I like lowriders and donks can suck it!

"Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available" (whoistheleader2) 08/17/2020 at 12:48 • Filed to: Lowriders, donks

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Sorry for the shockingly crappy photos, but it was so hot my phone was actually capturing photos about 2 seconds after I had expected it to so all the well framed ones were just blurry pictures of my feet.

The only donks I can think of that I have actually liked are basically lowriders with stupid tacky wheels. The rest are just stupid and tacky all around. Clearly I am biased here. Or maybe it seeing far too many hack job donks around and lowriders being rare enough and limited enough in appeal that I only see well executed examples. Whatever the case, I admire the craftsmanship that goes into lowriders.

C’mon, how can you not smile at the sight of the bright candy paint, goof not exactly period correct hydraulics, and beautiful lines of this ‘53 Chevy? I stumbled upon a gathering of proper lowriders yeserday meeting at The Varsity, the world’s busiest fast food restaurant.

Take this brightly colored Chevy Monte Carlo for instance. Like the others it had hydraulics. Unlike the others, it had some seriously impressive pinstriping and elaborate detail work.

It is so uncommon to see properly done lowriders that I enjoyed spying this unofficial meet. The parking lot of The Varsity is a popular meeting spot for car enthusiasts, but it is rare for it to be anthing other than neon covered pimp mobiles with underglow. And while this was going on, a swarm of people on high powered bikes of all shapes and sizes were doing wheelies down North Avenue like maniacs and people in unregisterable recreational vehicles, including quad bikes, ATVs, etc, were making fools of themselves. All that mess takes place in the parking lot of the gas station across the street every weekend.

But let’s forget the illegal side show going on across the street. Let’s concentrate on the lowriders. There’s so much to like about them.

This slab side Impala is one of the more typical candidates for such a treatment, but the striking teal color really set it apart. I wish I could have taken better photos.

Which one of them is your favorite? I really like the ‘53 Chevy but the Impala is also nice.

WilliamsSW > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/17/2020 at 12:56

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The six four is THE classic lowrider to me, so I'd pick that one.  But damn I love the color on that 53.

user314 > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/17/2020 at 12:59

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Lowriders, rat rods = good

Donks, stance ( don’t @me) and brodozers = bad

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > WilliamsSW 08/17/2020 at 13:00

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There is a good reason for that. The slab sides are perfect for intricate detailing and everything about them is in the true west coast tradition. The Impala that was there was nicely subtle (as far as lowriders go) and is just so iconic, but the 53 is also neat. I’m torn here.

Donks are more east coast but also way stupider and easier to do poorly.

bob and john > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/17/2020 at 13:04

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that green. Oh lordie

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > user314 08/17/2020 at 13:07

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It’s not even that donks are a dime a dozen. I just don’t like the idea of them or the execution. Like I said, the only donks I’ve ever liked are the ones that are done up like lowriders except for the wheels. The ones with brand names are goofy, but not in a way I like, especially not when done to an otherwise desirable car like a 64 Impala.

Rad rods I’m less sold on, but I also very rarely see them.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > bob and john 08/17/2020 at 13:07

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Indeed. It was a green to die for.

WilliamsSW > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/17/2020 at 13:07

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I saw Gypsy Rose up close at the Petersen a few years ago.   The detail on that car is absolutely stunning.  And that is really an understatement. 

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > WilliamsSW 08/17/2020 at 13:11

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No way! That is amazing! It always felt like one of those things that I figured you could only really appreciate in person.

I did see an original GM Futureliner once and even got to sit in it! It also was the sort of thing you could only really appreciate in person. The sheer scale of it was impressive. And every detail was just perfect in a way you don’t see on concept cars anymore.

Kiltedpadre > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/17/2020 at 13:18

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I think this would have to be my choice.

412GTI > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/17/2020 at 13:19

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The attention to detail in some low riders is excellent. I love them for that reason alone. That green one is so beautiful 

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Kiltedpadre 08/17/2020 at 13:19

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Good choice. It’s not the Gypsy Rose but there is a good reason so many six fours are turned into lowriders. And that teal, mmmmmmm. . .

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > 412GTI 08/17/2020 at 13:23

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Yes, it’s the craftsmanship! So much imagination and hard work go into making a lowrider stand out. The difficult hydraulic suspension work, the crazy paint schemes, the general attitude of them even, they are just make for such an amazing experience. 

Donks are so in-your-face and usually lack evidence of expert craftsmanship. They just aren’t as interesting to me.

ranwhenparked > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/17/2020 at 13:43

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The artistry that goes into traditional low riders is amazing, so much skill and craftsmanship, and there's really no part of the car too small or intricate to escape attention. 

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/17/2020 at 13:48

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I love well done low-riders. I love well-done donks. I love well done stance. I love well-done anything, really. Regardless of the style, if effort and craftsmanship is on display I appreciate it.

onlytwowheels > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/17/2020 at 13:53

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Que ue the music....

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > ranwhenparked 08/17/2020 at 13:54

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Exactly. It’s the craftsmanship and attention to detail that makes them so fascinating to see in person.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/17/2020 at 13:55

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I can always appreciate a very well done or unique take on a style, even if I’m not exactly a big fan of the genre it fits in.

ranwhenparked > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/17/2020 at 13:55

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I saw a ‘60s Beetle customized that way once, they had actually plated the hinges and latches in 24kt gold, amazing. Something you could only fully see up close, and only if the hood and decklid were open.

