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 Bel Air is the one he uses most these days. It has everything from ...