It's a sad time in the industry when pioneers and living legends begin to leave us. Earlier this week, Larry Watson, legendary painter and pinstriper - who started his career in his parents' driveway recently passed away. Unfortunately, with only a day until his 70th birthday, Watson succumbed to the toils of brain cancer. Watson, whose painting career led to a short, but successful acting career, is known mainly by the traditional rod and custom community.
Images: Kustomrama
It took Watson trip to George Barris's hot rod shop to see legendary Dean Jeffries stripe a car to spark a passion that propelled Watson to greatness within in the custom industry. Watson eventually ended up working side by side with Jeffries painting, striping, and customizing sleds, rods, and rails.
Watson is credited with inventing the panel panel paint job after repainting a brand new '58 Ford Thunderbird that he had modified at Barris Kustoms. Watson, after making a name for himself, sold his striping business in 1966 to pursue an acting career. Watson appeared in 141 different television shows between 1967 and 1985, when Watson retired. Watson is remembered by his family and all of us within the automotive industry and hot rod, custom and sled community worldwide.
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Iconic Custom Rod Painter and Pinstriper Larry Watson Dies at 70
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