As lowriding moves from the barrio to the world arena, many are beginning to look back at the history of this amazing urban phenomenon. Any serious lowrider study must include the “Duke’s Car Club”, the world’s oldest lowrider club in continuous existence. The Duke’s have forged a rock-solid reputation in the auto industry, and are inextricably tied to the Chicano history of the American Southwest.

The birth of the club has it’s roots in the Los Angeles gang culture of the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. In the mid 1950's, Josefina Ruelas, a single mother of five boys, moved her family from Tijuana, Mexico to the rough streets of South Central Los Angeles. Her boys, out of a need for protection, affiliated themselves with the notorious “38th Street Gang” prominent in the neighborhood. Concerned about the young boys’ welfare, their uncle “Tinker” decided he would try to involve them in auto mechanics. In the late 1950’s, he spent his weekends taking the boys to junk yards to buy engines, bicycles, old cars, anything that would keep the boys off the street and working on something constructive during the week. His plan worked and soon the boys were consumed in building and modifying anything with a gasoline engine. Tinker eventually provided the boys with their own shop space. Soon motorized skateboards, scooters and custom automobiles came rolling out of this first shop.

Lowriding was an obvious influence on the boys. In some form or another, lowriders had been present in Los Angeles since the 1930’s. As the Ruelas brothers reached driving age in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, they began devoting their time to building lowriders. The organization of a club soon followed. The name “Duke’s” was selected and the group officially organized in 1962 by the brothers and others in the neighborhood. The name harkens back to an era when car clubs like “The Drifters” road up and down the less crowded streets of Los Angeles. The oldest Ruelas brother, Julio, was the Duke’s first President and Oscar, another brother, was the Vice President. In the early days, the Duke’s could be found in their favorite cruising spots, some of which were Whittier Boulevard and Elysian Park. And for a night out, the Old Dixie Dance Hall” and The Big Union Hall” in the city of Vernon was the place to be. Many great ‘60’s acts performed at these venues, including the “Midnighters” and “cannibal and the Head-hunters”. Another old favorite cruising spot that is still visited by the Duke’s today is the famous “Johnny’s Broiler” in Downey, California.

In the beginning, the club divided their South Central neighborhood. The time commitment required by being a club member and lowrider made it difficult to remain an active part of the 38th Street Gang. Many neighborhood boys had to choose between the Duke’s and the 38th Street Gang. This bad blood disappeared when the gang realized how much honor and respect the club was bringing the neighborhood. Presently, it is not uncommon to see hardened gang members respectfully admiring the Duke’s cars parked in their neighborhood.

In 1963, Richard Ceniceros, aka “Chivo”, was introduced to Julio, Fernando, and Ernesto Ruelas by a member known as Batman. The brothers had heard of “Chivo” and were eager to meet him. A meeting was set at a location on 29th Street and Maple in L.A. “Chivo” was recruited as a member in 1975 along with a number of members from said club and new design plaque. Richard Ceniceros is still an active member of the Duke’s and is hands on whenever a club event takes place.

The mid ‘60’s brought the Vietnam Conflict to the barrio. Several members of the Duke’s were drafted into the U.S. Army, including three of the founding club members – Ruelas brothers, Oscar, Ernesto, and Fernando, although not at the same time. The first brother drafted was Oscar. Julio, Fernando, and Ernesto continued to build cars in their uncle’s shop.

In 1967, Ernesto cruised in a 1956 Chevy known as “Mr. Know It All”. Also, sometime in the 1970’s Ernesto acquired a 1936 Packard, which he still owns at present. This became the era of the original cars. During the 1960’s Fernando was the owner of a 1937 Buick, know as the “Black Crow”. This particular car has been passed on to Jason “Jay” Ruelas, Fernando’s first born son. And Julio was cruising along in a 1963 Supersport, which was painted by Joe Anderson, and a 1937 Chevy. When Oscar returned from his tour of duty, he purchased a 1939 Chevy from Ernesto. This car was known as the “Fabulous 39”.

The turbulent Vietnam era saw the demise of many older clubs. The Duke’s are no exception to these times. Although the Duke’s name was still kept alive in the automotive community by the family’s efforts, the original Duke’s club had faded with each drum beat of the war. But there was one member who did not want to let go of a club, and in 1975, while restoring a car for Joe Alvarado’s car, Fernando Ruelas began talking about reviving the car club, and not in name only But Fernando did not just want to start another club. He wanted to breathe new life into an old friend. With the help of Joe and newcomer Jesse Gonzales, invitations to a new Duke’s car club was underway. Julio, Oscar, and Ernesto were respectfully the first to be invited back. This second generation Duke’s car club had its first meeting at Fernando’s house on 43rd Street. As it turned out, many people had been thinking about the Duke’s and the meetings had to move to new location at the home of Alfonso Cuellar.

