Why Van Nuys Blvd is the Birthplace of Cruising! | World Famous Roads & Raceways

In our new series "World Famous Roads & Raceways" we reveal why Van Nuys Blvd in Los Angeles California, is the undisputed BIRTHPLACE of cruising and modern American West Coast Car Culture! From the 1930s to today Van Nuys Blvd has left an indelible mark on Automotive history and American pop culture that continues to endure.

[@lifelongpatriot3695]

I was there.Cruised Van Nuys every Wednesday which was club night in my 55 chevy.1968 to 1972 was the best.Everyone was cool and got along. Lots of nice AMERICAN street machines and pretty girls. Now Im 70 and retired. I look back on those times with fond memories realizing those were the days.

[@gordocarbo]

55 and was a kid riding passenger wtih my uncle crusiing there. Later in the 80s we tried to do the same but too many thugs Fri night most of us rushed home after work, showered dressed up and would cruise Ventura Blvd from TOpanga clear to Hollywood sometimes and back. Carloads of all ages hanging out, meeting girls it was a blast. Pull up to any light, and you may hear "Follow us to part at.." all night. St racing 4 nights a week never had issues. BEst place to grow up finally left 2010 when the last best corner of the valley (Chatsworth) went to pot too. One big drug infested gridlock trafficed dump now. Really sad. Even Santa Clarita followed yrs later. UNless you have big $ theres nowhere decent to live without encountering lots of crime in Ca.

[@davidkennedy7111]

This is great video... Ohyou guys took the time to dream write put that together awesome.. As I was searching just for.. I grew up in Van Nuys in the mid 70 ' s.. I found this Video...wow Congrats.. My friend Derrick and I were cruising in early August 1976 in my 70 primered Callenger convertible .. picked up 2 x valley girls we each picked a date..the next week we traded girls ....and I married my 2nd date 1.5x years later...and still together ❤️ We got a 65 gto..a 70 rt B5 Blue Challenger ....and 2019 Redeye.. We cruize and go to car shows and Love Each other! Till we run out of gas 😂 Keep up the great work 👍

[@DriveInMedia]

Thank you so much!

[@karenbrown2135]

I sure do miss those days. I was born in 1962 and grew up in North Hollywood. Cruising night was every Wednesday and it was fun. I remember one time I borrowed my moms car to go there and a cop stopped me at the corner where Firestone was and I got a ticket. I was really nervous because I had my bong in the glove compartment. I will never forget that night. Good times!

[@Wreckitralph54]

What was the ticket for? And how pissed off was your mom?

[@USAFORMERUSMC]

Me too, born in Van Nuys, raised in Granada Hills.

[@thomasahern5650]

Grew up in the Valley, graduated HS in '72, spent many an evening cruising Van Nuys Blvd., in my tricked out VW Bug and jamming to my 8 tracks. Van Nuys Blvd. would be packed, lol

[@lilorbielilorbie2496]

I cruised Van Nuys Blvd. many many times in the 70's. Some might say it was a youth misspent. All I know is I sure had a lot of fun. I feel sad for the youth of today all they have are you tube videos but for those of us who lived it .Man it was a helluva good time. I would do it all over again if I could.

[@gordocarbo]

F yes!! We went out socialized met other gearheads, great way to meet women too! People were out from Fri night til Sun night....nobody goes out anymore they are all on social media crying life is so unfair. Most guys my age (50s) dont even drive thier cars anymore they are "afraid" .What is THAT? I may be poverty stricken forever and a parapalegic but will have my old iron and drive when I can til the very end.

[@mildredpierce4506]

I’ve been living in Van Nuys since 2010 and I was today years old when I found out those movies were made here.

[@angusorvid8840]

As an Angeleno I can testify to what a great city this is for cruising, so long as traffic ain't an issue, or so long as you are not in a hurry and can cruise slow. But when I was a teen or in my early twenties, I'd cruise all over town with my friends, stopping at diners, doing all the goofy stuff you do in those years. I just didn't like to be the one behind the wheel so I could relax and enjoy the ride. While Van Nuys Boulevard was still a destination in the 80s and 90s, it wasn't the only place. Sunset and Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood were popular, as was Westwood by UCLA. But that died hard in the early 90s. Whittier Boulevard used to be very popular but is nothing like what it used to be. They cracked down hard on cruising on Crenshaw Boulevard as well which is my neck of the woods. Some car and motorcycle clubs meet up, but it's mostly old timers with an average age of 60.

[@bruceglazer3581]

I was there! Early seventies, every Wednesday night in my 65' Mustang Fastback, which back then only cost me $400. I had friends who worked at the Chevy plant out of high school. Was a regular at Bob's. Cool video. Brought a smile to my face.

[@michaelgredmond]

Good times Bruce!!

[@barryobler9491]

I had a 66 Mustang sedan, 4spd car, out there frequently as well as the stuff we did in Pasadena.

