Seeing lowriders depicted on U.S. postage stamps has brought joy, pride and validation to a community of vehicle enthusiasts whose vibrant artistry and craftmanship are expressions of their identity.
Beginning in the 1940s, working-class Mexican Americans, or Chicanos, throughout the American Southwest transformed old, ordinary cars into dazzling works of art as a way to display their artistic skills and create a sense of belonging.
Bright, colorful paint schemes, decorative striping and shiny chrome mark the lowriders, along with luxurious interiors, spotless undercarriages and hydraulic systems that allow the vehicles to bounce up and down or drive on three wheels.
Vicki Valenzuela’s 1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo lowrider
Not built for speed as hot rods, the lowrider is low and slow, clean and mean.
Creating these one-of-a-kind masterpieces takes a considerable amount of time and money, and it becomes a journey of self-expression and dedication, often connecting generations within families.
This is true for the Postal Service’s Greg and Vicki Valenzuela, and their son, Greg Jr.
Greg, a customer services supervisor at the Peoria, AZ, Post Office, has owned a 1968 Chevrolet Impala for 13 years. Vicki, division manager for implementation strategy for Western Processing Division, owns a 1970 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Greg Jr. owns a 1986 G-Body Monte Carlo and a lowrider bicycle named “Chrome Bandit” that he built himself, as well as a 1959 Chevrolet Impala radio-controlled car that he painted and patterned.
“Vicki and I used to be into old trucks, but I always wanted to be involved in the lowrider scene. The sense of community and the cruising aspect of it pulled us in,” Greg said.
“Being a part of this community allows me to show appreciation for other people’s creativity, craftmanship and hard work on their cars,” Vicki said.
Working on their vehicles, cruising and attending car shows has brought them closer together.
“The family time is the biggest enjoyment for me. We’re always together,” Greg said.
“And it’s an opportunity to meet other families and support the community,” Vicki said. “The lowrider community hosts many events and car shows to raise money in support of such things as charity organizations, funerals, scholarships, Christmas toys, backpacks and school supplies, and food boxes to give back to the community.”
She notes that lowriders come from all backgrounds, and judgment is not part of the community.
“It’s interesting, because Greg wears a tie and slacks every day for work, but on the weekends, he’s with me and our son and he’s three-wheeling in his Impala,” she said.
“During the week we’re busy, and we’re committed to our jobs,” Greg said. “Lowriding is a weekend enjoyment for us. We like how it emphasizes family and music and food, where people can feel comfortable. We feel comfortable there.”
In the 1980s, some city governments associated lowriders with street gangs, so they imposed anti-cruising laws and height restrictions on vehicles. But for families such as the Valenzuelas, running afoul of the law has never been the aim or the practice.
“Driving around is a peaceful thing to do,” Greg Jr. said. “It’s not gang-related. It’s really about family, and cruising together, and showing off your skills. That’s why these Lowriders stamps are so important. With the Postal Service now being involved in our community, it publicizes that lowriding is not a bad thing.”
He also sees how lowriding can be rehabilitating for certain individuals.
“I’ve met older guys in the lowrider community who made some bad choices, but they’re not like that anymore. With lowriding, it takes money to work on your car, so that means you need to get a job to earn that money. For them, lowriding has become something they can take pride in. It’s turned their lives around.”
The Postal Service dedicated its Lowriders stamps on March 13 at a well-attended ceremony in San Diego. The Valenzuelas made the roughly five-hour drive from Litchfield Park, AZ.
“Seeing the number of people there to support the stamps and the lowrider community was a proud moment for me. I got choked up when the stamps were unveiled. I’m not only proud for the Postal Service but also proud to be a postal employee and a lady lowrider who cruises with my family,” Vicki said.
The USPS stamp program serves to recognize America’s history, culture and its people. Greg Sr. sees this on full display with this release.
“Not every organization can show support for a community like this, but ours does,” he said proudly. “The Postal Service truly embraced the lowrider community with these stamps.”
