Oscar Ruelas, 78, a car builder, retired longshoreman and co-founder of Duke’s car club, who lives in Los Angeles, on his 1954 “Mr. Lowrider” Chevrolet Bel Air, as told to A.J. Baime.

A retired longshoreman in L.A., Ruelas has been customizing cars for over 65 years, and this 1954 “Mr. Lowrider” Chevrolet ...