Best in Low at the Petersen: Lowrider Icons, Up Close

Best in Low: A Photo Tour at the Petersen

I visited the Petersen Automotive Museum for its landmark lowrider exhibition, Best in Low: Lowrider Icons of the Street & Show—and I shot the cars the way lowriders deserve to be seen: low angles, tight on details, and honest about the craftsmanship. The gallery below is all vehicles from the exhibit, but the space itself told a bigger story—one about culture, community, and a standard of finish that borders on jewelry.

Even if you’re here strictly for chrome and paint, Best in Low made it impossible to ignore the art and engineering behind the stance: engraved metalwork, mirror-finished underbodies, intricate hydraulics, pinstriping, silver leaf, leatherwork—the works. The curation placed street legends beside show winners, tracing techniques and regional influences from Southern California to New Mexico, Texas, and even Japan.

What I looked for (and what you’ll see in the photos)

• Paint and pinstriping layers that shift under museum lighting
• Engraved trim and chrome—patterns as precise as watchmaking
• Hydraulics & underbody details (yes, displayed with mirrors)
• Wheel fitment & tire letters—the stance tells the story
• Interior craft—tuck-and-roll, stitch patterns, and material mixes

Icons & highlights worth calling out

The exhibit gathered award-winners and cultural touchstones—from Gypsy Rose (the first lowrider on the National Historic Vehicle Registry) to multi-time Lowrider of the Year builds like Final Score and Double Trouble, alongside Dead Presidents and Japan’s influential Sphinx—plus custom bicycles and motorcycles that extend the language of lowriding beyond sedans. Magneto+1

Note: Best in Low ran from May 2024 through spring 2025 in the Petersen’s Mullin Grand Salon—this post is a look back with my personal photo set from the gallery floor.



Why this exhibit stands out

It didn’t just celebrate finishes; it explained them. Placards and spotlights walked through the craft processes and the community that shaped them, making the museum feel like both a gallery and a classroom. If you care about how a look is achieved—not just that it’s flawless—this was the blueprint.

If You Go

Location: Petersen Automotive Museum, 6060 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA

Tip: Go early for cleaner floors and fewer reflections in glass; shoot low and tight.

Context: This was the museum’s largest, most comprehensive lowrider exhibit to date, pairing street legends with show winners and related art, bikes, and motorcycles.