Fred Rael

When Fred Rael was 15 years old he became interested in cars. Back then most of the other guys interested in Lowrider cars were young too. In fact the first generation of Lowriders were still only in their 30’s. Now that he is creeping past 50, Rael never thought he’d still be building cars–he assumed he would eventually pursue new interests. But he didn’t. Instead he became more and more interested in cars and the Lowrider culture. As he says, “Back in High School when people asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I’d say I want to be a Veterano (someone who has mastered a discipline or skill)”. When Rael and the other teens started building cars, it was just about having a nice car on the street to take for a ride. Rael never thought all his free time would be spend either in a garage building a car or traveling around the country showing his cars. Just last month, Rael drove one of his cars on a trailer out to Los Angeles for photoshoot for the cover of an upcoming Lowrider Magazine.

Sometimes, because of how they dress, Rael thinks Lowriders can get a bad rap. They often wear dark T-shirts, have goatees, shaved heads and dark sunglasses and for this reason Rael thinks they can seem intimidating. But he says, “Most of us are all about our families, and our cars are our biggest hobbie. We may wear baggie clothes but we are always neat and clean. We have a style. On Wall Street they wear expensive suits, we have our own look.”

According to Rael the jeans they wear are pretty costly and the T-shirts, once they are custom embroidered will cost $60-70 dollars. And as Rael points out, it isn’t just a car – the owner has to look good too.

* note: The 1975 song Lowrider by the band War is about and was inspired by the Chicano Lowrider culture.