My dad was friends with a pinstriper from the Des Moines Iowa area named Bob Butterly. He signed his work Carob. I would watch him for hours when he was in town to stripe and letter. Bob was also into model cars and promoting model car contests. I lost track of him when he moved away. I heard a rumor that he died in a car crash in Florida a couple of years ago. Can anyone confirm this and tell me what happened?
I don't know where Butterly is now, but I too remember him in the 70's and 80's. I can recognise his striping instantly (hidden naked ladies), and I entered many a model car contest that he managed. Even won a few awards for my models. Didn't he do the contests at the NSRA Nationals for a while?
Yes, He did run those contests. I'm sure I lost to you and your brother at a few of them. I have also heard he passed, but I can't remember who I heard it from. I will see a couple guy's who had work done buy him in the past tomorrow, I'll ask them. I have an extra set of rear fenders for my coupe that still have the pearl white paint and "Carob" striping on them hanging in my Dad's shed. I'm going up there today, I'll snap a couple of pics.
Yes that's him. But thinking about it, I think his first name was John. Old age is catching up with me and my memory isn't as good as it used to be. I think he would use the side of a flat quill brush to stripe with instead of a dagger. He always laid down some of the thinnest lines I've ever seen using a quill. It seems like a lot of my dad's friends are starting to pass away. A lot of local hot rod history being lost.
He did pass away, I'm thinking it was five years ago or so. He was a really nice guy, did a lot for the model car hobby. I still have a model he pinstriped for me.
Welcome "Jake"!! I was talking with a friend last night who knew Bob and had the work done on the fenders I have. He confirmed his passing. He also said that Bob's son "Reb" has now picked up the family striping brushes.... One thing I remember about Bob's models contests were the airbrushed shirts that He and his family wore. They had their names on them with fancy brush work. There were a lot of customs from the "Crusin' Customs" club here from the Twin Cites that featured his work. I remember that a friend of my Dad's had an F-100 that had some of Carob's infamous "naked lady" striping on it. Attached is a shot of the fender I have with "Carob" striping on it. Sadly, it's pretty mild, and has no nudity! The striping and the HOK pearl paint is why I haven't stripped the paint off them yet!
Sorry to hear of his passing. He was a good guy. I worked a lot of the same shows he did and each time I saw him he would have me airbrush some of his pinstriping style onto one of those shirts he wore.
Just happened on this site while googling Dads name. So cool to hear and read peoples memories of him and his work. I know this is an old thread but I just wanted to post and say, thanks for making my night! Dad passed away following a minor car crash from a blood infection in the hospital on Nov 20th 2004. I live on long Island NY and Yes I still pinstripe letter and cartoon. PS I still have a Tshirt in a box somewhere that Tom Davison air brushed...my dads said Big Bob with pinstripes and mine said Lil Bob....age and expanding waistline does not allow me to wear it anymore. Even tho I'm pushing 250lbs and he's gone....Dad will always be Big Bob. Again thanks for the memories guys!
In the LaQuinta parking lot at this year’s Hamb Drags my brother noticed a ’57 Chevy with some pinstriping that looked like Butterly’s. When we got to the hood, it was obvious that it was his work. I think the car was from Iowa, which would make total sense. If the owner of this ’57 see’s this, do you have any details of the car?
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