Folks Of Interest Don Varner's Pinstriping

Anyone have any pics specifacally of his pinstriping? Searches, both HAMB and on the web, bring back mention and stories, but I'd like to see some more of his work. Anyone got any pics they wouldn't mind sharing? Thanks...

 

Outlined custom paint by Don...

 

Thanks Rik, I was looking at the some of the Bill Cushenberry stuff on your site as well....

 

Here's some pictures of an article that appeared in the December 1956 issue of Rod&Custom and Don's newest 40 Ford coupe.He is the inspiration that started me into doing pinstriping in the first place.I received a note from someone who works for Donn awhile back after I had featured him on the Pinstriper's Page.He sent me the pictures of Donn's new 40.From what I gather he doesn't do a whole lot(if any)striping anymore but is still very much involved in cars.

 

Rod p.know's him and has some of his art.I met him a long time ago and he was one of the coolest stripers out there................

 

That's awesome! How 'bout some more?

 

That's what I'm talking about. The pic with the groovy figures and the instruments is over the top.

Yeah Franco, I'd agree he is one of the coolest; really unique.

 

Anyone else got anything?

 

Here's a few. Are you looking for pics of paint styles (flames, scallops) or striping?
RodP

 

Ooops I forgot the pics.

 

Here's one more. This was his Track - T. Don designed the paint and asked me to paint the car. I painted it and he did the striping.
RodP

 

Where was he from?

I have herad his name several times and He and I share the same last name.

I wonder if he is the son of my Great Uncle Curly??

 

He is from Oregon.

 

That is one of the sweetest looking turtledecks ever.I believe that car wound up on the East Coast eventually;I remember seeing it(or one identical to it)around the Boston area in the late 80's.Paint work was exquisite!

 

Thanks Rod. Primarily was looking for some of his actual striping exapmles, but the pcs are great! BTW, a big fan of your work as well, thank you for your help.

 

Here's two pictures of my 39 Chev Coupe. Don striped it in 1958.
RodP

 

Rod Powell had a 40 dash in his shop in the 70's that I believe Don did. it was painted black with white pinstriping that was one continuous line with a naked lady in it. I remember looking at that dash in awe....... it was so cool. Do you still have it Rod ???

 

I grew up in the Eugene/Springfield area in the 40s and 50s (HS 54-58) and remember the
Welborn/Paine Ardun powered dragster that used to be displayed in the showroom of my Uncle's used car show room in Eugene around 10th and Charnalton st. (E A Mock and Sons used cars) It was a sort of sea foam green and well stripped by Donn Varner. At that time I seem to remember Varner's well lowered 56 F 100 that was multi scalloped in lavender colors, chrome running boards and inner fender panel and had a 354 or 392 Hemi in it, well chromed with Imperial VCs on it I think and customized 54 Olds Flippers and Wide Whites. It was one to kill for back then!! I remember lots of Hot Rods around then that had Varner's work on them, I couldnt afford any of that back then, always wanted his stripping though. Maybe Rik has some pics of them. Another up and coming stripper at the time was Merle Bebee, was still around in 63 when I went to Ft Ord for Uncle Sam, he was driving his extremely lowered, charcol primered 56 F 100 "Big Window" that had a DeSoto Hemi in it if I remember right. I did some front end lowering work on it then.
This is a great post, hope it continues.

 

Yes I do. I think this is what you are talking about. Don striped this in 57.

There was a 40 gas tank that was similar that I striped.
RodP

 

When I met Don in 1957 he was stationed at Fort Ord. He was driving this 56 Ford pickup with a Hemi. He painted it in 56.

 

Less than a year later his pickup looked like this. I got to watch him do some of the painting and striping. He was entered in the 58 Oakland Roadster Show.
RodP

 

Thats the version I remember seeing around Eugene, now if we can find some pics of the dragster. Paul Welborn still lives in the Springfield area, will try to get a pic or 2 thru a friend thats stills lives in Fall Creek. Paul bored my 53 Olds block for me in 56/57.
Thats the F 100 that hooked me on 56 F 100s, still have 3 or 4. A sub framed Big Window is one of my daily drivers.
I have often wondered where the truck went. Have not seen/heard anything of it since then.

 

OT but I have that pic hanging behind my desk at work!! I work at used car lot and always liked the pic because of the used car lot in the background and because of the car too!!

 

Sorry but I wonder if this is where the Gambino boys got their inspiration from on that bad *** gold a green truck they built????

 

People need to realize that Don bought this truck new in 56 and worked on it while he was stationed at Fort Ord outside of Monterey,Ca.This is where he met Bill Cushenbery and did all the design work on the notable cars Bill built-I.E. El Matador,Silhoutte,Gene Boucher sectioned 56 Ford,Tony Cardoza 59 Impala,Frank Gould 58 Impala etc...His pickup was a sensation in 58-He did most of the work-Lowering,engine swap,painting,striping.It was traded in on a new Corvette in 58'

 

now THATS a wall hanger. I'm really digging his asymetrical approach. Thanks for posting that.

 

Here's a 40 Don did in Salinas.
RodP

 

geemann51 ... Sorry, I don't have any pics of Don's pinstriping work ... only pics of some of his cars ('29 RPU, '23 Track Roadster, & the California Star)

I did read on page 101 of Andy Southard Jr.'s book "Hot Rods & Customs of the 1970's", that the December 1956 issue of "ROD & Custom" magazine includes an article about Don "The Northwest Striping King" Varner.



I thought for sure that I had a copy of the Dec '56 R&C ... but it appears to be one of the many 50's magazines that I lost to water-damage (a leaky roof above where I thought my collection would be safe) .

Perhaps Kiwi Kev can help you out with some scans of the article ... I'm pretty sure he has a copy of that issue ... he posted some pics from it in Jeff Norwell's "Any PICS on the 555 (Triple Nickel) A roadster?" thread (just click HERE).

 

Those scans are already on page 1 of this post, posted by safariknut

 

Rikster ... thanks for pointing that out ... I guess that's what I get for only reading the first post and then scrolling through the rest! ... please excuse me while I go wipe the egg off my face!