Metal Flake, Coffin Tanks, and the Legend of Butch

Welcome to the second part of my "In the Garage" series. I wanted to share some more stories about how I got started in this business and the people who helped me along the way. If you are looking for hand painted pinstriping or custom motorcycle pinstriping in the Phoenix area, you are in the right place. I have been doing this a long time and it all started right here in the shop with my dad.

Get In Touch
Call or Text Cell: (602) 397-7134
Email: Tony@astripe.com
Location: 75th Ave and Union Hills

Building My First Chopper with My Dad

When I was a kid I had an idea to build my own bike. I wanted it to look like a real chopper, the kind you saw in the magazines back in the 70s. My dad, Leo Perez, was the one who really showed me the ropes. He didn't just do the work for me he taught me how to do it myself. We spent hours in that garage together, and that is a big part of what this "In the Garage" series is about for me. He taught me how to weld and how to do body work with Bondo and how to mold things to get that smooth look.

What I was building was a custom 1970s lowrider-style bicycle, not a full motorcycle. I ended up molding the coffin tank to give it that real chopper look. I stretched it out with long extended chrome Springer forks and we custom painted it metal flake silver. It had red, orange, and green artwork all over it. At the time I was just trying to build a cool bike but looking back it really was a precursor to the lowrider bikes people are building today. I guess I was dabbling in lowrider bikes before I even knew what they were. I took that bike to some shows and even got some awards which was a great part of my life.

Learning the Hard Way: Welding and Body Work

Over the span of about a year I just kept working on that bike. I would change the paint job and try new things. That is how I learned more and more about welding and body work. My dad was always there to make sure I was doing it right but he let me make my own mistakes too. That is how you really learn a craft like custom motorcycle pinstriping. You have to get your hands dirty and just keep at it until it looks right.

Working with my dad at such a young age gave me a lot of respect for the work. He was a professional and he expected a lot out of me. If you want to see the kind of work I do now you can check out my Motorcycle Portfolio to see how far I have come since those early days in the garage.

My First Real Airbrushing Job

My first real professional job on a motorcycle happened when I was only about 12 or 13 years old.
My dad asked me to duplicate a tank that a customer had brought in. It was a yellow coffin style tank and it had a 70s style beach scene on it. The scene had a couple of silhouettes standing in front of the beach. I remember being a little nervous but I was able to duplicate it exactly. My dad finished it up by clear coating it and buffing it out.

When the customer came to pick it up he was real happy with the result. Seeing that satisfaction on a customer's face is what really hooked me on airbrushing and pinstriping. It is one thing to do it for yourself but it is another thing to do it for someone else and see them love it. That feeling hasn't changed in over 35 years. Whether I am working on Hot Rods or Golf Carts, I still aim for that same level of satisfaction.

Practicing on the Shop Cabinets

Around the same time my dad introduced me to a pinstriping brush. He had a professional pinstriper who would come into the shop to do all his work. His name was Butch. I never got to meet him at first because I was always in school when he would come by. I was only 11 years old but I was already obsessed with the lines he left behind. That part really fits the whole "In the Garage" feel of these stories because I was in there for years just watching, practicing, and trying to get better before we ever properly met.

Whenever I was at the shop I would practice my lines on the garage cabinets all throughout the shop. I did that for years while Butch was coming by the shop doing work for my dad. I would just grab a brush and some paint and try to mimic the scrolls and the straight lines I saw on the cars. I didn't have anyone telling me how to do it I just watched what the pros did and tried to copy it. One day Butch came by the shop when I wasn't there and he saw all the work on the cabinets. He asked my dad who was doing all that striping and my dad said "oh that's my 11 year old son Tony." Butch couldn't believe it.

Meeting the Legend: Butch

I finally got to meet Butch when I was 14 years old. By that point I had already been practicing on those cabinets for years while he was coming by the shop. The day we finally met he was there striping a Corvette and I got to sit there and watch him do the whole car from start to finish. It was a great experience for a young kid who wanted to be a pinstriping artist. Butch was a real professional and he took the time to show me a few things.

That meeting started a lifelong friendship and it is still one of those great "In the Garage" memories for me. We are still lunch buddies today even though he is retired and doesn't stripe anymore. We still go out to lunch and catch up on all the stories from back in the day. He is a legend in my eyes and I am lucky to have learned from him. I have some more stories about our adventures traveling through the country that I will share later on. If you are searching for a pinstriping artist near me in the Phoenix area just know that I learned from the best in the business.

Why Quality Matters in Pinstriping

One thing Butch and my dad always taught me was to use the best materials. If you use cheap paint the lines will fade or peel off in the Arizona sun. That is why I only use high-quality sign enamels for all my hand painted pinstriping. Whether it is a daily driver or a show car I want the work to last as long as the vehicle does.

I offer a personalized service where we talk about the design and the colors before I even touch the car. I want to make sure it matches your vision and your personality. My prices are always fair for the level of craftsmanship I provide. You can see my Pricing Page for more details on what to expect for different types of jobs.

Availability and Mobile Service

I work in the area of 75th Ave and Union Hills in Phoenix. I know it can be a hassle to move a project car or a motorcycle which is why I offer mobile service in some cases. If you want your ride to stand out with some authentic hand-painted lines just give me a shout.

I also have a line of clothing that features my artwork if you want to wear the style even when you aren't in your car. You can check out the Lifestyle Collection for t-shirts, hats, and more that celebrate the garage culture we all love.

Get In Touch
If you have questions or want to get a quote for a job please reach out. I am always happy to talk shop.

Call or Text Cell: (602) 397-7134
Email: Tony@astripe.com
Website: astripe.com

Thank you for reading and for supporting local artists. I look forward to seeing you in the garage soon.