I had a chance encounter with what is affectionately called a S.L.A.B., with a full set of five Swanger wheels, and thought I might share it with the good readers of Curbside Classic and flesh out the trend a bit for the uninitiated. CC has from time to time featured modified cars that challenge many of our sensibilities. Here’s a good quality example of a breed of custom you may not be very familiar with .
“If riding swangas is wrong, I don’t wanna be right
and if bein’ wrong means bein’ without you,
I’d rather ride swangas all night…” The Bloc Boys
Have you ever felt that you like what you like, and to H*#$ with anyone who tries to tell you you’re weird for liking it? I think that is the attitude it takes to drive a car like this.
I live in Houston, Texas, which as I understand it is ground zero for this style of vehicle. The owner of this Cadillac works down the street at the car audio shop and I’ve seen it parked there occasionally, along with a couple others from time to time. He stopped by our fire station one day, giving us a chance up close to check out this S.L.A.B. (Slow, Loud and Bangin’, not usually abbreviated with periods but I will here just for clarity).
This is a well done customization job, from what I could tell. The paint looks high quality (and not as fluorescent as some). The vinyl top was removed. I believe the interior color was changed, though I didn’t get a chance to ask him about that. The front seats were replaced with nice non-Cadillac buckets and the rear seats reupholstered to match. There is also a custom stereo…
The stereo is second only to the wheels as the centerpiece of a properly done S.L.A.B. I didn’t get the power stats, but lets just say it is ample. Six 15 inch subwoofers should be enough for the most bass-hungry hip hopper. The trunk lid is power operated. As it rises up, the Continental spare tilts back.
Here is a very short video of the subwoofers in action. Note the characteristic rattle as everything on the car that is not 100% tight shakes like a jackhammer. I got to sit in the driver seat for a minute with the stereo cranked up and it was like sitting in a massaging chair. And not a gentle massage. Probably more like the electric chair without the voltage and death.
The style dates back to the 80’s, when extra depth wire wheels became popular in Houston. If you didn’t know, Houston is one of the most diverse cities in the country. It’s majority minority, with very large communities of immigrants from all over the world. I suppose that’s really more a point of interest than relevant to the story, because prior to the immigrant waves of the last 50 years, the city had and still has a large African-American population. It has been one of the epicenters for Rap and HipHop music culture from the beginning, with that scene cultivating a taste for bright candy painted, chromed-up cruisers with ever more extreme wire wheels that “poke” out.
The requisite oversized wire wheels are called Pokes, Elbows, and most commonly Swangers (or Swangas).
The Eldorado above is one of the original style cars. Maybe I’m desensitized, but the wheels don’t look too deep to my eyes and look pretty natural on this car, especially since Cadillacs like the subject car were available from the factory with real wire wheels in the 80s and early 90s.
As a little-b brougham fan and all around lover of big American cars, I rather like this black Brougham with OE wire wheels. The style of the S.L.A.B.’s is really kind of similar, just exaggerated.
Speaking of exaggerated, Hip Hop culture is not known for it’s sense of moderation. What started as a natural extension of traditional American luxury car style, has evolved into something a bit more… extreme. This topic was touched on at least once before here on CC, with the Buick Park Avenue above sporting the much coveted sixth wheel.
1984 Eldorado convertible, the only other S.L.A.B. I’ve ever caught on camera parked.
Like a naughty Pinocchio, the wheels keep growing. Just when you think they can’t get any bigger, someone comes out with even longer ones.
Yes, this is a real car I shot on the feeder of the 610 South Loop. I’ve been trying to get photos of these cars for years without a lot of success because they are an elusive prey. They are not used as daily drivers, being not very practical for obvious reasons. While not as expensive as they used to be, a set of Swanger wheels and vogue style tires will set you back $3-10k. There is also the fact that S.L.A.B. culture has a dark side, which you can read about here if you’re interested in the details. In short, while not as bad as in the past, crime has been known to follow these cars with wheel and stereo theft and sometimes, unfortunately, shootings. Few owners will leave their cars unattended in public for very long and they are careful driving the cars into other parts of town. There is also the matter of legality. If the wheels make the car over 8 feet wide overall, they may not be street legal.
