Inside The Latina Lowrider Car Scene | Irreplaceable: Celebrating Different | Refinery29

Women have always been present in the lowrider car scene, but men have usually predetermined their place to be in the passenger seat or posing seductively in front of their cars. Two years ago, Angel and her close friends challenged this outdated thinking by establishing Dueñas Car Club, a space for women who want to drive and work on their own lowrider cars the freedom and support to do so. Now, Angel and other women like Sonia aka @lowrider_mama are making sure their presence is known in the scene so that other young women can see that it’s possible for women to be behind the wheel too.
Producer/Director.....GABRIELA DEMATTEIS
Director of Photography.....GENE MICHAEL BRADLEY
Camera Operator.....GABRIELA DEMATTEIS
Editor.....AARON WHITE
Associate Producers.....JUSTIN GREEN, NICOLE DOIRON
Assistant Editors.....ROSALIE RODRIGUEZ, AYO LIJIRIN
Animator/Graphics.....EVELYN ZHANG
Post Audio Engineer.....BRIAN ARNOLD
Colorist.....EDWIN RODRIGUEZ
Additional Images Courtesy of.....SOUTH BAY VISIONS, MISS LOPEZ MEDIA, ANGEL ROMERO, IMPALAMINO FLICK, SONIA GONZALES, ELIZABETH PEREZ PHOTOGRAPHY
Special Thanks.....DUENAS CAR CLUB, UNTOUCHABLES CAR CLUB, CHAMUCO CORTEZ, WINNONAH SARAH
ABOUT SERIES
Obsessed or really big fans? Irreplaceable: Celebrating Different is series that explores unique individuals and their fandoms. From objects to culture -- we learn where the obsession started and how it evolved. It’s a celebration of what’s different.
ABOUT REFINERY29
Refinery29 is a modern woman's destination for how to live a stylish, well-rounded life. refinery29.com/
RELATED CONTENT
Why These Mexican American Women Are Crossing The Border Into Mexico
• Why These Mexican Amer...
Why Japanese Women Are Dressing Like Cholas
• Why Japanese Women Are...
How Jamaican Dancehall Queens Twerk For A Living
• How Jamaican Dancehall...
SUBSCRIBE TO REFINERY29
Subscribe to the Refinery29 channel: bit.ly/subscribe-to-r29
Follow Sonia on Instagram: / lowrider_mama
Follow Dueñas Car Club on Instagram: / duenascarclub
Follow Refinery29 on Instagram: / refinery29
Follow Somos on Instagram: / r29somos
Follow Unbothered on Instagram: / r29unbothered

[@refinery29]

What do you know about Lowrider culture? Share respectfully with us here.

[@robinsantana4653]

If I knew how to do this I would!! I grew up with low riding as a thing men would do! I am so down with this!! This would be amazing to be apart of!! Women need to have our own place!

[@refinery29]

@@robinsantana4653 Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us!

[@salmarodriguez8206]

@@refinery29 my dad has a custom 86’ regal and i grew up with it. we go to his car clubs’ meets and all the lowriders there are awesome they all have unique paint jobs and details. i want one when i get older

[@ri.b.8700]

I grew up on the Navajo rez near Gallup NM. My Dad & Grandpa measured competent independence by how well you took care of your vehicle, 3 uncles had the same auto mechanics teacher I had in high school, my little brother is a mechanic (my girls call their uncle "the truck doctor"), I learned to drive on a Massey Ferguson tractor at 9 years old, my first vehicle is still my favorite: '78 Ford F-150 powder blue pick up truck, I named her Betsy, my Grandpa gave her to me so I could get to school in town 15+ miles away.... Gallup NM was a hub for cruising Fridays & Saturdays: between the neon lights, route 66 mentality, Hispanic culture (great people, lifelong friends & neighbors), family visits to Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Espanola, Las Cruces, etc... we'd stare shamelessly at beautifully maintained vintage vehicles that had such a fierce individuality on display...to this day I think..."poetry in motion" every time. After a few dacades & multiple states I've never seen a reason to change my opinion of low riders & their drivers!! God Bless BadAss Girlz Everywhere, from Navajo single Mom of 2 such awesome girls Maricopa County AZ. Please take care & drive safe, maybe we'll see you on a cruise some weekend night!

[@Jylart]

I love this! I've been to car shows but never had a chance to go to a low rider event. I would LOVE to see this. I'm in Florida and I'm gonna go online to learn more and find a show!

