SAN ANTONIO — A lowrider is more than a vehicle to Sammy Hernandez, it’s arte (art), and cultura (culture).
“To me there’s nothing like it, to me it’s a work of art,” Hernandez says. “A lot of these cars. A lot of people put some time and effort, a lot of blood, sweat and tears into these vehicles.”
Lowrider cars have been around since the 40s and 50s, before Hernandez was born. The goal is to drive the car slow and low to the ground. In the earlier years of lowrider culture, Chicanos would put sandbags in their trunks and cut their coil springs to be closer to the ground. Today they use hydraulic pumps and valves.
“The movement is strong and we do a lot of positive things in the community,” Hernandez says.
Recently Hernandez and Ethnics Car Club held a plate sale for its youngest member, whose Chevy Monte Carlo was totaled in an accident. Hernandez said this is a tight-knit community and is growing stronger. However he remembers a time when it seemed like the lowrider style and way of life was going to slowly fade away.
“It’s a blessing because now we see a lot of younger kids getting an interest,” Hernandez says.
Ethnics Car Club makes appearances at quinceañeras and other events where it’s all about the cultura [culture]. Hernandez also welcomes folks to visit his body shop, California Kustoms on San Antonio’s Southside because he wants to pass on his knowledge and wisdom of lowrider culture.
“It’s like a canvas, there are so many things you can do to it especially with the paint, I think the paint has a lot to do with the vehicle as well,” Hernandez says.
The trophies sitting in his West Side home garage are a reminder of the work he and his club do.
“I’m pretty fortunate that a lot of people like my car and stuff like that. It’s all about detail and stuff like that,” Hernandez says.
Hernandez’s blue Cadillac is a mural on wheels, and the metal steering wheel is crafted in the shape of the Cadillac logo. Each nuance means something, including the pachuco fedora hat that rests on his dashboard honoring his late father, who was also a lowrider.
“I keep that there because he’s always here in spirit but whenever I take it out for a ride and what not and I’ll put it on,” Hernandez says.
For some this may just be a car, but for Hernandez, it’s a lasting legacy.
“We know that it’s not going to be dying anytime soon,” Hernandez says. “We know it’s going to be passed onto the younger generation and they are going to take over our footsteps.”
