Issue

May 2025

Owner

Adam Porrino

Ride

LowLa
(1939 Cadillac LaSalle 50 Series Opera Coupe)

Photographer

Cheri Delgadillo

Ride Details

What was the inspiration?

Always loved Cadillacs. Was inspired to purchase and build this car after seeing the 1940 Cadillac "Sophia" built by Oz Welch and John D'agostino, as well as Brian Nieri's 1940 "LowSalle" Built by Frank DeRosa One of the main consistent motivations, has alway been, to be able to drive a car I built, up from Southern California, to Santa Maria for the West Coast Kustoms Memorial Day show. I've been going to that show since the early 2000s when I lived up there close to Paso Robles. Every year during the build process I would make another hard push to do more new modifications to the car so it was better each year I brought it to the show. That is the first car I was able to drive up, and the only car I've won an award for there in 2023

Club Affiliations

Artistic Precision

Your future plans?

My other main project, that I've had longer than the LaSalle, is my 1960 Ford Ranchero, full kustom. I started by body dropping it and building a full custom chasis for it on air ride, then chopped the roof, along with numerous other body mods, and thunderbird interior

Thanks to

Special Thanks to Jose Pena for the complete re wire, and mechanical trouble shooting to get this car running solid so I could put serious miles on it. driving from So Cal to Nor Cal multiple times for car shows. And Robert Richardson of Are 51 Restorations in Ontario Ca for giving me shop space to build the car and use all the tools and metal working equipment there

Engine Details

Make

Pontiac 350 1969

Engine Mods

The engine in the car was in it when I bought it, and has always been good. I never re built the internals. I stripped it down, painted everything, and added all new external parts, also painted, and all re sealed.

Engine Add Ons

Intake Manifold - Edelbrock power performer intake Valve Covers - Aluminum finned polished and painted to match engine color Carburetor - Edelbrock 600 Alternator - 250 high output single wire from CP Generators in Fontana Ca Custom driveshaft by Inland Empire Drive Line Ontario Ca

Chrome or polish

Valve Covers, Camshaft, Air Cleaner,

Chassis Details

Mods to Frame

Fatman Front frame stub, mustang 2 style. Gambino kustoms taildragger kit with step notch and triangulated 4 link, bags over axle.

Frame Builder

Adam Porrino - Owner

Front Shocks

Fatman Fabrications Mustan 2 style front frame stub with tubular control arms, disc brakes, power steering, and front shocks. Universal Air single bellow bags

Rear Shocks

Gambino Kustoms tail dragger step notch triangulated 4 link. Universal Air double Bellow bags.

Wheels Details

Front Wheel Type

15" Steel wheels with 55 Dodge hubcaps with 39 LaSalle brass steering wheel horn button centers

Rear Wheel Type

15" Steel wheels with 55 Dodge hubcaps with 39 LaSalle brass steering wheel horn button centers

Front Wheel Size

BFG 670/15 bias ply with 3.5" white wall

Rear Wheel Size

BFG 670/15 bias ply with 3.5" white wall

Paint Details

Color

Bare steel body, satin black fenders, headlight housings, taillight housings, and rear bumper.

Paint Type

Krylon, so easy re spray and touch ups, to keep it presentable at shows during build process.

Painted By

Adam Porrino - Owner

Graphics By

Body Details

Hood

Factory hood with factory hood ornament/hood latch release, 2 tone chrome and gold plated. Hood side panels, with factory rectangular vents shaved off, and original 1934 LaSalle hood side vent pods added.

Grille

Factory front grille and fender grilles, with re chromed upper emblem wings with gold plated upper emblem crest. 2 tone gold and chrome plated LaSalle script grille emblem.

Bumpers

Factory rear bumper, corners trimmed off and tucked close to body

Body Mods

Shaved - Door handles and lock cyclinders, rear fender fuel filler, antenna, front bumper holes, shaved hood side vents. Factory Exterior side stainless trim. Stick on flexible autoparts store chrome trim around exterior window opening and interior panels. Factory front fenders with shaved bumper holes. Rear fenders are factory fenders, widened 2" and peaked to match the factory peak on the front fenders. Rear fender peaks were formed out of sheet metal, and tig welded and metal finished. No rod welded to create peaks. Rear "bubble" fender skirts made by Menges Twins Speed Shop Creston Ca. Factory tail light housings, with original glass 1934 LaSalle "Lolipop" lenses and gold plated bezels Bolt-On - 1934 Hood side vent pods, 1934 tail light lenses, bubble headlight lenses, hand made rocker panels welded on with hand made aluminum trim bolted to rockers

Body Mods by

Adam Porrino - Owner

Interior Details

Dashboard

top of the dash is factory, as well as the lower piece above steering column, as well as glove box

Gauges

original 1934 LaSalle opened u, cleaned and lit with leds

Steering Wheel

original 39 LaSalle steering wheel re chromed and cast in clear by Steering Wheel Kris

Shifter

Lokar push button shifter with tall swan neck, and gold plated nob, 1939 coin on the button

Seats

1940s Ford bench seat.