[@barryjohnson409]

I wish there was a time machine...I would go back to this era to be part of the scene. 💯

[@gretchensaaduddin5123]

Me too in my 1964.5 straight 6 Mustang, and my Dad came too in his 66 V8 Mustang. Every time I drive over there now it depresses me. It has been allowed to become a dump, and it seems almost intentional. So many good times back in the day.

[@bobadams3661]

Family moved to Van Nuys in 1953, Van Nuys grad S'62. Lots of time on VN Blvd in 57 Bel Air. Lots of street racing as freeways were under construction and not opened yet around Van Nuys Bobs and Toluca Lake Bobs. And also San Fernando Raceway. Good times, start of muscle car era, Super Stock classes, gassers, my friend drove the City of San Fernando 62 white 409 Chevy Super Stock against the big names at the time. We had car lots that were like car shows. 1 was a block across from Van Nuys Bobs that had the factory cars, hot rods, hot Chevys, etc. Dick Landy was a Salesman (Owner?) there, later Bob and Dale motors on Vanowen with their beautiful dark blue Super Stock Ford. So much happened there.

[@ehl-isunnet9757]

this is definitely my cup of tea

[@duaneferrell1527]

I was born in Pacoima in 1944. Moved to North Hollywood attending Victory Blvd Grammer School and Sun Valley Jr High. I moved to Panorama City and attended James Monroe High School. When I got my drivers license and inherited by brother 1953 Ford painted Lime Fire Green. My next car was a 58 Ford with a 292 and three speed. Help start a Car Club called the Rejectors. Bought a 1960 Chevy Impala, 348, 4 speed with a Duntov Cam. Started cruising Van Nuys Blvd every Wednesday Night looking for hot chick's, or a drag race. Found both, with drag races on Chandler and Ethel, Louise, Balboa Blvd at the San Fernando Dam, and went to Bakersfield Famosa Smokers meet every year along went to Lyon drags in Long Beach, where I met more races. Spent a couple of nights in jail for some stupid stuff my friend's and I got into. Met my future wife cruising VN BLvd in 1962, got married in 1964 and have had a good life since. I will always remember those times of my life with great joy.

[@-oiiio-3993]

Van Nuys and Chandler Boulevards were originally part of _The Sherman Way_ which extended from the Cauhenga Pass to Canoga Park. It was the first paved road across the San Fernando Valley and Pacific Electric trolleys ran on tracks in the center of the entire route.

[@adavtyan247]

I moved to Van Nuys as a child from Armenia in the early 90s. Fast forward to 2021 I purchased my first home here. I remember the car culture as a youngster and crazy to think that a Metro Light Rail system is about to be built in the epicenter of LA car culture.

[@xReaan]

there was a pacific electric railway line that ran on van nuys until it shut on 1952

[@cherylwatson277]

I used to cruise Van Nuys every Wednesday night in my 70 Duster. Sure do miss those days, and the gas prices! 😎👍❤️

[@v1-vr-rotatev2-vy_vx31]

We were cruising Hermosa Beach strand way before Van nuys boulevard became popular.

[@bridgetkeefe8378]

i watched your videos for the first time and im so amazed by it

[@DriveInMedia]

Thank you !

[@stevedolan5065]

Reseda High class of 65...good times on Van Nuys Blvd...

[@errolthomas9426]

Man, I wish I'd grown up in Van Nuys back in the 80's

[@-oiiio-3993]

I did. Born at Valley Hospital (Van Nuys at Sherman Way), 1960.

[@vinewood8295]

You and me both, I grew up in South Carolina in the 80's, wishing I lived in Southern CA. Now as an adult I do live in Southern California working at one of the many aircraft facilities just outside of DTLA...

[@ronalddaub9740]

Late 50s for me

[@patriciafuller721]

I must say i so enjoyed watch the video

[@katelynnmertz7346]

Brilliant so worth of your time

[@kdm71291]

Sadly, cruising Main St. every Friday and Saturday night was closed down by the man many years ago in my hometown of Ventura Ca because of idiots who couldn't behave decently....insisted upon by the local business owners. I was once told that it was getting popular enough to have been featured in "Cruising" magazine........I miss those days!

[@geothon]

Now with it being 100% pedestrian this activity is gone completely. Ventura can't afford to even keep the Promenade safe for people.

[@bzamski17]

And that man never left California and has been forcing his ideals on the whole country ruining the car world

[@vinewood8295]

It's all over nowadays un-fortunately, this current generation of youngins & their street takeovers have killed whatever was left of the car scene in SoCal for the most part...

[@gordocarbo]

@@geothon 5 yrs ago drove to Port Huneme, my fav place to hang out, surf, eat fish tacos and walk around the marina. Hadnt been there since the 80s. I was shocked....looked no different than Tijuanaa, giant homeless camp, junkies paying on the sidewalk, shopping cars laying in the street. Almost had me tearing up..Id be afriad to beach it nowadays less I step on a syringe. Where does one go anymore? Anywhere decent you have to be wealthy to live. Sand Diego even isnt much different

[@gordocarbo]

@@vinewood8295 Amen!!! Late 80s with the crack epidemic gangs and the wanna be thug ricer types would show up to our cruise night, st racing hangouts, fights, gunshots. Fun was over. Nobody did that yrs earlier we all knew eachother hung out had burgers and just enjoyed the scenery. Occasional race. If anyone got out of hand we tossed them out ourselves. Long as noone acted the fool the cops let us be. Many of them are car guys too.