So, it’s not uncommon to spot one of these beasts driving around, but it’s tough to find one parked. The best place to see them is probably street cruising events or car shows, which I have not attended. While I can accept them for what they are and can (mostly) reserve judgement, they are certainly not my thing. I’ll stick with the stock wire wheeled Brougham. I don’t want to ride swangas all night, I’d rather be right!
For further reading, here is a good newspaper article. If you’re not afraid to dive into the culture for some guilty pleasure, you could watch some representative videos: here-typical H-town style rap/hip hop; here-song quoted from above; here-same song with local news profile story embedded; here-car parade with no music soundtrack; here-crude car show video has extensive footage of turquiose Caddy megaslab seen above; here-equal opportunity music video; here-bull dogs and swangers?!? it’s funny. I braved YouTube’s offerings and sorted through them so you don’t have to. There is nothing too profane but heed this Warning: videos contain hip hop music and some may NOT be family or boss friendly.
Wow, I had no idea. Interesting but certainly not worth getting shot over.
On the other hand, I applaud the use and enjoyment of these cars. Maybe you actually can polish a turd.
Does anyone remember Rough Riders toys? These cars look like they could ride around on two wheels like those did. I appreciate a well-done custom, though not my style. Once I was behind an old box-Caprice with the super-loud bass at a stoplight. It was playing “Sweet Home Alabama”. It went like “Sweet Home Alabama! (Boom boom boom boom boom boom) Where the skies are blue ( Boom boom boom boom boom boom…”) So wrong but very funny.
Thats exactly what this made me think of the first time I saw one.
Not my genre, but it’s well done and oddly appealing.
Although I do have to point out that Q branch did this years earlier for a certain British double-naught agent…
Do try to bring it back in one piece, 007.
I recently read in the British magazine CAR that Aston Martin is building a few “continuation series” cars that will be based on the same model as the James Bond car. There will be a few features that the movie cars had…like the revolving license plates, but no machine guns or ejector seats.
According to the magazine, the cars will NOT be road legal due to their being “period correct” for 50 year old Astons which is a shame as they will cost the equivalent of about $4 MILLION.
“An ejector seat? You’re joking.” “I never joke about my work, 007”
Um, yeah….NO. I just don’t get it, although broughams in general are lost on me as well. The whole thing just looks doofy to my eye, but certainly less so than the whole donk thing. That said, there’s no denying the passion and craftsmanship that go into well-executed examples of these types of cars.
I just marvel at the money that must be spent doing these modifications – can’t be cheap…
Whether it is true or not, there are those who say that the reason that many of these types of cars exist is that they are simply a way for people flush with cash from illegal forms of employment dispose of their disposable income. Now, I am not saying that all of these are driven by drug dealers or the like, but there does seem to be a good number of these driven by those with unverifiable income sources. One cannot buy a Mercedes for cash without raising suspicions, but you can pay a shop to build whatever you fancy.
I do applaud the level of craftsmanship on some of these, and I certainly hope that the owners enjoy them as much as I love what I drive, but these are just too “out there” for my tastes. To each their own, and my best wishes for those who own and love these SLABs.
The big trunk is the whole reason I’d want a large sedan anyway so the stereo is my biggest issue with it.
I do like it better than DONKS though.
I agree, anything is better than a DONK!
To me, these rides are an extension of the “Super Fly” pimpmobiles we used to see in the 70’s.
…
Good observation. It does seem like the same sort of idea.
Fun fact, the actor that drove that purple car in Willie Dynamite eventually became Gordon on Sesame Street
We still have a few variants of lowrider, donk, and pimpmobile roaming the streets here in California, but I’ve never quite seen anything like this. Not to my taste, but it’s good to see regional style still exists in a country with identical crossovers, McDonalds and Home Depot’s from coast to coast. I’m glad that motorcycle lane splitting is not legal in Texas ‘cause those wheels look like ankle slicers. I’d stand back from the curb too.
