Oscar and Paul Ortiz keep Stockton rockin' with their pair of fat-fendered '50s Fleetlines.
Night Train
Owner: Oscar Ortiz
Vehicle: '50 Chevrolet Fleetline
City/State: Stockton, California
Club: Oldies C.C.-East Bay
Engine/Drivetrain: Night Train is powered by a '70 Chevy 350-c.i.d. engine that the owner built himself with three 2-bbl. carbs, aluminum intake and finned valve covers. The "bowtie" burner's mated to a 350 Turbo transmission and fitted with a dual exhaust system. Stockton Plating and Imperial Plating & Polishing in Fresno, California, were Oscar's two chrome plating connections.
Body/Paint: The emerald green color scheme was ably realized by Ruiz Alarcon in Lodi, California, using two-stage PPG paint. Bob Gomez at Sidelines in Stockton put down the pinstriping and murals, including the train on the firewall.
Interior: Oscar enlisted various individuals in Stockton to help him with the gray interior featuring 2-inch tucks in the upholstery. OG extras include a butterfly steering wheel, compass, serving tray and redhead flashlight.
Sound System: Oscar and his friend Ismael installed a Pioneer head unit, Rockford Fosgate amps and Pioneer and Audiobahn speakers in Oscar's garage.
Setup: Oscar and Ismael also teamed up on a two-pump ShowTime Hydraulics setup featuring four Delta dumps, 6-inch (front) and 8-inch (rear) cylinders, three batteries and three switches.
Tires: 5.60 Lowrider Series
Wheels: 14x6 Sinister wires
Oscar and Paul Ortiz are close, even as brothers go. They both call Stockton, California, home, they're both welders by trade, and they both own classic Chevy Fleetlines from the early '50s. Oscar's '50 Fleetline, "Night Train," and little brother Paul's "Malow (as in 'Malo') '52" are two key members of the Oldies C.C.-East Bay chapter fleet, and among the first cars that we thought of when it came time to put together our Oldies C.C.-Club of the Year special.
Oscar remembers how he first fell under the Fleetline's spell. "I decided that, in my mind, the ultimate lowrider is a Fleetline," he recalls. "I finally came across this '50. I found all of the accessories and decided to build it. It took about three years."
This obsession with classic lowriders led Oscar to hook up with an organization consisting of like-minded individuals. "I joined Oldies Car Club nine years ago because they have the same interest in old cars that I do," he says. "Oldies C.C. has been around for a long time and is family oriented."