[@lowridermama7570]

Thank you everyone for tuning in. Angel & I are honored to have shared our stories. Much Love and respect 🙏🏼

[@tanja9275]

Hello Sonia ..I very much appreciate your telling~ sharing your passion for cars ~ back story of your child hood 💓 Your car I admire it's beautiful.. Sincerely Tanja

[@skyhigh450]

Women empowerment!!! Keep it up

[@MMICHAEL.]

Do a back yard boogie on that 65 and get it together

[@TheSebass1234]

You’re amazing yeo, this made my girlfriends so happy to watch. Thank you

[@rachelwyatt6030]

I love this so much ❤️ my cousin Junior used to take us to high school in his low rider and we felt so cool! I always wished to have one of my own! You ladies look amazing !!!!

[@gnarwalz]

I don’t have a car..or even a license but this club is awesome! These women are amazing!

[@AprilG]

I agree

[@starram3572]

@Michelle Sanders Stephanie Kwolek, Clärenore Stinnes, Mary Anderson Bertha Benz Margaret Wilcox Danica Patrick All pioneers of automobiles. It was a woman who circumnavigated the GLOBE. You wouldn’t have a damn windshield wiper if not for a woman. Research shows touching grass reduces stress, and boosts immunity; try it.

[@lasenoritacometa1977]

When I started high school I wanted to take auto mechanics but my brother wouldn’t let me . I wanted to take it for me so I wouldn’t have to depend on a anyone to fix my vehicle. Some day though .. you guys keep empowering other women love y’all ❤️

[@bigroy8810]

It's never too late.I know you can do it.

[@doncardi8699]

Do it!!!

[@fine9ja]

One thing about California I miss, all the low rider's😊.

[@vilanyas.1808]

HELL YES, ladies!!! 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽 I totally understand 💯 I own a GORGEOUS purple 2020 Dodge Challenger Hemi V8, and I constantly have to explain to people that yes, she’s MY CAR. Yes, I bought her MYSELF. And YES, I love to drive fast, drift and do donuts with her (in appropriate situations!) So I can completely empathize with this. Keep up the good fight, ladies! You ROCK! 🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽🏎🏎🏎

[@Alyssaj1236]

Love this!! 🥰😍

[@AfG_313]

@Michelle Sanders lol

[@HunterLvyiXIII]

Yes! Get it sis! Speed for days

[@rickesteves4783]

I love the Chola thing: the hair, the makeup, the spider web black bands on the forearms and hands- reminds me of the girls I used know growing up in San Fran's Mission. The cars are firmé too.

[@dfernandez290]

Love to see these woman changing the culture and I only see this movement getting bigger and bigger! Great job setting the bar ladies! Much respect! 💯😎

[@alessandrasmith339]

I adore this. They remind me of my abuela! Nothing fills me with more pride than seeing badass Latinas doing what they love! Gosh, I want to meet them and ask them how the heck those hydraulics work. That mechanism has always confused the heck out of me… Where’s the control? What on earth do those axels look like? What kind of Transformers sorcery is this??

[@DavidGarcia-ku5uu]

Abuela lol

[@POV18]

Lord knows we need more women in the car industry. Proud owner of a 2007 Chevy trailblazer ss, 1969 nova, 1960 apache 10, and 2010 CTSV. 💪🏼💪🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼

[@elbertmoreno2159]

You got it all 😎

[@samuelplacensia9979]

Car industry or car low riding scene? Because there’s already plenty of women in the car industry.

[@Eccentric_Villain]

When I was 8, I overheard the paediatrician say to my parents I’ll never drive a manual car (I’ve always had a thing for big cars and trucks)… challenge accepted. I have my manual licence and can drive trucks… showed that doc what for. Never say NEVER to a girl. I’m late to the party, I only just got diagnosed Autistic. I love cars and fixing them. This video is DOPE.

[@rachelwyatt6030]

That’s right !! This is inspirational because you decided what you would do in life!

[@Missmalefique]

They are jefas!!!! I cannot explain how happy I feel when I see women coming through, specially in male dominated environments.

[@staceynoffke]

Love this. My husband has a '61 Impala Lowrider. I'm still waiting to find my toy.

[@AprilG]

Nice

[@Bigtease83]

I love that these women actually work on their own cars! Some women in car clubs have a car yes, but have their man work on it. You go girls!!!

[@Octoberfly2B]

I actually had to take pictures of me changing my own tires. “Aren’t they heavy”. 😤. Yes I work on my car. Lol.

