Obsession | Jose’s Cadillac Brougham
For the past year we have been on a mission to venture out into other types of car cultures and bring you all more than just imports over and over. Jon and Kent went out to a lowrider event last year and connected with a few Obsession members. We ran into them again at the DUB show last year in Atlanta. We had planned to meet up with some of them for some photos but it just never happened when it was supposed to. But one day we posted up Jose’s Cadillac from the lowrider show on our facebook page, and some how it got back to Jose and we got back in contact.
I was very excited about getting together with Jose, because the lowrider scene is new to me. One thing I have always noticed with the lowrider scene as a outsider looking in, was that there is a pride and a humbleness to all the owners. Unlike the import scene there does not seem to be a battle among the community. Its like everyone knows the rules and they do not bring bullshit out. You take your time and craft a lowrider the proper way and there can be no shortcuts.
The community is also built around REAL car clubs, not facebook groups. Guys who know each other on a personal basis and not just because they have a nice car. The team is filled with people that all bring something to the table. One guy may do all the clubs paint, one guy is a suspension guru, and you have the OG that keeps everyone in line. Part of the reason why the lowrider scene thrives to well is because there is a process to being recognized. Unlike the import community where a guy can buy a car throw it in the shop and throw money at it and become “that guy” for a few months. There seems to be a process of recognition before that level of respect is given. The lowrider’s community recognition is not earned by that build, but is earned by the longevity in the scene. They recognize what that person has done for the scene, and what that person has brought to the scene.
Photos by: Jon Davis/Joseph Dale
Well here we have Jose Reyes from Club Obsession in Atlanta. This was my first time meeting Jose in person, and he was accompanied by his father and close friend during the shoot. Jose is a rather young guy, and I was so jealous that a young guy drives a car of this level almost a daily basis.
Its all in the details seems to be the motto for the lowrider scene. The paint and body was done by “PAPA STUDIOS” as painted under the hood piece. When a paint/body man puts his name on a car that says a lot. Because if there is any imperfections it will all be directed right back to him.
You can get a better view of the gold plating done in the paint from this shot. Jose’s father told me that the pin stripping was done by hand in a short time, and came out absolutely perfect. Looking at the Cadillac stamped mirrors reminds me, how the car can have so much done to it and still retain its elegant Cadillac styling even with the orange paint and gold plated wheels.
Ostrich seats along side the orange suede and the classic wood grain in the dashboard was flawless.
Like I said its all about the details. Jose kept the old wood grain Nokia on the dashboard to match the wood grain interior pieces.
The week before they had just installed the juice(hydraulic suspension) on the car so at the moment it was just going up and down until the suspension settled. In our scene we are only really exposed to airbags. For me one thing that sticks in my head about lowriders is the sound of the hydraulic fluid and metal clang when the suspension lifts and drops the car.
The car was on a set of very limited edition Lowrider Magazine edition gold plated Daytons.
Jose’s car has a relatively small setup so the car only needed 3 batteries. I was told that most of their cars with up-down-side to side have at least 6 batteries. Which makes the cars very very heavy. I always thought that the baterries int he trunk were charged by the cars electrical system. But the batteries are just ran until they die and then they are replaced. These commercial batteries are by no means cheap. Jose’s batteries were a little low, so we only got it to go up and down a few times before they were toast.
The art work on the trunk was from Jose’s fathers old Cadillac that was black. The old Cadillac was a hopper that they would take out and compete in. But as a hopper the car gets abused and eventually was put out to rest once the chassis became so beat up. They managed to hold on to the trunk, and get it resprayed and changed over to match Jose’s car. At first appearance the graphic may look just like a club name and pretty girls. But the more I starred at the trunk the more things I could make out in the art.
In the first section I spot out the “770” area code. The traditional “A” hat on the lady on the left, and at the bottom there is the Georgia Aquarium symbol. Also a image of the old black Cadillac hopper over the Atlanta skyline.
The World of Coca Cola globe you can see on the left side. Next to that there is a ghost “404” area code. The lady dressed up as a Atlanta Falcon cheerleader. In the background in the Atlanta Skyline there you can see the W hotel in the background.
We talked a lot about the automotive scene in Georgia and it seemed that they are facing the same problems our import community suffers from. The lack of activity in this region. Years ago we had huge companies putting on great automotive events in this region. We once had the huge Nopi show, the lowrider scene had the Lowrider Magazine tour that once stopped in the southeast, but they said that they no longer come out east. Almost like how Nopi left Atlanta and headed out West.
Obsession holds a huge annual event for lowriders and enthusiasts, when we spoke they were looking for a location to make sure it happens again this year. Much like us, Obsession is doing everything they can to keep the lowrider culture alive and well in the Southeast.
For that reason I always say that we are all the same no matter what kind of car you dump your money into, its the same love and admiration. Rather its a Cadillac or a Honda, take pride in what you do and do the best of your abilities. I do not think our Import scene is on a level of the lowrider community when it comes to being patient and taking time and crafting your vision the way you want it and taking no shortcuts. I also think that in general the Import community is rather young compared other automotive communities so give it some time and we will get it together.
Ill end it with a shot of Obsession in the latest issue of Lowrider Magazine. Lowrider Magazine came out and covered their event last year. And as of today, plan to see Obsession out at Welcome To Atlanta in full force on April 20th. Much love to Jose and his family for coming out on a cold afternoon. We have a video being put together soon to go with it, so stay tuned for that..
Thanks for looking!
