Very scarce original Low Rider Magazine Vol 3 No 4 February 1980. San Jose, CA. Riding a wave of Mexican-American pride that started in the 1960s, Low Rider Magazine hit the newsstands in 1977 with a unique blend of political and cultural writings and photographs of extravagantly restored vintage cars carefully lowered to cruise mere inches above asphalt boulevards across the Southwest. I've become kind of obsessed with these old Low Rider mags, especially from this era. They're just so beautifully designed and put together. Such incredible time capsules of a deep and rich sub culture. The articles, the adverts, the photography and typography is all so well considered. It was also at this time a very clearly community lead and ran magazine.
A particular favourite section is 'Pasados', where its readership is encouraged to send in old photos of family members for them to be shared in each issue. These pages result in incredible montages of beautiful and very personal old photos and memories. 'Hit up your hefitos, uncles, brothers, sisters for pictures of the 40's or 50's showing the dress styles, hair do's and caruchitas. The pictures will be handled with tender loving care.'
Then there's the articles that range from recommendations of the best spots around LA for meets up and cruises, the best places to pick up zoot suits or rims, next to interviews with civil rights activists like Cesar Chavez.
