I had my wagon pinstriped tonight - here's some pics: I met the pinstriper, Bobby Sanchez (Von Mex) at a pinstripers panel jam last weekend. I went there in my wagon and he was the first one to come up and talk with me. He was really into the wagon so I told him what I was thinking and he was in. I saw his portfolio and we set the date. I initially was going to have something put on the tailgate and hood, but with the F-O-R-D lettering on both of those panels, and the chrome window crank, door hinge, door handle, and Script "Fairlane" on the tailgate, I thought it would be too much to add pinstriping. I saw this big white panel up on top and came up with "Sombrero Man". I gave him a sketch of what I wanted - a skull with a mustache wearing a sombrero worked into the design. I turned him loose and this is how it ended up. We used blue and black; the blue to tie in the interior which really works, especially with the rear window down. I know this might not appeal to everyone, but I can't stop staring at it!
Well, after staring out for 24 hours, I took off the head and hat - it started looking like Marvin the Martian to me. We're going to try it again - here's what's left: I haven't had someone pinstripe a vehicle for me so I didn't want to be too critical but I wasn't digging the hat and head and had him change it once while he was here. I did wait until it was dry to remove it which was tough but just takes some time, especially when you're trying to preserve parts of it.
One time I lost my head too. I like the pin striping without the hat and head. Maybe fill the space with some more stripe design. When I lost my head I traded the wagon. Took three years to get the guy to sell it back to me. In meantime he had taken it to Jacksonville, Fl to have ghost flames and pin stripping added. I hated the picture and words on tailgate "Red Baron." The man in the red wagon looks like a WWII pilot. I removed the "B" of Baron using oven cleaner! Have no idea why I chose that but it worked without harming other paint. I redid writing to come out Lil Red Wagon. Far from great but we used to call it our little red wagon before. The other striping inside and out looks fine. The ghost flames are not noticable to everyone. I guess that's why they are called ghost flames ???????? Fine metalflake was then sprayed with clear over my original Corvette red and Nisson Super white.
Partial photo of front ghost flames. I did that air cleaner many years ago for the engine in my blue 55 2-door Chevy. Spilled brake fluid on the aircleaner so touched it up with rattle can flames. Been using the lid since mid 70's on different cars. Sometimes mistakes are a good thing ! After all, I'm here!
Updated Pinstripe Had the pinstripe worked on again tonight - here's how it looks now: I'm liking this a whole lot better. The pinstriper (Von Mex) was very cool about changing the design.
Thanks! I hear you on the first version - something got lost in translation. Anyway, I'm happy with how it ended up.
