra – Sleepers – The Rock – Road Dogs – Sinatra – Sleepers – Malcolm X
The Los Angeles Trade-Technical College (LA Trade Tech) is a public community college in Los Angeles, California. It offers academic courses and training and certificate programs in auto body and collision repair. The auto body collision repair class is held in one of the large buildings located on the 25-acre campus.
Their auto collision instructor and famed custom paint and pinstripe guru, Brian Ferre, has taught automotive paint and collision repair for over 30 years and 10 of those years have been at LA Trade-Tech. There are about 200 students enrolled in automotive programs at the facility and about a 100 of those are enrolled in the collision repair course. “LA Trade-Tech offers Saturday courses, as well as daytime and night classes throughout the week and most of the students who attend these classes are at the average age of 28 and are also trying to start a new life,” Ferre says.
The school’s success depends on funding and donations toward the program’s capabilities. Donations of car parts, paint products, and supplies are sometimes a must in order to help along with the many courses offered within the auto body and collision program. For most of the students, the best part is getting to do your hobby for a living. Besides keeping fenders and door panels straight and removing rust and dings, course instructor Brian Ferre and his staff offer a hands-on approach to the art of automotive bodywork. Most students with the right amount of practice in sanding and prepping eventually learn that, after mastering this technique, they can easily complete the rest of the training course path. The different courses that are offered range from metal prepping, welding, frame straightening, and even calculating collision estimates. When you complete and pass the overall course, you can actually and or eventually run a dealership body shop.
Brian Ferre, striper, painter, and artist instructor at LA Trade-Tech.
LOWRIDER Magazine, along with Axalta Coating Systems, paid a visit to the LA Trade-Tech facility and offered the auto body class the challenging job of bringing back our 1964 project “Cadillac DeVillain” back to life. Though the car’s original paint and shape needed a little work; the challenge also included a deadline for the Cadillac to be featured on display at the upcoming SEMA Show in Las Vegas. For the students who learn everything there is to be offered in this special body and paint class, they made “DeVillian” their personal favorite project to work on. Axalta Paint products were provided for the Cadillac project and included only the best quality materials from start to the final finish.
Once the students removed the original 50-year-old paint down to the metal, they applied Axalta’s Etching Primer #22880S. This metal protective sealer is a non-sanding etch primer that provides exceptional corrosion resistance and only the best adhesion to bare steel. When the class got down to the bodywork and blocking of this large luxury liner, they applied Axalta Primer #LE3404S, which is a urethane primer-filler designed for spot, panel, and overall repairs. It provides excellent fill capacity (high build) and is easy to apply and sand. The sealer used was Axalta’s #LE3440S urethane primer sealer designed to provide excellent flow and leveling for spot, panel, and overall repairs. It delivers exceptional topcoat holdout and minimal overspray during application.
While in the facility’s large spray booth, and in the final stage of paint, Cadillac Sierra Gold / ChromaBase was mixed and sprayed over the classic body style. ChromaBase is an excellent choice for spot, panel, and overall repairs for all finishes – solids, metallics, pearls, and special-effect colors too. To show off the glamor of this soon-to-be SEMA Show display vehicle, two kits of PremierClear #LE 8700S Clearcoat was sprayed on top to complete the quality paintjob and finish that only the class at LA Trade-Tech students demand and expected for their class project.
Congratulations and a special thanks go out to Brian Ferre and his staff, all the students who spent their time working on this soon-to-be fabulous vehicle, and especially the following students who made it their personal quest: Aaron Vazquez Ramirez, Jose Mendoza, Jovanie Gutierrez, Arutyun Agayan, (Harry), and Lupe Ceja.
1-5. Project “DeVillain” was taken down to the bare metal where the LA Trade-Tech students began the bodywork.
6. The firewall on this ’64 Cadillac was completely shaved for an EFI drivetrain.
7. LA Tech Project “DeVillain” class on recess to take a pose.
8-13. Once the bodywork was complete, the hood, trunk, and body were sealed with Axalta LE 3440S sealer, which is an exceptional topcoat product that will seal the deal.
14-17. The doorjambs were painted first before the body was shot by the students using Axalta Chroma Base Cadillac Sierra Gold.
18. Axalta Premiere clearcoat was used to finish off the Cad. Class dismissed.
