Even before Gypsy Rose stole the show during the opening credits of “Chico and the Man” in the 1970s, the motorized acrobatics, exquisite detailing, and passion that goes into a lowrider made these cars unmissable as a fusion of art and engineering.
The nation’s premier automotive museum, the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, is located at the geographic heart of lowriding. It’s no surprise that its latest exhibit, Best in Low, is both its fourth and biggest over the last two decades.
“This is the first time vehicles at this level have ever been together in one space – these are some of the most-awarded and notable lowriders in history,” said Bryan Stevens, director of exhibitions at Petersen Automotive Museum.
The exhibit showcases not only Gypsy Rose itself but three-time Lowrider magazine Lowrider of the Year winners “Final Score” and “Double Trouble,” and “Dead Presidents,” built by leading craftsman Albert De Alba Sr. and Albert De Alba Jr. “Sphinx,” a landmark in the Japanese lowriding world, reinforces the global growth of the movement. The “Twisted Toy” bicycle, a three-time Lowrider Bicycle of the Year, shows that lowriding isn’t limited to sedans.
The lifting of California’s lowriding bans in early 2024 made the exhibit’s May opening even more timely and compelling. Stevens tapped longtime collaborators at FGPG and sister company, Show Ready, to bring this vision to life. Best in Low marks the eighth exhibit for which the museum has leveraged FGPG’s experiential marketing chops and Show Ready’s fabrication capabilities.
“Our continued partnership with the Petersen Automotive Museum is a cornerstone for FGPG,” said Frédérique Georges, Founder and CEO at FGPG. “Bryan and his team gave us endless opportunities for creativity to enhance the impact of the amazing vehicle. This level of collaboration in our own backyard is especially meaningful to us. Being a team of passionate car people allows us to bring our fascination with vehicles of all kinds into our work.”
Let’s get this show off the road (and the competition circuit)
Lowriders are the Mona Lisas of the automotive world. They are invaluable not just on an auction block but also for their cultural and personal meaning. The time, skill, and love that turn a vehicle into a mobile art piece–bouncing on three wheels while also cruising “low and slow”—is the definition of a passion project, lasting decades and being worked on by multiple generations.
The cars, motorcycles, and bicycles in Best in Low are exquisite showpieces that are more often seen facing off in lowriding’s biggest shows. Stevens and Michael Bodell, chief operating officer at Petersen Automotive Museum, realized their ambition to showcase them together with old-fashioned hard work–getting each owner or builder to loan their vehicle one call at a time. Their willingness to remove their vehicles from the show circuit for a year to do so is a testament to the museum’s reputation and Stevens’ and Bodell’s deep respect for lowriding and what these rides mean to the people who build and drive them.
“The Mullin Family Grand Salon is our biggest space, and we felt this show should be featured there,” said Bodell. “Lowriding crosses generations, but it also offers incredibly dynamic ways to pique curiosity. The lowriding community might come to admire intricate hydraulics. Other visitors might be drawn to the artistic beauty of lowriders or their rich cultural background.”
Showing off: Optimizing exhibit design for every square foot
The high-touch curation of securing the vehicles for the exhibit meant that FGPG had to design the exhibit while the owners and builders signed on to be part of it. They also had to draw visitors through every square inch of the sprawling space and fill the vertical volume above the vehicles. That required the ability to craft a bold strategy with built-in flexibility.
Step one: Craft an “awe-inspiraling” centerpiece.
“There is a staircase that dominates the space, and we’ve made it a landmark for every exhibit. “For Best in Low, we crafted a 16-foot display of car hoods that the museum had sent all around the country for artists to paint,” said Nick Peery, chief operating officer at FGPG. Because that’s often how artists work with customers, painting the hoods as a sample of their work, the installation is more than eye-catching. It truly reflects what it’s like to live lowriding.”
This centerpiece is only the beginning. Spread across each wall, custom graphics were designed to draw visitors’ attention up and throughout. The lighting – both above and below the vehicles – transitions the focus back to the exquisite vehicles on display.
Step two: Make every point a focal point.
There is no quiet corner in Best in Low. FGPG delivered an homage to the art, passion, and daring behind lowriders, emphasizing the craftsmanship that defines them. Each skill that can go into a lowrider, from painting to silver leafing to engraving to leatherwork, had to be shown to perfection. Custom mirror trays give attendees a look at the mechanics that enable these vehicles to do what they do.
The exhibit space for each one is unique, designed to best highlight its standout elements, from Gypsy Rose’s floral details (inspired by embroidery stencils) to bold pinstriping, eye-popping brights, and elaborate, exquisite details. One car is even displayed on three wheels, complete with mats underneath to catch leaking hydraulic fluid. Bicycles sit behind a glass case, providing protection and giving these smaller but no less notable rides more visual heft.
Step three: Repurpose and maximize.
Just like lowriders are a highly customized “second act” for formerly factory-issue vehicles, the FGPG and Show Ready team built around half the exhibit with repurposed elements. The intro wall structure, dividing walls, section sign frames, and display cases were all reused, marking the most extensive reuse in the museum’s history.
One platform had previously been home to a Tesla Roadster similar to the one that was launched into space. Thanks to modular construction, it now supports a bright red “bomb” (the common term for lowriders built from vehicles originally manufactured in the 1920s through the 1950s). Because Show Ready engineers panels and risers in sections, it was simple to adjust them for the highly variable scale of lowriders.
Communication ensures a smooth cruise to opening day
“Working with FGPG and Show Ready was an absolute joy,” said Stevens. “Nick and the team are almost telepathic in their understanding of our needs and ideation. There’s no over-explaining required. In fact, I can just send a photo, and they’ll immediately know exactly what I want. They’re just as responsive as they are intuitive. If we need anything, they’ll have the information ready to go ASAP or come here in person insanely quickly.”
According to Peery, it’s OK to chalk that up to enthusiasm. “We’re vehicle superfans,” he said. “Our deep industry knowledge of both that world and the world of exhibitions puts us in a unique position to understand and meet the needs of clients such as the Petersen Automotive Museum. The chemistry and creative alignment is almost instinctive.”
To learn more about Best in Low, Visit