Okay. . .you're right, it's a lowrider--all right? Now I'll be the first to admit that CRM doesn't generally follow lowirding, as it's yet another subgenre of the hot rodding hobby, just as are pro-street Camaros and Mustangs. However, when we find one this superbly crafted, with the only thing actually in common with its brethren being the use of hydraulics instead of airbags, it's time to take a closer look. In fact, this look was taken by Marco Patino, who works for another magazine in Primedia's publishing empire, Lowrider.

Lowriders have always used materials and building styles in common with traditional customizing, painting in particular, with flakes, pearls, and candies being used almost exclusively. Interiors, too, are usually wild take-offs of the '60s Eddie Martinez-look as well, with tufted fabrics and cocktail bars being part of the mix. And whereas custom car guys have backed off a tad, even abandoning such things as '70s-style airbrushed murals, et all, the lowriding community has embraced such embellishments, pushing the envelope even further in their refinement and interpretation of the craft.

Police officer Albert Martinez has a car that actually bridges the divide, not only between custom cars and lowriders, but also between traditional and contemporary building styles. His hydraulic-equipped '66 Rivi has a changeable stance (as do customs equipped with airbags), a wild hot pink pearl paint job that could be called almost conservative by both camps, and a subdued slate gray velour interior that gives it a timeless look no matter the automotive preference of the viewer. Lowriding, then, is just as much a lifestyle as it is a build style, left to the builder's intent as to what it is, and is not. Of course, we know Albert's intent, as his car club affiliation is with Lifestyle Kustoms. So, call it whatever you will--we'll just call it COOL!