[@nate6045]

I really wanna know how badly she freaked out when that guy hit her baby. You can tell how much someone loves their car by how badly the owner loses it when someone else damages it.

[@POV18]

I side swiped a pole by accident...wanted to beat my own ass frfr lol

[@AprilG]

It hurts when you worked so hard to buy your own new vehicle and someone hits it while backing up because their looking at a woman (or vice-versa) and your in the store and comeout only to see nobody Is letting you know what happened

[@nate6045]

@@AprilG One time I left my bimmer in a commuter parking lot overnight because I was going on a date...came back 3 days later and when I walked to the parking spot, I couldn't see it. Took me a minute to realize it was half way into the next spot. I was like wtf so I walk around to the back of it to find it completely smashed in. The tires were punched in by the frame and the car alarm had completely drained the battery so I couldn't start it. My phone was dead so I had trouble even calling for assistance. To top it all off, I had a ticket for double parking when it was clear as day my car was pushed half way into the next spot. I screamed so loud it echoed across the whole lot and that lot was like half a mile long at least. To make matters worse, while I was waiting for a cop to take the report, people were literally trying to fight me to move my unmoveable car. So yeah, I know this one all too well. RIP Plue. You were such a good car, I never even replaced you

[@AprilG]

@@nate6045 omg that's so sad!! Hope you get it fixed soon to brand new and karma will get the ppl who did that if it hasn't happened already

[@nate6045]

@@AprilG It happened like 10 years ago 😭 I have epilepsy now so I can't even drive regularly anyway. But I really believe in your karma remark although give the time that I parked and the time I got the ticket, it was probably someone coming back from NYC after drinking. I hope they get some help because they are clearly an alcoholic if they hit my car that hard in a parking lot.

[@sheenawarecki92]

This is so badass. I love seeing women tell men to f off with the gender standards 💜💜💜 Also Sonia saying her doing her hair is why she's so buff is to damn real😂 I can barely do a braid 😂

[@rain5fa116]

Go make a sandwich

[@HunterLvyiXIII]

@@rain5fa116 lol go come up with something original

[@samuelplacensia9979]

The whole car culture scene started in Southern California by men. It started with the surfer hot rods of Huntington Beach and then it moved to East Los Angeles with the low riders. But overall the entire car industry was began by men. That’s not to say that women cannot be a part of it. But you cannot just tell men to fuck off in an industry that is dominated by men. And by the way if you’re a communist socialist liberal your entire worldview is going to destroy the Lowrider East L.A. culture. So if anyone needs to fuck off it’s you.

[@robinsantana4653]

Great representation of our culture!!

[@ramonromero3968]

You Ladies Are Dope AF! Proud Chicanas About Their Culture! Much Respect!

[@KingYaya]

Love the way you all love/care for each other. 🥰

[@alexandrakennedy4033]

Ayyyyye chingonas AF!!!! Love love love this video👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@alisaherreramajestics4338]

Much love and respect ladies!! It is good to see ladies getting recognized for the passion and hard work we put in to our cars. 💪💯💜💜💜 Look me up when your in LA so we can ride together.

[@ChosenOne6666]

Orale she is one of my rukas from the barrio.

[@djbrothareese]

Orale my home girl Angel doing big thangs! Proud of you hermanita

[@tanja9275]

As a young girl recalling ~remembering Latins "FOUNDED LOW RIDERS " Upward Mobility for the Ladies and the Future Endeavors they have worked~ are working for.. Ladies owning Auto body Shops ~ working under the hood ~ detailing cars... #BOSS#LADIES it's 2021 imagine the Future Latinas "OWING ~ RUNNING THE BUSINESSES" Thank you Refinery29 to a wonderful introduction to "BOSS LADIES" SONIA & ANGEL

[@JoseMontes-ul3mv]

Beautiful job ladies!! You are all awesome! 😎 ❤️🥰

[@DMKC]

Just watching this, I’m loving this🥰. This is a definite spot to visit and enjoy their company. Thank you R29 for this.✨💙

[@Octoberfly2B]

Since I was 14 I wanted a lowrider. Not passenger. Wasn’t encouraged by family to get a lowrider. I still hear it in their voice that it’s not something they love. I finally came to peace it’s not their dream; it’s mine it’s here n now. Finally I have my own lowrider. It’s true, what she says at the end. It’s where i let my stress go, my peace comes in and I feel blessed.