WilliamsSW > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/17/2020 at 13:56

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That is cool!

Yes, Gypsy Rose really needs to be viewed up close to really appreciate it. You could spend hours looking at the details on just that car. The Petersen had several on display as a lowrider exhibit.

They also had not one, but two 2000GTs on display- one of which was a r oadster.  Along with lots of other cool stuff. 

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > ranwhenparked 08/17/2020 at 13:56

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Woah, now that’s the kind of crazy artistry I like to see. Can’t be cheap either.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > WilliamsSW 08/17/2020 at 13:58

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Never seen a 2000GT but I hope to some day.

The Futureliner was a real experience. You would not believe how incredible it was to climb those steep stairs past the front mounted door and into a central seating posi ti on in an all green cabin.

ranwhenparked > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/17/2020 at 14:58

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I mean, this was before gold was as insanely expensive as it is now, and there's no telling how thick the plating was, definately not cheap, but maybe not a total fortune, either. It came up for sale on a classic VW classifieds site based in California, the level of detail was stunning. Must have had 6 or 7 layers of paint on it, each one hand sanded glass smooth, with metal flake and ghosted pinstripe details. Absolutely crazy, must have taken years to build, and not actually that unusual for low riders, a lot of them are built with that same level of care and time.

Jim Spanfeller > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/17/2020 at 14:59

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Lowriders are rolling artwork, whereas donks are just flashy and blingy for the sake of attention. Lowriders are all about making the car beautiful, cruising, and the occasional fun with hydraulic suspension. Donks were just spawned from hip hop culture’s obsession with bling, and focus purely on being flashy with no craftsmanship for the sake of attention. You could argue that cars like Lamborghinis do the same thing, but they’re also fast and fun to drive so they have a bit of an excuse, whereas donks just look dumb and make the car worse to drive in every way. Lowrider culture, from what I hear, is also pretty awesome. They think of themselves like a big family and they’re very chill. Donks however... hip hop culture and all the things both good and bad that come with that , tacky ness, attention- seeking... I am totally biased as well. Lowriders rule, donks drool.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > ranwhenparked 08/17/2020 at 15:09

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I admire the crazy level of effort that goes into them. Would anyone turn their nose up at a bug that didn’t have gold plated hinges? No. But why not gold plate the hinges? It’s the culture of craftsmanship that makes the community special. 

ranwhenparked > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/17/2020 at 15:14

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Yep, and I personally just love seeing a skilled/talented person work their magic, whether it's building a custom car, playing music, or even just laying down a perfectly smooth coat of plaster in one motion, there's a certain satisfaction you feel by seeing a job done well by a person who takes pride in their work. Almost like their own pride is infectious and rubs off on whoever sees it.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Jim Spanfeller 08/17/2020 at 15:17

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YES! Because a lowrider might have hundreds of hours of work put into perfecting the pinstriping or, as ranwhenparked said, gold plating the hinges just because of artistry for artistry’s sake. Low and slow so people can appreciate what you’ve done with the car. And the people behind them are usually much cooler than the people who drive donks.

Contrast that with donks, which are terrible to drive and are almost invariably driven recklessly for some reason. They don’t have even close to the same level of craftsmanship displayed. Donk culture acts like lowrider culture in its infancy when they were still mainly associated with gang activity and shootouts and the like except the cars aren’t as pretty to look at. 

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > ranwhenparked 08/17/2020 at 15:22

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Agreed. I was very impressed at the way a cafeteria worker wrapped up a meal in three precise swift motions today. The way a motion is expertly completed according to hours and hours of practice is admirable. 

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/17/2020 at 16:43

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Yeah, people assume because I talk shit on so many stance cars I must hate stance... no, I just hate that everyone does it poorly. Bacon fenders, crap fitment, ebay parts galore, etc.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/17/2020 at 16:47

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It’s a culture of calling it good enough then hooning mercilessly. There are just so very few well done examples of stanced cars that it’s easy to forget they are out there.

Same with donks really. Though even the few donks I’ve actually kinda liked would have been better as lowriders.

Kiltedpadre > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/17/2020 at 17:05

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The teal was the clincher for sure.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/17/2020 at 17:38

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Stanceworks gives me hope and a glimmer of light.

The best donks are the Miami scene where they have supercharged LSAs and somehow run 11s on 30 inch wheels

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/17/2020 at 20:37

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That requires careful craftsmanship so I kinda like that. It's stupid, bit I like it. 

WilliamsSW > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 08/17/2020 at 20:59

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I always thought the Futureliner was so cool.  Have never seen one, let alone climbed up in one. That's a real treat!

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > WilliamsSW 08/17/2020 at 21:04

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Once in a lifetime opportunity. Really weird pedals too with the fancy automatic transmission. They just said, “what the heck, make the brake pedal twice as wide because no clutch pedal.”

And they are seriously big too. Absolutely vast. And o f course I had a conversation with the caretakers about the ever changing headlight configuration.