In order to build this club up the right way, Fernando wanted to make certain legal separations from the old club. Fernando became President and had various members submit drawings and designs for a club plaque. When one was chosen, it was modified to make it unspecific to Los Angeles. Oscar became Vice President, Julio became Sponsor, Ernesto became the Social Director, and officers were also voted in. Due to the reorganization, and separation from the old ways, many members left within the first year. Immediately following this, expansion began to take place. The first chapter expansion began with San Jose in 1977.

Throughout this time, the Duke’s worked to create by-laws to regulate the club and chapters. Fernando believes that rules are the only way a club can maintain its existence, keep its integrity, grow successfully and create a legacy. In 1980, the Ventura chapter was established. It became the first chapter formed with by-laws. Throughout the years these by-laws have been restructured to become the current club regulations in use today.

During this time of great change (1977-1980’s), many of the original Duke’s members married and began families. This included Richard “Chivo” Ceniceros, who showed it was possible to be a devoted family man and still find time to be a club member and lowrider. Following Chivo’s example, many club members began altering their activities to include their families. Centered on the family, the Duke’s have advanced and outlived many other car clubs. As part of this, Fernando, the new club President, pioneered the lowrider bicycle movement. Returning to the junk yard days of Uncle Tinker, Fernando began working with his oldest son, Jay, in designing and building lowrider bicycles. Ernesto’s son, Ernie Jr., was soon involved and then the first Duke’s bike club was organized. Other pioneer efforts soon followed.

The Duke’s were pioneers in the lowrider car shows. Between 1966 and 1973 the Ruelas family (notably Ruelas bros.) was featured at Trident car shows (CSH Productions and ISCH Association) which later became RG Canning Productions. In 1979, they helped produce the first Super Show at the Los Angeles Convention Center along with Sonny Madrid the, the founder and then editor of “Lowrider” magazine. They participated in the very first L.A. Street Scene with entertainers Tower of Power, War, and Tierra. The Duke’s have always been supporters of Chicano cultural events and were featured as the first Cinco de Mayo car show in Los Angeles as well as the first Mecha Car Show. The Dukes have provided cars for many holiday events including the Huntington Park, Southgate, East L.A. and Hollywood Christmas Parade. As the Duke’s reputation spread throughout the country, they were sought for appearances at car shows and cultural events around the American Southwest.

Before the relatively new phenomena of lowrider magazines, the Duke’s broke through cultural barriers to be accepted by main stream car magazines. In the early 1970’s, Oscar Ruelas’ 1939 Chevy was featured in “Car Craft”. This was the first time a Duke’s car was featured in a magazine. Since that time, the Duke’s have made countless appearances in car magazines, such as “Lowrider” and the now defunct “Life” magazine.

The Duke’s exposure has not been limited to just car shows and magazines. They were given the honor of chauffeuring the cast of “Zoot Suit” to the theatrical and motion picture premiers of that important work. Fernando was also contracted to paint and refurbish the 1939 Chevrolet that was featured in the motion picture. The Duke’s have also appeared in films and television, such as the music video A Family Affair for rapper “Kid Frost”. During the 1980’s, the Duke’s were featured on ABC’s “Eye on L.A.”. And in 1994, the Duke’s were the focus of a motion picture documentary called “Low and Slow”. This film was directed by national award winning Latina filmmaker Monica Delgado.

Never forgetting their roots, the Duke’s often used their talents and influence for the community activism. In 1978 they worked with Cesar Chavez and Untied Farm Workers to host a show during an event at the Los Angeles Union Station. That same year Fernando, along with the Imperials and Groupe car club formed the West Coast Association. Together, these clubs put on a “Christmas Toys for Kids” car show, with all proceeds going to purchase toys and Christmas stockings for underprivileged children. This annual tradition continues to this day.

By the 1980’s the Duke’s had the distinction of being the oldest lowrider club in continuous existence. This is a title the club will not easily yield. In fact the Club has only continued to grow. Throughout the 1980’s and ‘90’s, club chapters began springing up all over the United States. Recently, the Duke’s have been able to boast three generation of membership in the club. To protect this legacy, President Fernando Ruelas registered the Duke’s name and design (hat and cane with cars) with United States trademark office.

With scores of chapters and hundreds of members, the future looks bright for the Duke’s car club. Recently the Ruelas brothers gave their consent for the forming of a chapter in Japan. This club is quickly becoming cosmopolitan, with members of all ages, races and social classes. The fact that the Duke’s continue to thrive into the next millennium is a great testament of not only the impact that lowriding is having on our popular culture, but also the power to be found within the family. Surely Uncle Tinker is looking down from lowrider heaven with a big smile on his face.