El Paso Lowriders: Classic car culture on the border

The sound of cars speeding down the freeway is heard daily, but on Lincoln Park Day, those sounds are muffled by the sound of conversations about paint jobs, engines and car meets. Across the park, brightly painted cars, merchant tents and lawn chairs are occupied by car enthusiasts, merchandise and people of all ages. Many are dressed in Chicano fashion from zoot suits to buttoned-down flannels.

“It feels like a public barbecue, everyone is listening to music,” said Luis Méndez, known on social media as “El Pachuco.” “A lot of these people worked very hard on these cars, and the community is very welcoming.”

Méndez is a local El Paso teen that takes us back to the past with his fashion and lifestyle. He dresses daily in Chicano fashion and attends these car cruises regularly. Wearing black high-waisted pants and a brown button-up flannel, he said he is immensely proud of his style.

“I try to be authentic with my clothing,” Méndez said. “Most of my outfits I buy in Juárez.”

For Méndez, his fashion is about never forgetting the history of Mexican Americans who created Chicano culture, much like the car enthusiasts who participate in Lincoln Park Day.

Lincoln Park, also known as Chicano Park, is home to colorful murals narrating Mexican Americans’ history. It welcomes those who want to appreciate Latinx and El Paso culture, whether that is through picnicking amongst the art or an event with classic cars.

Lincoln Park Day takes place annually, on Sept. 18. The event hosts a Lowrider car show that the Latin Pride Car Club curates.

“It’s not every day you see a classic from a Mercury 8 to Arrow sedans and pre-1965 cars, usually a lot of old ‘70s, and once in a while, the most common car you see is the 1964 Chevrolet Impala, which has much significance in our history,” Méndez said.

Lowriders have been a constant demonstration of the artistry of painting a car and keeping them functional despite the years since its fabrication.

Sergio Flores

Lowrider car owner Sergio Flores parked his car at four in the morning to get a good spot on this year’s Lincoln Park Day. He said he wanted a good area to display his 1964 Chevy Impala. Flores has been part of the car scene in El Paso for 15 years, but his fascination for Lowriders started when he was young.

“My dad had a Lowrider and would take me to school with it; he even let me drive it when I was in the eight grade,” Flores said.

Flores not only treasures this memory but has plans to pass on the passion for cars to his daughters. He drives his daughter to school and said the kids love it. However, having a Lowrider in El Paso can require a lot of maintenance, and sometimes it is best to go to other places to do so. For example, Flores got his custom candy red paint job in California.

“My car is candy in the sun; that’s when its colors pop out,” Flores said.

Flores plans to continue attending car cruises alongside his daughter, who will one day inherit his cars and keep the tradition alive.

Frank Sánchez

Frank Sánchez, a local car club member, looks at his two cars contently as many stop by to take pictures. Families of all ages are in awe as they snap selfies or shoot video of these cars. The first car is a 1941 Ford Deluxe Coupe, and his second car was a 1948 Chevrolet Fleet master.

Sánchez traveled to California numerous times to buy cars and now owns seven classic vehicles. His last visit to California was a year and a half ago when he purchased a Fleetmaster valued at $40,000.

The El Paso car scene has been a second family for Sánchez, and it is also a way for many to get together and help each other out from spreading knowledge about where to go to get the best paint job to mechanic recommendations.

“I’ve loved cars since I was young, and now that I have the money, I want to fix them up and showcase their beauty,” Sánchez said.

Sánchez plans to continue his love for cars by displaying them in car magazines and is always on the lookout for classic cars that need restoration.

Rosa Maese

Car owner Rosa Maese said the lowrider culture is art, everything about it is like a painting. From pinstriping or glitter, the creativity put into these cars is unique, and the competition always keeps people working on their cars.

“I bought my 1998 Cadillac Deville from a friend because I’ve always loved Cadillac and the colors,” Maese said.

Her car is a deep rich red that has pinstriping of different color hues. A sarape with a single rose on top to represent her name, lays on her dashboard while a Catholic cross hangs down from her rear-view mirror.

“It feels wonderful being a female car owner and a member of a car club,” Maese said. “I get much respect in the community and being part of a car club is like having a second family.”

