History Donn Varner: Striping King of the Northwest

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Donn Varner: Striping King of the Northwest

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Right now, it appears that pinstriping is on a wane period. The hey-day of having 'licks" on your ride is not what it was for even back in the early2000's. Economy? Taste? Who knows?
I am married to a striper and these days her art is personal and for a few friends.
As mentioned the big names are passed or just not seen. Little Louie, McPeak, are names ones says 'oh yea, are they still around?' Magazines are gone, no room on a electronic page for something less than a hot car.
It was a great run, hope it comes back.

 

I've been wanting to get my roadster pinstriped since I finished it a few years ago. I'm having trouble finding someone talented and local enough to do the job.

 

I remember reading that Varner story, I was obsessed with striping and had several swords and one shot but couldn't get it done. Dutch, Jefferies, and Roth were all enjoying that California charisma and led the pack. We had a guy in Grand Island Ne. Bob Dent who could really lay it down. I have also met several lady stripers who were tops also, a gal named Hot Rod Jen is a superstar and can really do complicated and stunning designs. We now have a super talent in the Omaha area, Steve Gillette, he not only can stripe but understands how to cut and buff finish paint to a perfect shine. Thanx for posting the Varner story!

 

As a kid I remember reading about Varner and admiring his work. In this area a good striper is rare. The guy that striped many of my cars is about 80 and to my knowledge is at least slowing down. I had a 32 roadster striped by him about 10 years ago, over 400 louvers 2 color striped plus other striping. It broke my heart when I sold the car and the new buyer removed all the lines.

 

Didn't he come up with a silicone water blade, for drying cars ?

 

Donn Varner was a lot more than an excellent pinstriper. To start, I think he originally lived in Salinas (amid stripers Rod Powell and Andy Southard). Not sure on that. But he first built a thin-nose, much-flamed track T roadster (with Ron Covell?) very similar to the one Tom Prufer built in the pages of R&C in the early '70s. It might be the one Buttera and/or his daughter got. Then, for 1984 Oakland, he designed and built, with Covell, the very futuristic (and of course controversial) California Star "T" roadster, with a transverse, mid-mount, supercharged V6, which won the AMBR trophy. Donn was an avid hot rodder and a superb, exact pinstriper (better than Dutch), but he was a trained and schooled industrial/automotive designer by trade, and the striping was more of a sideline. Wish I had photos handy. I'm sure others will add some.
Pat Ganahl

 

He built a double tube, space frame 29 RPU, with Jag suspension on both ends, and Hi Pro 289 and 4-speed. I had it here for some work, when John Corno owned it. Well engineered piece !

 

https://www.waterblade.com/us/don-varner/

...You are correct Marty, a link with history above. A very talented man with brush and more.

The samples posted by @Jive-Bomber of the Helmet and other details are moving...again a very appreciated addition to adding an visual edge to a Hotrod/Custom.

It also highlights that all involved in Hotrod bring different levels of expertise and style to the table...

Obviously this field of Art has grown with the movement and faced modernization and changing trends but that hand pulled greatness is much appreciated and timeless...

Thanks for sharing this great talent...
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His F100. I'd like to see some more photos of this

 

Donn moved from Salinas to San Jose in the '70s, had a shop in the Industrial complex in Santa Clara. The track T he built was bought from Roy Brizio, was the one with the Mazda Rotary engine. Donn tore the T apart, sold everything but the body, frame, and rear end at Turlock. He rebuilt it completely, used a Capri V6, and Ron Covell (also had a shop in the complex) shaped a racecar nose and aluminum hood.
Lem Tolliver did the louvers in the top hood skin, but band sawed the center to a taper, right through the louvers! The front louver ended up 1" wide, then that row tapered back to the rearmost one, 3". Lem tigged every louver, filing them by hand...Art work.
The car was finished with craftsmanship, we went on a Mothers Day run behind Donn's T, the noise from the Quickie was deafening.
Donn said it was from the straight cut spur gears, but I said it was ring & pinion.
Donn fixed it, but said it was time for another project.
...Enter the California Star!
Last time I saw Donn, I was introducing him to Larry Blank at Allison BMW.
Donn bought an 850 Coupe, the 12 cylinder 5 speed model...12 second car off the showroom floor.

 

Today I'd think that the king these days would be Dave Austin in Snohomish, WA. He has striped a few of my cars- and most of the other cars in the area that I've seen. Everybody I know in the area uses him.

 

Oh yeah, the great Jim Curren, the job on the roadster was so amazing, I cannot believe someone would remove it. But that is what makes each car be your own. We have a new star in the Omaha area that is a student of Jim's, Steve Gillette and he is awesome.

 

Here's it is circa 1956 (in Oregon):

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... and here it is circa 1958 (in Salinas, CA):

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Donn painted Jack Synder's Chevy:

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As noted in @Jive-Bomber Jay's Blog:

... Varner stripped Rod (@RodP) Powell's '39 Chevy in 1958:

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A Donn Varner "work of art" hanging in @RodP's garage:

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Donn flamed Don Hansen's '40 Ford Coupe:

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Many Thanks to those sharing this mans Far-out adventures in Art and Graphics...Much appreciated...

 

Donn also painted Greg Sargenti's '56 Chevy:

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Pat -

Donn was originally from Eugene, Oregon ... but was stationed at Fort Ord in 1957 ... hence his move to Salinas, California [where he met Rod (@RodP) Powell & Andy (@AndySS) Southard Jr.].

Note that Donn's "thin-nosed Track-T" was originally orange & white with twin Mazda rotary engines ... it was built circa 1975 by @lil' john Buttera ... for Andy Brizio.

Donn bought it from the Brizio’s. He kept the body & the tubular frame and rebuilt the entire car ... swapping the dual Wankels with a dressed-up V-6 out of a Mercury Capri ... Ron Covell fabricated a new hood, nose & grille ... Lem Tolliver punched it full of louvers ... Rod (@RodP) Powell painted / flamed it ... and Varner showed it at the Oakland Roadster Show:

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You are correct that @lil' john bought it ... and gave it to his daughter Leigh to drive.

Very "off-topic" for the H.A.M.B. ... but here's the '84 AMBR:

 

In 1959, Donn collaborated with Bill Cushenberry on the design of the famous "EL MATADOR" 1940 Ford Custom:

images by Andy (@AndySS) Southard Jr.​

 

In 1962, Varner designed Cushenberry's "SILHOUETTE" bubble-top custom:

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... which debuted at the 1963 Grand National (Oakland) Roadster Show:

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Here's Don Varner's '29 RPU ...

Setting up at the 1974 Grand National (Oakland) Roadster Show


At the 1974 San Jose Autorama - photo by Andy (@AndySS) Southard Jr.
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Varner painted Dick Mendonca's (Candy Apple & Tangerine) '53 Ford:

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In 1955, Varner and his buddies took their Lakester to Bonneville:

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... while there, Donn also striped a few race cars:

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... and they had a little mishap on the way back to Eugene:

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Donn Varner - "Striping King"
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Sounds like he left Eugene before I got into the car scene there. The pinstriper I remember there from the early 1960's was Meryl Beebe

 

Is he still alive? There is nothing about him on the net.

 

Yes ...