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Robert Castillo, a processing support specialist at the Margaret L. Sellers Processing and Distribution Center in San Diego, owns “Blu Magic,” a metallic blue pearl custom hydraulic 1984 Oldsmobile Regency 98. “I was born and raised in the heart of San Diego’s Logan Heights neighborhood — within walking distance of the landmark Chicano Park as well as Logan Heights Library, where the Lowriders stamp dedication was held. I’ve been a member of a San Diego lowrider car club named CITY since its inception back in 1977. The club’s name was selected to represent the members, including my high school classmates, who came from the different barrio neighborhoods surrounding the downtown area. A few of my neighborhood friends were invited to display their cars at the dedication ceremony.”Jose Cervantes, a custodian at the Bellingham, WA, Post Office, always had an affinity for classic cars. “I appreciate the look, shape and detail that is not present in today’s vehicles. I particularly admire chrome detailing, intricate hood ornaments and whitewall tires.” Cervantes owns this 1954 Oldsmobile Super 88, with its powerful, 324-cubic-inch Rocket V8 engine. “What I like most about my car is that it’s more unique in the car scene. It’s pretty rare to come across another Super 88.”Daniel Glaskox, a letter carrier in Gulfport, MS, says his “lowrider is a bit different, as it is a ’59 VW Beetle. I have owned it for 13 years. It has been featured on the news and on T-shirts, among other places. I drive it as much as possible and attend shows whenever work allows.” Angenette Jackson-Lineberger, supervisor of field maintenance operations in Los Angeles, owns a 1963 Chevy Impala, affectionately named “Netteboop.” “It represents my love for vintage automobiles but also a meaningful connection to my father. He had an appreciation for old-school vehicles and owned many of them while I was growing up. That environment sparked my fascination with the craftsmanship, design and stories behind vintage automobiles. I attended car shows with my dad and spent time cruising in his cars. Those experiences left a lasting impression on me. Although he has passed away, my love for vintage cars continues to keep that bond alive. My husband shares the same passion for cars. His eye for classic vehicles led us to ‘Netteboop.’ The vehicle is not just a showpiece — it is a symbol of family, memories and pride.”Darrell Johnson, a custodian at the Eastgate Post Office in Indianapolis, shared a photo of his 1973 Chevrolet Caprice.Gabriel Lopez, customer services manager at the Los Alamos, NM, Post Office, said he was born in Los Angeles and got into lowriding at the age of 8 thanks to his uncle. “He would take me to car shows, and I said, ‘When I get older, I want a G-body lowrider,’ which is an Oldsmobile Cutlass, Buick Regal or Chevrolet Monte Carlo, ranging in the years of 1978 to 1987. I then moved to Espanola, NM, which has a lot of lowriders — G-bodies, bombs, Impalas and Fleetwood Cadillacs. I have a 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass lowrider named 87 REASONS, with a chrome front end undercarriage. I’ve had it for about 12 years. When we cruise our lowriders, we like to listen to lowrider soul oldies like ‘I’m Your Puppet’ and ‘Angel Baby,’ and [funk music.” Efren Lucatero, a vehicle operations and maintenance assistant at the Yakima, WA, Post Office, shared a photo of his red ’66 Chevrolet Impala, white ’65 Impala and his “pride and joy,” a 1963 Impala SS convertible.Alexander Macias, a letter carrier in New Berlin, WI, said he has been part of the Somosuno Milwaukee Car Club for the last 25 years. “I currently have a 1999 Lincoln Town Car with hydraulics. I have always been intrigued by lowriders, first getting into lowrider bikes when I was 12, and then getting my first lowrider car, a 1970 Lincoln Mark III, when I was 16. I have been actively working on and showcasing my lowrider as a hobby outside of work since then. Lowriding is a passion of mine, and I was motivated growing up watching and helping my brother build his lowriders, and I hope to continue this tradition with my own children.”Kristine Mendoza, a general expeditor at the Santa Barbara, CA, Processing and