The Postal Service dedicated its stamps celebrating lowrider cars in a March 13 ceremony in San Diego.
A lowrider is a vintage automobile outfitted with smaller wheels or “rims,” dazzling paint jobs and intricate detailing.
In addition, a special hydraulic system allows the driver to raise and lower the chassis or run the vehicle through tricks, such as driving on three wheels or “hopping” (bouncing).
“A lowrider is a masterpiece of engineering and artistry, a rolling canvas of art. They are often painted with murals that tell stories of family, faith and history,” said Gary Barksdale, chief of the Postal Inspection Service, who was the dedicating official.
The lowrider culture is also about “creating a space to celebrate pride, a sense of belonging and building a community that is always there for its members,” he said.
The stamps showcase five classic models: a blue 1958 Chevrolet Impala named “Eight Figures”; an orange 1964 Chevrolet Impala named “The Golden Rose”; a green 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme named “Pocket Change”; a blue 1946 Chevrolet Fleetline named “Let the Good Times Roll/Soy Como Soy”; and a red 1963 Chevrolet Impala named “El Rey.”
Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps using photographs by Philip Gordon and Humberto Mendoza.
The stamps are available in sheets of 15 at Post Offices and at usps.com.
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