Chav modification; a worldwide phenomenomenomenom

[Rubin215]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/74986...

From the BBC News website.

Why would any (normal) person spend the time and money doing that to such a crap car in the first place?

[BlueMR2]

3 wheeling civic, .

[Ricky_M]

Was that first one a Daewoo Nubira?

[TRUENOSAM]

They certianly are "special"

[BDR529]

I haven't heard Shaggy for a while.

[Willy Nilly]

Rubin215 said:

Why would any (normal) person spend the time and money doing that to such a crap car in the first place?

Didn't watch the video, but seem to remember that they have quite a bit of spare cash and not much in the way of out let for it because they are just about prohibited from mingling with the opposite sex.

[FraserLFA]

Money can't buy taste, clearly...

[vrooom]

I rather have those kind of people than having few chav who stab and rob for fun.

[007 VXR]

[poing]

That first guy looks like a slightly fatter Massa, unless he is Massa and he's just between seasons so back to his normal size

[anonymous-user]

Hey western world.

Now i know you guys wanna spread democracy, promote your culture, freedoms and all that but seriously! Some things should be kept at home...

Sheeda's Arab mate....

[98C4S]

Funniest thing I have seen in a while..

What is the driving on 3 wheels about??? at the end, at 3mph.. Why?

[Crafty_]

98C4S said:

Funniest thing I have seen in a while..

What is the driving on 3 wheels about??? at the end, at 3mph.. Why?

I suppose you could vaguely call it a lowrider.

The lowriding scene started in the 50s in the southern states by mexican immigrants. I have seen it said that the mexicans were disliked and were excluded from car shows/cruises etc.
Initially the cars had bags of sand in the boot, later crude suspension modifications allowed the cars to ride low. Lowriders took (and still do) massive pride in the vehicles, plenty of bling, trick paint jobs with flake, candys and pearls..

Cars were known as "bombs". Lots of chrome and accessories like "safety" stars, extra lights etc. Cars were pre '55 and pretty much all GM products.




Then they had a problem, California outlawed any car that had any part of the vehicle hanging below the scrub line (basically the bottom of the wheel rims). Simple safety really - if you got a blow out/puncture the car would continue to roll, if you ignore the scrub line the car could dig in to the road - leaving you with no control or worse still it could dig in and roll.

Some enterprising chap worked around this, using hydraulic pumps and rams from scrapped aircraft. Now the cars could be road legal, but still have their look. Later on the addition of faster pumps allowed the cars to "hop" and/or lift a wheel.

As time progressed early 60s impalas became the car to "juice" - many would say they still are. The paint schemes had become even wilder, along the way mural artwork and pin striping had become fashionable. 70s and 80s cars are also popular.





This artwork is on an ice cream truck that was in a lowrider display at the Petersen Museum a couple of years ago. Although you can't see it the base was a candy.



Interiors were reconstructed, captains chairs sometimes used, nearly always velvet or draylon was used, typically in colours just as zany as the paint


Whilst you could consider all this rather garish, that was the point of it really, you can't ignore us. Pictures simply don't do the paint work justice, there are layers and layers of paint on these things, each one applied, then masked out before the next.

Not quite sure why but the "gangsta rap" fraternity took to lowriders.. not quite sure why really but if you find ice cube / dr dre videos you'll see traditional lowriders..

The whole hopping thing gets competitive - you want your car to hop higher than your buddies car...
The cars have reinforced chassis to deal with the extra stresses, usually 1/4" plate added along the chassis rails.
There are hopping competitions, the cars have no engines and bounce hard enough to get the whole thing several feet in the air.. no I don't get it either.

Naturally hydraulics get put on modern cars, much like alot of hot rod/street rod influences can be seen.. doesn't make it right though and it usually misses the point..

There is a lowriding scene in the UK, I think the biggest club is unity http://www.unitylowriderforum.net/

[HDM]

Crafty, thanks for the additional info, have seen a few low riders in my time, didn't know about the engine-less "jumpers"!

[samdale]

Intakes to let the hot air out, riiiiight

[Crafty_]

"Dancing"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q2HwZ3bTJE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdWDJWFoKCE

Jumping
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pf35QhHJXeE

This looks like a typical lowrider to me, mostly stock body, some fancy paint but highly detailed - underside differs from body colour, chassis in body colour, alot of chrome evident on the underside..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7gZfkkBJUM

If you don't like it I suggest you don't tell him, he might sit on you

[Schermerhorn]

samdale said:

Intakes to let the hot air out, riiiiight

English is not their first language.

I bet his English is better than your Arabic.

[k-ink]

Attention Arabs and Russians - the world is laughing at your lack of taste - you 80's spazmongs

[anonymous-user]

k-ink said:

Attention Arabs and Russians - the world is laughing at your lack of taste - you 80's spazmongs

[Bebee]

Those cars look depressed they are begging me to rescue them, they should be sent to a car rescue home.
Just dreadful what some will do to a factory made motor.

I think I'm going to be............ no, yes, I'm going to throw up....