[@boejerry2033]

What about the in&out on Roscoe and woodman!

[@karenbrown2135]

Remember the stickers that people had on their cars saying “In and out Urge”?

[@-iIIiiiiiIiiiiIIIiiIi-]

Whoever designed Burbank needs to get his graved pissed on for a century.

[@gwen2721]

I remember seeing cruise nights back in 09! Those were always so cool.

[@clevelandraney1551]

dude i so enjoyed watching the video

[@bradleyzimmerman1327]

ill share it with my friends

[@DriveInMedia]

Thank you! every bit helps!

[@kullanmyorum2417]

Found you on trending 😻

[@lurlinemccullough2294]

i have never enjoyed and also learned so much dude keep it up

[@DriveInMedia]

thank you we will! please make sure to subscribe to see more content!

This is real content right here thank u for being alive 🥶

[@بنتاصول-ذ3ع]

وىنات😄😃😂😈😈😈😈😇😇😇😆😅😧😦😥😠😷😷😷😷😷😷😷😷😷😷😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😩😶😶😣😣😣😤😱😲👺👺👹👹👹

[@بنتاصول-ذ3ع]

تم

[@بنتاصول-ذ3ع]

نونزززز

[@elestirisilah7731]

this just popped up on my trending list 🤔

[@albacharles4704]

such a lovely video

[@kaptan3298]

KEEP CREATING FAM

[@felicitycameron923]

amazing video

[@katlynsmitham1215]

Must watch it guys

[@sailortrish3962]

You didn’t mention the low riders.

[@alikemaltunc3907]

SICK 😱

[@mehmetkocyigit7841]

Do you have anymore like this one?

[@DriveInMedia]

we will soon!

[@gustavogoncalves9507]

Ay im a fan for life 😍

[@jasperziemann6790]

unique content

[@hillarykoss4024]

your on fire

[@oyunyolu355]

🤩🤩

[@clowns76]

Dose any one know if there are still having the car cruiser. Therr and what day is it on??

[@lucysfv]

Yes! On Sundays!

[@roxyz8954]

Yea this vid cool

[@JoseMartinez-ck7nu]

I live in van nuys

[@probaykus]

😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@sacma5334]

😍

I just flip the switch (flip it, flip it)

[@muzikciikili2835]

daaammmmnnnnnnn

[@vallieschmidt4639]

new to your channel

[@bzamski17]

Guess you never heard of Woodward ave in Royal Oak Michigan 🤓 you no is the automobile state

[@geraldhawkins773]

Ben yes I heard of the famous Woodward ave cruise. I worked at the Van Nuys plant from 1965 until 1992 when it closed. As a kid I lived about 2 blocks from Van Nuys Blvd and it was walking distance to the GM assembly plant. At that time of my life there were more 😢automobile factories in California than in Michigan. There were also many steel factories and foundries in southern California, once upon a time. There are also three racing engine facilities near where the GM plant was once located Ed Pink is one of them. Sadly all of what made the car culture such an intriguing part of the California culture is going away. I continued working for GM in various locations around the US until I retired in 2013.

[@yeniseylerburada7036]

uhmmmm why are u on all these playlists

[@clgnoyuncu9934]

Anyone else find this on trending?

[@nativoplantas2003]

Van nuys Hollywood Sherman oaks

[@BALIKSEVDASI]

😵😵😵😵😵

[@thejerseyj5479]

A huge difference between a staged "car show cruise night", and hundreds of kids cruising in whatever they could afford, or borrow from mom. Cruise Nights now tend to be a bunch of old, fat men in shorts and sneakers driving their $100,000 restomods as if they were made of cardboard.

[@brancher]

you said "all but" too many times and used it wrong

[@ProTvxd]

🖖

[@DrKABUS-rp8ho]

Shazam!

[@efberonikartal5296]

ok ok 😎

[@itslyndsayrae]

Okay first of all - LOVED this style and format. Amazing job as usual! More episodes please!!

[@hamod3aff828]

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[@hamod3aff828]

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[@DriveInMedia]

Thank you! Will do!

[@hzesmond]

😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱

[@peymang]

Van nuys high graduate

[@pyramidmike]

Rad!

[@haliskaraalp4485]

Ha, ok

[@claudineernser4767]

Subscribe to your channel

[@loltube6459]

Hmmmmmm

[@ucuzoyun1135]

😼😼

[@jandarmagenelkomutanlg2518]

DADDY? 😇

[@ibrahimkesen1665]

hehe

[@cografyakanali]

🤒

[@healdropcommunity]

ahahahahahaha

[@erenbekkaya1174]

lol no 🤷‍♂️

[@ismailugurtiraki1786]

tf is this bs 🤣🤣