John Tiscareno of Pittsburg, CA is part of a Chicano Custom Car and Lowrider Club named "Los Reyes," that started off in the Inland Empire of Southern California. This family club that started roughly three years ago is now ten strong and growing, thanks to its diverse mixture of different model cars. Today we are proud to feature John's custom painted 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air, the first car out of the Los Reyes Club to be shown within the pages of Lowrider.
John's choice to build a tri-five had some family history to it, which he explained to us in his own words. "As I grew up, my father owned a 1956 Chevrolet 4-door Bel Air," he says. "I can remember riding on the package tray behind the back seat and standing up behind the front seat as my father drove," John reminisces fondly. "As I got older and was able to buy my own car, my dad said to me, 'Don't fix up the 4 door, it's not worth anything.'" His father stood firm on his feelings about the car, instructing his son and telling him, "If you were to fix up any car, it should be a 1956 Chevy 2 door Hardtop."
The loving father and son bond John shared with his Dad was forever changed in 2004, when his father passed away from Diabetes complications. "Later that year, I was having a conversation with my nephew about cars, and he was telling me about a friend of his that had been arguing with his father about getting this car out of the son's garage," John states. A curious John had to find out more. "I asked what kind of car it was. He said he didn't know much about cars, and that it was a '50 something Bel something car," John laughs. John's interest was instantly peaked, however. Was it possible that this car was the make and model that he hoped it was? "I told him lets go look at it," and like that, John, along with his brother and nephew, went on a quest to see this mystery machine first hand.
Upon his first gaze at the car, John couldn't believe his eyes! Before him stood the car that symbolized his long lost connection with his deceased father. "We saw a 1956 2 door Hardtop with the hood strapped to the roof of the car and the fenders placed inside of the car," he says with the memories rushing back. "The whole time (I'm) thinking of my late father and the memories of him driving through water puddles after a rain storm with water splashing out of each fender well like a rooster tail, yelling "Charco". John's sense of loss and obligation compelled him to act on it. "One thing led to the next, and I bought the car," he says proudly.
After purchasing the Bel Air, John approached Marcos Garcia of Lucky 7 Customs in Antioch California to get on the waiting list to have the car painted. "I told Marcos, 'let's turn this Hot Rod into a old cruiser with color,'" he says. John stayed in an efficient mind-set throughout the build, and kept things moving. "While waiting for Marcos, I took my car to Antioch muffler to have the car lowered with air-ride technology shock waves," he notes. The crew there installed 2-inch drop spindles and a slight C-notch to lower the rear. The '56 was then rewired, air conditioning was added, power steering and front disc brakes were installed, and this classic was now in running order.
After wading through the long Lucky 7 Customs waiting list, it was now time for the Bel Air to receive a face lift, courtesy of expert paint man Marcos' signature PPG two-stage color finish. To add some class, John installed a Continental Kit and assembled the original bumpers, stainless steel trim and chrome. The chrome was done by Metal Finishers of East Los Angeles, which John says, "would not have been possible without the help of my cousin Luis Ramirez," whom John considers his "L.A. connection." The upholstery was expertly done by Rene's Upholstery of Brentwood in Northern California. The sound system inside the car and the speaker boxes inside the trunk were both masterfully built by Pantell's of Antioch California.
When we asked John how the car came to be named "Tito's Charco", he explained, "I named this as a tribute to my father and the good times that we shared when I was growing up." As he spoke, the sentiments in his voice made it obvious that he cared for his father very deeply. While nothing can ever bring him back, it's clear that John paid homage to him in the best way possible. "We think this was a good tribute to him, and I don't think I will ever sell this car," he says firmly. From what we see in this '56, we don't blame him. Keep up the good work John, and congratulations to you and your club for landing your first spread in Lowrider Magazine. We hope to see more of these quality rides in the near future.
Tito's Charco
Owner: John Tiscareno
Vehicle: 1956 Chevrolet BelAir
City/State: Pittsburg, California
Club: Los Reyes, California
Body & Paint: By Marcos Garcia at Lucky 7 Customs, Antioch California
Upholstery: By Rene's Interiors, Brentwood California
Engine: Small block 350 engine (transplanted by the previous owner) rebuilt by Bill & Tom Frazier, Antioch Muffler
Suspension: Airbag system installed by Antioch Muffler
Wheels: 14x7 chrome Zenith Wire Wheels
Tires: 14-inch Coker 5.20s