She works hard on the car and sees it as a representation of who she is. Maese’s passion for Lowriders started when she was 18 years old because of their importance in Chicano culture. Her dream car is a 1963 Impala, which she hopes to get one day.

EN BREVE

Por Brandy Ruiz

Debajo de una red de autopistas, ubicado cerca de la Interestatal 10 en el centro de El Paso se encuentra Lincoln Park. Los sonidos de los coches que se apresuran por las carreteras de alquitrán negro no son algo fuera de este mundo, pero en el dia de Lincoln Park Day esos sonidos se amortiguan por la emoción de una multitud de entusiastas de los coches. El parque está lleno de Lowriders y sus brillantes llantas cromadas que reflejan la vista de mesas y tiendas de campaña que venden mercancía, desde autos de juguete hasta accesorios de ropa que representan a los famosos Chicanos cercanos. Muchos vienen vestidos con la moda Chicana, desde trajes zoot hasta franelas abotonadas.

“Se siente como una barbacoa pública, todos escuchan música”, dijo Luis Méndez, conocido como “El Pachuco” en las redes sociales. “Muchas de estas personas trabajaron muy duro en estos autos, y la comunidad es muy acogedora”.

Méndez es un adolescente local de El Paso que nos lleva al pasado con su moda y estilo de vida. Méndez siempre está emocionado por el Día de Lincoln Park, que se lleva a cabo anualmente, el 18 de septiembre. El evento organiza una exhibición de autos Lowrider que el Latin Pride Car Club organiza.

Sergio Flores

Sergio Flores, el dueño de un Lowider, estacionó su coche a las cuatro de la mañana para conseguir un buen lugar en el dia de Lincoln Park de este año. Dijo que quería una buena zona para mostrar su Chevy Impala de 1964. Otros dueños de coches incluso acamparon un día antes para encontrar el lugar perfecto. Sergio ha sido parte de la escena del coche en El Paso por 15 años, pero su fascinación por los lowriders comenzó cuando era joven.

“Mi padre tenía un bajista y me llevaría a la escuela con él; incluso me dejó conducir cuando yo estaba en el octavo grado,” dijo Flores.

Flores no sólo atesora esta memoria, sino que tiene planes de transmitir la pasión por los coches a sus hijas. Flores planea continuar asistiendo a desfiles de coches junto a su hija, quien un día heredará sus coches y mantendrá viva la tradición.

Frank Sánchez

Frank Sánchez, un miembro del club de autos local, observa con satisfacción a la gente que se acerca a tomarse fotos con los coches. Las familias de todas las edades están asombradas mientras se toman selfies o videos de sus autos: un Ford Deluxe Coupe de 1941 y un maestro de la flota de Chevrolet de 1948.

La escena automobilistica de El Paso ha sido una segunda familia para Sánchez, y también es una forma para que muchos se reúnan y se ayuden mutuamente, desde difundir el conocimiento sobre dónde ir para obtener el mejor trabajo de pintura hasta las recomendaciones de los mecánicos.

“He amado los autos desde que era joven, y ahora que tengo el dinero, quiero arreglarlos y mostrar su belleza”, dijo Sánchez.

Rosa Maese

La dueña de automóviles, Rosa Maese dijo que la cultura de los Lowriders es arte, todo es como una pintura. Maese comparte que puedes hacer pinstriping o purpurina y todo el mundo lo hace de forma diferente, y la competencia siempre mantiene a la gente trabajando en sus coches.

Su coche es de un rojo intenso y profundo que presenta variaciones de color muy variadas. Un sarape se coloca en la parte superior de su tablero junto con una sola rosa en la parte superior para representar su nombre. Una cruz católica cuelga en su espejo retrovisor.

“Se siente maravilloso ser una mujer dueña de un coche y miembro de un club de coches”, dijo Maese. “Recibo mucho respeto en la comunidad y ser parte de un club de coches es como tener una segunda familia”.

Los coches clásicos no sólo representan un aspecto único en nuestra cultura, sino que crean una comunidad donde muchos se unen a los recuerdos de la infancia, la música y el arte que predomina la cultura chicana.