Chevrolet Tahoe – Low Rider

Low rider vehicles are usually created from low-slung sedans or convertibles such as Chevy Impalas, right? Not so with Stratford enthusiast Todd Holland, who has built his low rider from America’s most popular full-sized SUV, the Chevrolet Tahoe.

“Why not?” says Todd when explaining the reasoning behind his special low rider. “I figured there’s a sea of low rider Impalas out there in New Zealand, but up until now there hadn’t been any Tahoes. So I thought it would be fun to do something different.”

In 2023 he purchased a 1996 Tahoe off a mate’s father-in-law, and got stuck into low rider-ing it. Eight months later the project was completed in time for last year’s Americarna, where it entertained the public via its ability to both lower its suspension and  jack itself up onto three wheels – hence the vehicle’s 3WHELN rego plate.

‘Low and slow’ is the motto for low rider vehicles thanks to the tradition of their owners cruising as slowly and smoothly as possible, and Todd’s Tahoe certainly fits that mould. In many respects it is a stock standard SUV, powered by a 351 cubic inch small-block V8 with just a few minor changes including different headers and an MSD ignition system. The exhaust has also been upgraded to a larger stainless system for a bit more of an engine rumble.

Things are considerably more complex under the Tahoe’s body, however. There are big hydraulic cylinders front and rear, linked to four pumps and a bank of batteries all located in the rear load area.

Todd owns two Stratford businesses – panel and paint company RE Automotive, and hydro-dipping company Fluid Coatings NZ – and as a result not only does the Tahoe feature sensational paintwork that ‘pops’ in sunlight, but special print graphics have been transferred to vehicle components that range from suspension arms to both sides of the bonnet, as well as to various parts of the interior.

Setting the vehicle off is a set of 100-spoke wire wheels shod with whitewall tyres. End result: an American vehicle that is a real looker, especially when going through its ability to either sit down on its backside or pop itself up at the flick of a switch.

Big SUVs such as the Tahoe definitely aren’t normally part of the low rider scene in New Zealand. But back in 2023 when Todd Holland spotted a US Chevy Blazer low rider on display on the internet, that prompted him to wonder if it were possible to do the same in this country.

Now he has answered that question, to spectacular effect.