The JunkOwner: Danny GarciaVehicle: '53 Chevy pickupCity/State: Winton, CaliforniaClub: Skanless Car Club
Engine/Drivetrain: A '85 Chevy 350-cid motor and Turbo 350 transmission replaced the stock units. The rear end is from a '73 Chevy Nova.
Body/Paint: The owner handled the bodywork and Jose and J at Kar Kustoms in Atwater, California, sprayed the two-tone Oriental Blue and White paint.
Interior: The interior received custom-covered door panels and a custom split seat, both covered in gray OEM material. Gray carpet covers the floor; Castillo's Upholstery in Modesto, California, did all the work.
Sound System: A Panasonic head unit resides in the dash and is complemented by Zappco mids and tweets. A Kicker L7 subwoofer provides the bottom end. The entire audio system was installed by the owner.
Setup: The suspension features a '73 Monte Carlo front clip. Showtime Hydraulics pumps and dumps were used along with 8- and 12-inch cylinders in the front and back respectively. Hard-lines connect the pumps and cylinders. All the chroming and polishing was done by Ramon at Specialized Metal Finishing in Atwater, California.
Tires: Dayton Radials
Wheels: 13x7 L.A. Wire wheels
LRM: So Sal, tell us about your first lowrider experience?
Sal: My first lowrider experience was back in 1988 when my cousin Danny, who owned a lowrider, took me for my first cruise. It was Graffiti Night, a celebration of the motion picture American Graffiti, which happens annually in Modesto, California. When I saw all of the lowriders get more attention than any other car I knew at that point what I wanted. The attention just blew my mind. I mean the girls, they LOVED the lowriders!
LRM: Well, to be honest, that's probably why many guys get into lowriding. Was there anyone else in your family who was into lowriding?
Sal: My cousin Danny was pretty much the only person who owned a lowrider in my family. He started lowriding back in 1985 and I can remember begging him to take me out for a cruise on the boulevard. He owned a '80 Buick Regal in Midnight Blue with the wrinkle-style interior, full upholstery, black phantom top, 13x7 McLean rims on 520s (I remember that he always had blowouts on those), and he also had a pounding system, which he preferred over hydros at the time.
LRM: What was your first car? Was it a lowrider?
Sal: Back in 1991, when the mini-truck scene was poppin', I had a '88 single-cab Chevy S-10. It took me all summer long to fix it up so I could show it off in my sophomore year of high school. The truck was painted pearl white and had two 10-inch Cerwin-Vega subwoofers in the back seat that bumped. The interior was stock and it had 13-inch whitewall McLeans. People thought it was odd because the 15x10 deep dish wheels with low profile tires were the style at the time. I went to Lowrider Hydraulics to have them install the lifts, and trust me, the girls were loving it! After high school I've owned various types of other lowriders.
LRM: Have there been any unforeseen hardships during the building of any of your cars?
Sal: Fortunately, I've been very blessed and haven't experienced any hardships. My wife is very supportive and I surround myself with people who share the love of lowriding as much as I do. Lowriding is a big part of my life and it will never stop!
The Body BagOwner: Sal UrrutaVehicle: '63 Chevy Impala convertibleCity/State: Ceres, CaliforniaClub: Skanless Car Club
Engine/Drivetrain: The Chevy 283-cid motor has 350 heads and a chrome alternator. The chrome dressup kit includes valve covers, an air cleaner, and a chrome breather cover. Headers lead into a stock dual exhaust.
Body/Paint: Paint and bodywork were performed at Kreative Concepts in Modesto, California. The car was painted a PPG Black. Moreno's Chrome Plating in Fresno, California, polished all the stainless steel moldings.
Interior: The C.A.R.S. 1 interior kit is black vinyl with cloth inserts. Prime Time Upholstery in Central California managed the upholstery work.
Sound System: An Alpine head unit located underneath the stock head unit control the zeros and ones. A Kenwood 600-watt amp powers Rockford Fosgate speakers. The owner performed the audio work with help from fellow club members.
Setup: "Body Bag" rides on an air-ride system, which was installed by the owner and fellow club member "Big Al." Slam bags, extended A-arms, a Viair 450C dual-pack tank and compressor system complete the suspension.
Tires: 155/80-13 Cornell tires
Wheels: OG Wire wheels 13x7 black rim and hub with chrome spokes.