Trunk or Bed

Steel sheet metal bead rolled

Upholstery Description

Hand fabbed and bead rolled center dash waterfall with original 1934 LaSalle guages, and bead rolled door and trunk panels with LaSalle emblem crest bead rolled into trunk floor

Upholstery Description

Steering Wheel - original 39/40 Cad & LaS wheel, re chromed and re cast in clear by Steering Wheel Kris LA Ca. Horn rin and button 2 tone gold and chrome plated by Sand Antonio Polishing Pomona Ca

Upholstery By

Adam Porrino - Owner

“LowLa”

Owned by: Adam Porrino

Photos by: Cheri Delgadillo

In the May 2025 issue, we are proud to spotlight Adam Porrino and his stunning 1939 Cadillac LaSalle 50 Series Opera Coupe, affectionately known as “LowLa.” A ride built with passion, creativity, and countless hours of craftsmanship, LowLa is a rolling tribute to traditional custom styling with a modern twist.

Inspiration Behind “LowLa”

Adam’s love for Cadillacs runs deep. The vision for LowLa was born after seeing iconic builds like the 1940 Cadillac “Sophia” by Oz Welch and John D’Agostino and the 1940 “LowSalle” by Frank DeRosa. Inspired to create something equally breathtaking, Adam made it his mission to build a custom he could proudly drive from Southern California to the West Coast Kustoms Memorial Day Show in Santa Maria — a goal he fulfilled, earning an award there in 2023.

Every year, new modifications were made, pushing LowLa closer to perfection and keeping Adam motivated by the dream of cruising into Santa Maria in a car he personally crafted.

The Build: A True Labor of Love

Engine and Driveline

LowLa is powered by a 1969 Pontiac 350 engine that has remained mechanically untouched internally but sports freshly painted and polished external components. Key engine upgrades include:

Edelbrock 600 carburetor
Edelbrock Performer intake manifold
Aluminum finned valve covers
250-amp high output alternator by CP Generators (Fontana, CA)
Custom driveshaft by Inland Empire Driveline (Ontario, CA)

Despite the car’s classic appearance, these upgrades ensure reliable, high-performance cruising for long-distance show trips.

Chassis and Suspension

Adam didn’t cut any corners on the foundation:

Fatman Fabrications front frame stub with Mustang II-style suspension, tubular control arms, disc brakes, and air ride (single bellow bags)
Gambino Kustoms taildragger rear kit featuring a step notch and triangulated four-link setup, with double bellow rear bags
Universal Air components for adjustable stance and smooth ride

Every element was designed for style, reliability, and road manners worthy of serious highway miles.

Body and Paint

LowLa’s exterior is a showcase of traditional custom techniques mixed with Adam’s personal flair:

4-inch “hardtop style” chop using the original rear window
Bare steel roof and satin black fenders and bumpers for an aggressive but timeless look
Shaved handles, locks, and vents for ultra-clean lines
Custom rear fender peaks, widened two inches, hand-shaped without filler rods
Bubble-style skirts crafted by Menges Twins Speed Shop
1934 LaSalle hood side vents and tail light lenses for vintage authenticity
Two-tone gold and chrome plated emblems and trim enhancing the art deco aesthetic

All bodywork was completed by Adam himself, using Krylon paint for easy touch-ups during the long build process.

Wheels and Tires

15-inch steel wheels paired with ’55 Dodge hubcaps and ’39 LaSalle horn button centers
BFG 670/15 bias-ply tires with classic 3.5″ whitewalls

Interior Details

Inside, Adam continued the theme of craftsmanship:

Original 1934 LaSalle gauges restored and lit with LEDs
Rechromed and clear-cast steering wheel by Steering Wheel Kris (Los Angeles, CA)
Hand-fabricated bead-rolled dash, door panels, and trunk floor featuring LaSalle crests
Lokar swan neck push-button shifter with a custom gold-plated 1939 coin button
1940s Ford bench seat for a traditional yet comfortable driving experience

Special Thanks

Adam gives special recognition to:

Jose Pena for a complete rewire and mechanical troubleshooting
Robert Richardson at Area 51 Restorations in Ontario, CA, for shop space and access to essential metal-working tools

Without their support, the dream of LowLa hitting the streets and shows would not have been possible.

LowLa: Built to Drive, Not Just Show

Unlike many trailer queens, LowLa was built with one purpose in mind: to be driven — hard and far. From local cruises to epic NorCal runs, Adam’s LaSalle is proof that traditional customs can still log serious miles without sacrificing style or spirit.

And while Adam continues to tweak and perfect LowLa, he’s already setting his sights on another project: his 1960 Ford Ranchero, undergoing a full custom body drop, chassis fabrication, roof chop, and interior rework.

LowLa is a reminder that true artistry in automotive building lies not just in appearance — but in heart, vision, and the open road.