[@alexknowbody8245]

Love to see it! Dueñas CC keep representing 🤘🏽

[@behoney00]

Loved this content

[@aaliahmansoor5494]

loving this! would love to be a part of this club one day 💪🏽

[@refinery29]

+aaliahmansoor Thanks for being here!!

[@manuelmaravilla1804]

What city is Dueñas car club from?

[@BenTheAVGNFan]

Appreciate the craftsmanship on these rides ❤️

[@gaterin1998]

I am not surprised, that some people are surprised about women owning cars on this level. A lot of people would have been surprised if a man had room full of make-up stuff. You just don’t see it often! You rock ladies keep it up!

[@meganboal7507]

Love this!

[@bngr_bngr]

I love car culture.

[@user-bn5cj6xc5v]

Saw u this morning on tv.. amused, amazed and entertained,, You ladies are the innovators of the future

[@rebeccahandman2650]

yassss queens! loved this!

[@center0ftheuniv3rse]

So I’ve never been in the lowriding scene, but my cars have always been low 👀 My daily is stock but I have an FRS drift project, slammed Japanese cars are more my style but I’ve always respected the time and effort lowrider owners put into their cars! Sharing the Japanese style, drifting culture and car enthusiasm with my girl is amazing as well, idk how people can bash that. Being with someone that loves what you love can’t be beat 🔥

[@chrisibarra5586]

This is so dope and to see such passion and dedication. They doing the culture justice! Keep up the good work ladies! 😎

[@christinam81]

This is so cool 😊👍

[@francesmartinez1953]

This amazing ladies... I saw you on Kelly Clarkson Show. So happy for you!! 🙏🙏❤

[@kassysmith9772]

Ayyeeee 209 represent!

[@ernia11]

This is so cool !

[@alfredsernaserna5664]

CONGRATS TO ALL YOU BEAUTIFUL LADIES IN THIS VIDEO , AND PROPTS TO YOU ALL , MAY ALL YOUR DREAMS , GOALS AND BUILDS , COME TRUE , MUCH LOVE AND RESPECT TO YOU ALL DUEÑAS CAR CLUB , SOÑIA , NICE VIDEO !

[@jor7441]

this is so cool

[@Ambuttx]

love this

[@itsrobert2742]

Great video

[@Princesswithaspikedtiara]

This is awesome! 😎💗💯

[@LadyCriminal0013]

Q-Vo ladies, I 'member my '76 Chevy Impala, candy apple red, w/ metal flakes in my paint job. My cuzn took pictures and put them in the Lowrider magazine, Sonny Madrid (remember him?). Well my grandmother, helped me w/ car parts and put it together. She was a mechanic and showed me how to rebuild tranny, fix water pump, rebuild carburator and sooo much more RIP abuelita). She told me that women can fix cars as well as men. I miss spending time w/ her and my car. It was one of the first lowriders by a female in my barrio. Thank you for this segment

[@vanessaescobar5716]

I love it ! Proud of you girls

[@FunkyDreams1503]

Love it im currently working on getting mine ❤

[@caleah5407]

Awesome 👏

[@ccjohncc1]

I think you ladies rock!!!

[@pgroadglide1581]

Loving Sonya‘s look holding it down Pachuca 💯 And the Monte Carlo Badazz love the style 🤜🏽✊🏽🤛🏽💯

[@doomdude5689]

whoaaa this was awesome and inspiring. a part of me wants to learn abt cars now lmao

[@stormysmom222]

YAS! So refreshing 😍

[@lifeofsam5839]

Love it !

[@mluiso23]

Beautiful 77 Sonia. I have a 77 myself still rocking the landau. Much respect to the female lowriders. 👏 First lowlow show I ever went to there was a female with a Lincoln. She was in heels and a pants suit, nails n hair done. Everyone was asking if it was hers or did her man build it. Anyway, her brake line snapped from the rear and she popped the trunk, pulled out tools and crawled under the car to fix it herself. That's when I personally found a sweet spot for a female lowrider and knowing that she built it maintained it and drove it PROUDLY. Coast to coast, there is nothing like the lowrider culture.

[@iheartigloos]

I'm so proud of all of these beautiful people!!!! 🥰

[@alexmighty9004]

Great story. Been noticing how hard the ladies have been reppin' out there. Especially in the last 3=4 years. Keep it going! I know your moms doesn't like the 63 Impala but it's still a good look.

[@DrewSpeedDemon]

Omg her purple paint on that 6-5 is fuckin beautiful.

