Chrome, custom paint and plenty of cultura. Lowriders have a rich history in the Hispanic community, especially right here in Arizona. The Tempe History Museum is celebrating that history with “Ranfla Vida” or “Car Life.” Why not bring a little of that vida into Arizona PBS with a lowrider in the studio!
Joining Catherine Anaya to talk about the history and impact of lowriders on the Hispanic community were Jimmy Arbizu and Marco Albarran. Albarran is the curator of the “Ranfla Vida” exhibit.
“Bringing together the people that had been involved since the beginning and trying to get them to be a part of the exhibition was quite a thing,” Albarran said. “But I think because most of the people in the lowrider community are like family and their friendship is binding from their experiences in the 70s and early 80s, everybody was very positive bringing this type of exhibition together.”
The Intruders Car Club is Arizona’s first and longest-running lowrider group, established in Phoenix in 1976 under current president Jimmy Arbizu. They celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2026, marking five decades in the lowrider movement. Widely recognized as a foundational pillar of Arizona lowrider culture known for classic builds like vintage Chevys and Impalas, they have also been featured across major platforms including “Lowrider Magazine” and “MotorTrend’s Lowrider Garage” series.
According to Tempe History Museum, “In the aftermath of World War II, Mexican-American communities found a way to customize their vehicles by lowering them to the ground, giving birth to a new tradition. Today, lowrider cars are a multigenerational, multicultural and a multimillion-dollar business that has transcended borders, peoples and cultures.”
The exhibit is on display at Tempe History Museum until December 31, 2026, and admission is free.