Had no idea about SLABs and SLAB culture, also thanks for the link to the article about the dark side which essentially says that if you have these rims, you’re also likely carrying a firearm to protect you and your car from theft. I’m all in favor of people modifying and enjoying their cars even if its in very odd ways. But the idea that the enjoyment of your car could get you killed is troubling. Wouldn’t swangers have some sort of locking system that would make them impossible to remove without a key/socket?
I have respect for others and their taste in vehicles…..that said, those are the MOST horrible rims i’ve ever seen on a car,let alone a Cady. i personally would not do this to the beautiful lines of any Cady. but….to each his own.
There’s a guy with a bustleback Caddy with those *Redacted* wheels near my work. He took a car that didn’t look good from jump and made it that much worse. I pray to the good Lord above my Fury didn’t end up as one these abominations, or sitting in some garbage part of town, jacked up on 26 inch wheels, her suspension destroyed, driven by some jackwagon that can’t appreciate her as she was, stock.
Whenever I pulled up in Helen, everyone made pimp jokes. It got old, fast. I love these big old boats, but I can’t stand these sorts of mods. I know… you can’t save them all and I’m complaining about a culture I’m clearly not a part of (nor would I ever want to be), but I just don’t get it. It’s like tearing a perfectly good 318 out of a Duster to slap in an LS. Congrats. You did exactly what people expected, because it just wasn’t “good enough”.
The first time I saw wheels like these was watching an old Charlton Heston movie from around 1960 that was set about 2000 years ago….
Ok whatever. How are these wheels even street-legal?
The big ones probably aren’t. Since when has that stopped people?
Most US states have bumper height and/or headlight height regulations.
That doesn’t stop the lifted truck crowd.
Everything I hate about convex 80s GM wire wheel covers amplified to 11. Yuck.
These don’t look pedestrian friendly, particularly on the Buick
pedestrian friendly? Not a problem, no one walks in Houston.
I’ve never seen this… nor do I particularly want to, but this is an interesting article. Thanks for taking the time to explain this objectively. Definitely learned something new today.
I really try hard not to be snarky about other peoples taste in cars but this is pushing it so I will go with
” to each his own”
and leave it at that!
Saw these on an episode of Bourdain, sometime in the recent past. Glad to get a little background. Ed reminded me of possible issues with this bit of customization
The subtitle of this site is “every car has a story”. Thank you for sharing a story with which I was unfamiliar.
I admire people who love their cars, regardless of which fashion they choose to love it.
+1 – Evan, you stated succinctly and perfectly what I dropped in to say, as well.
Jon, great feature and pictures. I love that you included the “SLAB” acronym in the title, which was the perfect lead-in to learning about this corner of car culture with which I was previously unfamiliar. Shoot – who am I to question the automotive tastes of others? Just yesterday, I professed my (genuine) love for AMC products of the ’70s. So there’s that. 🙂
Thanks, Joseph. These cars can definitely try a person’s commitment to avoid judging. Then I remember that a lot of people think I’m nuts for some of the cars I love. Live and let live is the best policy!
Live and let die, once the side of the car I love ends up like the Mustang in Goldfinger lol
Right!
I look at car customization much the way I look at body art. I don’t have any tattoos, but I can appreciate the artistry in some of the tattoos I see on others. That I don’t want one doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate one on someone else.
Also, as I’d never tell someone their aesthetic choices on their prized vehicles are “wrong”, I suspect that in some cases folks would be asking for a serious @$$-whooping if they told some folks to their faces that their tats looked terrible.
Although this is not my style, every car indeed has a story to tell, and oh the stories these cars could tell if cars could tell stories.
S.L.A.B. ?
No thanks, I’d rather walk!!!!
Thanks for providing this content. I’ve seen donks, bubbles, and low riders in abundance, but never any bonafide slabs in person… another regional car culture that I’d love to experience in person. Especially given my affinity towards Houston rap music, which I’ve been a fan of since Swishahouse became big in the early 2Ks.
Also, I expected to see a lot of judgment in these comments, but came away pleasantly surprised. CC continues to be the best car site I know of.
