https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/larry-watsons-personal-photo-collection.573932/page-39 did a search. Seems like this may have been the largest Watson thread. Looks like a lot of the pics may be lost in photobucket.
Hey all, just thought I'd bump this old thread to remind everyone that we lost Larry 11 years ago today. Wow, every year when this day rolls around I can't believe the amount of time that has passed. Larry is missed by many and his influence on the custom car scene is still making an impact all these years later. Rest in peace my friend..........E
So, people used to ask me why I painted my '58 Fairlane custom yellow pearl with candy green outlines and fat gold pinstriping. I'd ask if they knew who Fred LeFevre was. When they said no, that was the end of the conversation.
It's July 20th again. I'm a little late this year, but I thought I'd bring up this old post in honor of Larry. The past 12 years have flown by. Hard to believe he's been gone that long already. Seems like I heard the sad news just a few days ago. He may be gone, but he is far from forgotten. Think of Larry tonight as you're watching the beautiful and colorful sky as the sun sets wherever you are on this big blue marble. He is missed. Rest in peace Amigo..........E
Just saw this, he was a really cool guy. Got to visit with him a few times back in the 90s. Good dude!
July 20, 2023. Hard to believe it's been thirteen years since we lost one of the biggest icons of custom paint. I still think of Larry often and the genius that he was when it came to swinging a paint gun. There will never be another Watson. Gone but not forgotten..........E
It is hard to believe it’s been that long. Whenever Larry would come by my shop EVERYTHING would come to a halt and school was in session. He and I would talk sometimes for hours about cars from the past and cars I was working on and all things in between. They were cherished moments and memories. I can still picture the way he would stand and his tone of voice while talking, remembering every little detail about a certain car, from the owners name to the name he called the color to how he mixed it up, even the gun pressure. Then we’d talk about a car in my shop and how I should customize a certain part of the car or incorporate something from another car to make it even better. Then off to lunch to meet up with other car builders to talk about more past experiences and future projects. I loved those conversations with him and miss them and him. Yes E, gone but definitely not forgotten. Thank you for always remembering E
Always a Watson fan. Every work of his ( that I was fortunate enough to see ) Gave me this one impression. There sits enough design and material for 4 jobs. It Looks perfect right there. Thank You All, Who kept up the bumps
You are a good man Ed. @OG lil E , died in the wool, even as the world turns. Cheers my brother. Matt
July 20th has rolled around again, and I'm thinking of Larry as I often do. He was a legend that gave us so much. Hard to believe it has been 14 years since he left this earth to go on to a better place. He is missed. Rest in peace, Amigo..........E
Living in Nebraska and being a hot rod/custom guy since the early 60's is was a dream to have Watson paint one of my cars, especially my 58 Bel Air hardtop or my 66 Impala SS. I've always been curious what such a talent charged for one of his automotive works of art?
WOW $125 in 1965 is about $1250 today I’ve got two to paint, can you imagine a Watson quality paint job for 1250 maybe $12,500 probably not though. I wonder how many cars he painted and where they are now? He did some beautiful work. Dan
I had a '69 custom Corvette that was supposedly painted by Larry Watson...story was told to me by someone who owned the car since the early 70s. He said there was a picture of my old Corvette on Larry's wall in his office. In a sea of normal colors a crazy lavender-purple car stands out. I saw the color in the jambs of the car..it was wild. Reminds me of when someone asked Larry..."Why do you paint your cars purple?" Larry is supposedly to have replied, " chicks dig purple". I'd like to believe that story. Never met Larry..but be was a pillar in our scene. Too bad he left too soon. RIP Larry. On a funny ending note..I was watching an old Mannix episode..and lo and behold, there's Larry. He was in several episodes. He was a much better painter than actor...lol.
Heading out to a big cruise over in Englewood. We'll be cruising with our lights on for Larry! Have a great day everyone, and remember Larry tonight when you see the sunset. Gone but not forgotten..........E
This is a price list scanned from the above-mentioned book. According to the text it was dated 1961-63. What's your pleasure? Plenty of options!
Almost daily something involving talking , telling little fibs about the times , Larry and friends happen here. Went to Dave Whittle’s wife’s burial Tuesday at March Afb , the a few calls to Gary Mcnaught next few days, his health is failing. Gary talk’s about bring Larry into the California lifestyle, when they moved here from Oklahoma. They stayed together growing up and Gary helped with the paint jobs early on. So miss Larry today and thinking of Gary at home ,and Dave as a widower.
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