[@thomasmiranda8165]

Lovin' the OG 8" ⛓️ steering wheel.

[@julesreyes1329]

I bow down to you absolute Queens!

[@alysiareid6659]

Loved you guys on the Kelly Clarkson show.

[@minalove6582]

The end was so relaxing. I exhaled right with you lol.

[@juliebianchi2163]

It's SO nice to see these beautiful women with their own badass cars! In the past the only place you would see them is in a barely there bikini posing in front of a hot rod or low rider. I'm so glad times are changing, especially in the Bay Area where I grew up! I would have loved to see this in highschool in the 80's when I was cruising down the main drags with my boyfriend!

[@Periwinkle_Pinkk]

My Mexican sisters be too lit love it ❤️‍🔥

[@creepnasty5370]

Hello chocolate

[@Amber_waves19]

Live for these women!!

[@misplaced80sguy59]

That 65 is tight! The paint is gorgeous, and I love the passion that goes into these cars!

[@briananda3383]

I respect these women, I want my daughter to get a lowrider and remember where came from in East Los

[@NA-se9fr]

You in the market to buy one?

[@briananda3383]

@@NA-se9fr I am looking for something I can work on, when I get back home from deployment I will be looking around El Paso, Texas and in East L.A. for the market for my daughter to add to her car collection

[@0deszuh111]

U a chicano?

[@briananda3383]

@@0deszuh111 Si. My familia are Mexican

[@theariesexperiment4642]

Get yo bounce on ladies. Beautiful builds. That Monte is SUUUWEET!!!

[@angela_tarantulas]

I just have a 99 Chrysler Stratus. But I love it and it’s mine 😊 love the ladies power in the car scene 💪🏼💕

[@madtownangler]

Glad to see lowriders are still around. Miss living where they are common.

[@tomkat2803]

Congratulations Ladies 👏👏👏

[@incisivecommenter5974]

Que bellas!! Que bravas!! Much love to you ladies great cars🌟🌟✨✨

[@RvingtoDisney]

Dope AF!

[@mikem314]

This is great and even better that it’s women doing it for themselves. So important for us all to have a hobby we are passionate about.

[@Manuel.O1204]

Love seeing the chicano culture going out to the world!!

[@ovg8824]

A girl old memories el chuco tx elpaso has your back firme to see the ladies take a stand and do your thing estodo shout out to you all no vatos needed ! Aqui esta la esquina chica !

[@AngeloHinojosa]

Sonia is currently at the Rucas y Carruchas exhibition in Sacramento where I live. So cool I found this video after seeing it

[@flowerface9011]

Y'all's rides are D O P E

[@crazyorwhat]

I love this ❤

[@doublerzrosales4368]

Where are these events at ?

[@albertogonzales2854]

Awesome! Working on a 2000 Cadillac DeVille and a 56 Pontiac Star Chief from AZ

[@marvitt8801]

What an awesome club! Ladies...you ROCK!!!!!!!!

[@andradewilmassouldies9616]

MUCH RESPECT QUEENS

[@AprilG]

I love these women I didn't have nobody like these women around I wish I did though

[@king-koopa8278]

Good thing women got sum like this there gender thing when kome to this or life period I know women mechanic who are way better than men. So salute ladies 🖤🖤🖤

[@bxchef829]

Thaz whaz up, dope!

[@shaeden946]

Man from west auckland mz respect to you all the cars so sick

[@jamesoconnor3017]

Nice! 😎❤️

[@yankeetimeline]

Hell yeah! Sweet.

[@raydog8843]

That Monte is dope! I gotta get my 74 on the road 🛣️

[@LaPotraBellaca]

I am so intrigued by them

[@JML6988]

It took me awhile to get used to a lowrider club in Ohio since it tends to be a West Coast/Pac Island thing.

[@lovetigers4806]

That monte stupid hard and when she hit the switch on that bihhh then that candy top is wild

[@patsy9605]

Cool!!

[@Thatonedude117]

Who are the 20+ people that put thumbs down. Literally singling yourselves out as sexist. Haters. Like. Cmon now. Women can drive themselves to the market to get your food to make. Smile. Just kidding love this ❤️😂😌

[@dustinbrown7246]

Man, I just moved from Sacramento California to Springfield missouri and all of the lowrider car clubs here have pretty much faded into memories. Anyone know of anything close by?

[@lindaguzman2175]

Badass mujeres out there! Much respect

[@kathrynavalle8639]

this is totally kick-ass.