The custom car world is filled with diversity, differing styles and culture. Nowhere is this more evident than in the world of lowriders, where it’s difficult to find any two cars alike. Tommy Greenlee Jr. has loved lowriders since he was a kid and has owned 13 of them throughout his life.
The history of the lowrider is somewhat controversial as three different states lay claim to the start of the style: California, Texas and New Mexico. What is known is that many state laws were enacted to ban the lowrider in all three states, and many others. Even with strict laws in place, industrious lowrider enthusiasts found ways around the bans.
Ron Aguirre, a mechanic in California, grew tired of being ticketed by police for simply cruising low and slow in his highly modified ride. The California Vehicle Code went into effect in January 1958, which prohibited cars that were modified to shift the vehicle body lower than the bottoms of the wheel rims. To bypass the ban, Aguirre installed hydraulic pumps he could quickly toggle up and down to adjust his ride height, thus making it legal.
The California ban stayed in effect until 2022, when the General Assembly rescinded all state restrictions on the height of vehicle bodies. Other states have also rescinded or relaxed their lowrider laws as well, and in 2020, Albuquerque, New Mexico, introduced a custom lowrider police cruiser.
Aside from the low stance and hydraulics controlled by switches, lowriders are also known for their over-the-top paint schemes, often implementing wild candy colors, metal flake and cultural designs. They typically roll on 13-inch-spoke Dayton wheels, and sport outrageous interior stylings.
Greenlee Jr. can’t get enough of the lowrider lifestyle. His first was a 1994 Honda Accord, proving that virtually any car can be made into an avenue cruiser. His current ride is more of the traditional style of lowrider – a large GM sedan, in this case a 1978 Pontiac Bonneville. He actually had a Cadillac lowrider as well, but parted with it and kept his beloved Bonneville.
“You just don’t see the two-door Bonneville’s anymore,” Greenlee says. Most of these cars were purchased as family sedans and saw their way to junkyards once they were worn out. Luckily, Greenlee’s Bonneville survived and was customized in the lowrider style he loves so much. He drives his cherished ride he named Da Hulk to car shows all over central Indiana.
Da Hulk gets attention wherever it goes. Lowriders have a following, and Greenlee’s version is an excellent example of the style. With his “Incredible Hulk”-inspired theme, his cool Bonneville is customized in every way. From the multiple hues of House of Kolor candy green to hydraulics, Landau top, as well as green-tinted headlights and turn signals, the car truly stands out.
Taking a deeper dive, the crushed-velvet interior is plush and filled with cool features, such as the 1,600-watt stereo system and two TV screens. The switches for the hydraulics are at easy reach, so the car’s ride height can be changed while cruising to give it that low stance.
Under the hood, the stock 301 V8 mill still provides the power. However, it is decked out in chrome. LED under-hood lighting makes sure all that chrome sparkles, and also shows off the most unique feature of this highly customized ride. A custom airbrushed mural of the “Incredible Hulk” adorns the underside of the hood, creating a menacing look when lit up at night. “Kids just love it,” Greenlee says, beaming with pride.
Da Hulk looks a lot like its owner, as Greenlee is also a bodybuilder, so the Hulk theme makes perfect sense. At car shows, he decks the car out with Hulk figures. Kids seem to flock to the car and it has won numerous Kids Choice and People’s Choice awards at local shows.
At the recent Hot Wheels Legends Tour stop in Greenwood, Da Hulk made runner-up in a crowded field of hundreds of cars, and Greenlee has been in discussions with the toy maker about future partnerships. Greenlee sees this as way to bring his old-school lowrider style to the next generations of car enthusiasts.
Da Hulk can be found at car shows and cruises in Franklin and all around Johnson County, usually surrounded by a large crowd admiring the wild custom. It proves that the right person with the right vision can make any car a show stopper – or Hulk smasher – when they bring their automotive dream to life. Unlike the “Incredible Hulk” of TV and movie fame, you don’t have to worry about making Da Hulk angry – or Greenlee angry for that matter – as both car and owner draw nothing but smiles when found at a show.
Have you seen Da Hulk in person? If not, you really should. It is a slow-rolling work of art. Greenlee has organized a Trunk-n-Treat event on October 28 at 5 p.m. at the Greenwood Texas Roadhouse, so bring your little Hulk fans out to enjoy the cars and candy.
Until then…keep cruising!