Wow this really makes me miss Houston. I moved to Houston in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina and lived there until July of last year (13 years) when I relocated to Dallas for work. I remember seeing my first set of Swangers and laughing at how ridiculous they looked. They are a common sight in Htown though and after a while, I kind of started to like them oddly enough. I wouldn’t put them on any of my vehicles though. Good post. Now I think I might make a trip down 45 south one weekend soon.
They do kind of grow on you. I cant say I love em, but they don’t shock my eyes like they used to. I can see how some folks like them, especially the milder versions. And I do like a powerful stereo…maybe not a whole trunk of subs…but I have to admire the purity of vision with no compromise for sensibility or practicality. More power to em, I say.
Sorry you had to move away. How do you like Dallas? Hope you can make it back to visit soon!
I was behind one of these at a stoplight. While the light was red, the trunk opens and seriously loud bass started blasting from a brace of subs in the trunk. The light turn green, the trunk closes and off we go
Neat!
Honestly, I am very unhappy here in Dallas. If it weren’t for my job, I would be back in Houston. Dallas just doesn’t feel like home.
From my understanding all Elbows are Pokes but not all Pokes are Elbows. From my reading an Elbow is a Poke with bent spokes.
How about this styling trend from Japan called Bosozoku.
…
…
So that’s why Borat says, “Me and my homey just parked our SLAB outside”!
Flossin’ like Mike Jones
When I was in my teens, I loved cars, no matter if they were stock or wildly customized. I used to read through old Lowrider and Lowrider Bicycle magazines to get a sense of the lowrider culture in California. Living in dull-ass Vermont, it was a revelation of sorts and my brother and I decided to customize some Schwinns using lowrider bicycle parts we bought from reading the magazines.
I think that these vehicles should be appreciated like any other stock or custom vehicle. They are the pride and joy of their owners and that deserves respect, not derision or scorn as we usually see on sites like these, usually from those who don’t “get it”.
Amen brother.
I’m not one to reserve judgement: what monuments to bad taste and a ridiculous waste of money!! So there!
Great, totally ruined a lower production 1990-92 model. This modification is a monument to poor taste and profligate spending. No reason at all to reserve judgment. I condemn this monstrosity and whoever participated in this butcher job unequivocally. Like slashing the Mona Lisa with a carpet knife.
These mods don’t destroy the suspension like hacking up a chassis for hydraulics does. The paint job is really nice. Does preserve the car. Returning to stock at some point would not be all that difficult. Parrallel parking wouldn’t be this cars strong point.
I have been accused of having no taste before so I will go ahead and say that I love me some slabs!
Though these things seem, shall we say, avant-garde, one that is done well is, like a restomod or restored vintage vehicle, a testament to the dedication of its owner and the creativity and craftsmanship of whoever did the work.
More bothersome to me because of their ubiquity are the lifted pickup trucks with giant tires, light bars, winches, and other such accoutrements. They are expensive, garish, impractical and unsafe in their own way, and used as daily drivers.
Very good article jon. Being a non-rapper or hip-hopper, in fact, being so square that I disapproved of modern music from when I was a little ’70’s kid, I have no chance of “getting” these, but they’re eye-widening to see. I rather like the comment of the record producer quoted in the article linked who said that even if his kids are 30, they’re not having these (whilst understanding their appeal). The article seems to say that they’re purely about status, and folk will take the associated risks almost as part of marking territory.
I’m not black or from a poorer part of Houston (though remarkably, there are direct flights from here to there) but I do live in a posh very white area of Melbourne, Aus. The status pursuit here, the territory marker, is not cars but ever-more oversized extensions on period homes, costing many millions each. Like the non-daily usage of the SLABs, these are barely occupied, the owners too busy in (most usually) banking and finance. A recent large govt enquiry into our bank system revealed astonishingly immoral and illegal practices as a way of life at the very top, meaning, to me, that the money source for these endless monolith houses is hardly clean (and the risk is lower and imprisonment at very worst). Really, the same forces, but one is white and posh and ok, and the other is poor and black and I instinctively recoil from it.
It’s never too late to keep opening the mind.