Distribution Center, said she has two lowriders. “One is a 1965 Chevy Impala SS convertible. It was black, but I had it repainted and had the interior and convertible top redone. It is now purple with a white top. I also have a gray 1968 Impala SS convertible. I got into lowriding when I was about 11 years old. My brother had a 1965 Impala hardtop, and I’ve been fascinated ever since. My dream was to have my own one day. I love all the customizing that people do to their cars. There’s no better feeling than cruising in a lowrider.”Manny Rodriguez, maintenance operations supervisor at the Anaheim, CA, Processing and Distribution Center, said, “Building and maintaining my 1963 Chevrolet Impala requires patience and attention to detail — values that I obtained in the United States Marine Corps and that also guide me in my role with the Postal Service.” Rodriguez’s lowrider sits on 13-inch chrome wire wheels and features a fully detailed hydraulic setup in the trunk consisting of two pumps, four batteries and custom oil tanks fabricated from 1960s military practice bombs that were restored and refinished as part of the build.Rene Rivera Torres, a letter carrier at the Quail Heights, FL, Post Office, began lowriding at the same time as his brother, Michael Rivera Torres, who is also a carrier. “My uncle, who is considered one of the godfathers of lowriding in South Florida, got me into it. I started out with a 1994 Cadillac Fleetwood and moved up to my 1964 Chevrolet Impala SS. My Impala has four pumps and eight batteries, and all-gold OG wire wheels. I’m part of the Torres Family Car Club, and I’ve been in the lowriding game since middle school.”Melinda Tripp, a letter carrier in Wichita, KS, has “a ’93 Chevy S-10 single-cab, long-bed lowrider with a four-speed manual transmission. I started this build about four years ago or so. In my eyes, it’s not done! It has placed ‘top 3’ a few times at the Midwest Super Show in Wichita. There is nothing like hitting a corner on three wheels and watching everyone’s facial expressions. My favorites are the little kids — they love it!”Maria Barela, a rural carrier in Alamosa, CO, said that her lowrider is “a 1977 Ford LTD 2, and its name is ‘The Taste of Heaven.’ The reason this car is important to me is because my husband and I had built it together four months before he passed away.”Jimi Blanchard, logistics operations supervisor at the Postal Inspection Service’s Portland, OR, office, said that he “grew up with lowriders, hot rods, lead sleds and rat rods. My dad, uncles, cousins and my brothers have the love of this wonderful culture of cars. My family travels all over the West Coast to participate in custom car shows, and I also do local TV to talk about lowrider and hot rod shows. I also have Facebook and Instagram pages dedicated to the lifestyle of lowriders and hot rods and more.”Riverside, CA, Postmaster Frank Lemos owns a 1964 Chevrolet Impala and became a lowrider owner because “it’s a tradition that runs deep in my family. Growing up around the culture, I learned that lowriders represent pride, craftsmanship and respect for heritage. Owning one allows me to carry on that tradition while sharing something meaningful with my family and kids.”Regina Palacios, a mail processing clerk at the Sacramento, CA, Processing and Distribution Center, owns a 1965 Chevrolet Impala SS she named “Royal.” “I am also in the SOLIDOS Car & Bike Club in Sacramento. I started working for USPS in June 2019 and I was able to purchase my dream car in August 2024.”Chris Oviedo, acting vehicle maintenance manager in Anaheim, CA, shared a photo of his 2003 Harley Davidson “Vicla” lowrider motorcycle. “It was built in honor of my dad, who passed away in 2012 from cancer.”Chris Sabala, a custodian at North Broadway Station in San Antonio, submitted this photograph of his 1962 Chevrolet Impala lowrider.Gustavo Careaga, maintenance operations manager at the West Valley Processing and Distribution Center in Phoenix, said he has built many lowriders throughout the years.” These are some that I’m most proud of: a 1976 Chevy Caprice, a 1969 Chevy Impala convertible, a 1966 Chevy Impala convertible, a 1998 Chevy Tahoe two-door and a 1972 GMC half-ton that I dedicated to my late brother, Miguel.”
