The Icon of the Road: Tony’s Von Dutch Inspired Chrome Eyeball Tee

Actual Chrome Eyeball Pinstriping Design shirt shown with a realistic garage backdrop while keeping the real product and original design visible for customers.

Welcome to my website I work in the area of 75th Ave. and union Hills ,I do provide a mobile service in some cases so if you need some work done on your ride just let me know. You can always get a hold of me by calling or texting my cell at (602) 397.7134 or send me an email at Tony@astripe.com if that is easier for you.

Get In Touch
Email: Tony@astripe.com
Call or Text Cell: (602) 397.7134
My Location: 75th Ave and Union Hills, Phoenix Metro Area

Why the Flying Eyeball Matters

If you have been around the custom car scene for any amount of time you know that the flying eyeball is basically the ultimate icon for any pinstriper out there. It is the one design that everyone recognizes immediately whether you are into hot rods or lowriders or just cool custom art in general. I decided to take that classic look and put my own spin on it with this Lowrider Hot Rod T-Shirt , Chrome Eyeball Pinstriping Design because I wanted something that looked sharp and paid respect to where all this modern pinstriping stuff started.

The flying eyeball has a long history and it really stands for that "eye in the sky" that sees everything which is a pretty cool concept when you are out on the road. For me putting it in chrome was the way to go because it gives it that metallic pop that looks great on a shirt and reminds you of the chrome bumpers and trim on those classic 50s and 60s cars I love to work on so much. The photos in this post should show the actual product that is for sale, including the real shirt photos and color options available on the product page, so you can see the original chrome flying eyeball design as it is actually printed on the shirts.

The classic Von Dutch sign featuring the iconic flying eyeball — the inspiration behind the new chrome design.

Talking About Von Dutch the Grandfather of Hot Hod Pinstriping

You cannot talk about pinstriping without talking about Von Dutch. He is widely considered to be the grandfather of modern day pinstriping, and he is the one who really brought the flying eyeball to the forefront of the culture. Back in the day he was doing things with paint and brushes that nobody had ever seen before and he turned what used to be just simple accent lines on a car into a full-blown art form.

I have always had a ton of respect for what he did for our craft. Pinstriping is a tough skill to learn, and it takes decades of practice to get those lines perfectly symmetrical and smooth by hand but Von Dutch made it look easy. He had a style that was all his own and that is what I try to bring to my work here at Tony’s Pinstriping too. Whether I am doing Old School Pinstriping or some Lettering on a truck I am always thinking about those roots.

Kenneth Howard (“Von Dutch”) — a true icon of modern pinstriping.

Actual shirt photo from the product page showing another real Chrome Eyeball shirt customers can order.

That Time I Met the Legend

I actually had the pleasure of meeting Von Dutch myself which was a huge honor for me in my career as a pinstriper. It is one of those things you never forget when you get to sit down and talk shop with the guy who started it all. I met him at an Ed " Big Daddy "Roth Christmas party we would get together and pinstripe cars and items and auction them off for a charity Ed " Big Daddy "Roth would throw a party every December

I am actually planning on writing a whole series called "Garage Stories" where I tell all the details about meeting him and the work, we did for SEMA 2005. There are a lot of good stories from those days and I think you guys will really enjoy hearing about the behind-the-scenes stuff in the custom car world. So keep an eye out for that coming to the blog soon because it is going to be a good one.

About the Chrome Eyeball T-Shirt

This shirt is part of my line of hot rod apparel, and it is one of my favorites to wear when I am out at the shop or a car show. It is a unisex cotton shirt, so it is comfortable for anyone to wear and it comes in a bunch of different colors like Ash, Black, Charcoal, and Navy. I use high-quality materials for the shirts just like I use high-quality paints for my motorcycle pinstriping.

When you buy one of these pinstriping t shirts you are not just getting a piece of clothing you are getting a design that comes from 35 years of experience in the industry. I am the one who designs these and I make sure they look right before they ever go up for sale. The chrome eyeball on this shirt is detailed and sharp and it definitely gets people talking when you are out and about. The product is available in multiple shirt colors, and the photos tied to the product page show the real item customers can purchase, not a concept mockup.

the original chrome flying eyeball design printed on another real shirt colorway available for purchase.

Hand-Painted Quality and Local Service

While I love selling these shirts, I am still a pinstriper at heart. My main business is still hand-painting those fine decorative lines on your cars and motorcycles. I specialize in all kinds of custom work from Southwest Art to Gold Leaf and Airbrushing. I have been doing this in the Phoenix Metro Area for a long time, and I take a lot of pride in my craftsmanship.

If you are looking to get your ride pinstriped, I am located right in the area of 75th Ave and Union Hills. I can usually do the work at my shop, but I also offer mobile service in some cases if that works better for you. Every job I do is fully personalized so we will sit down and talk about the design and the colors before I ever touch a brush to your paint. I want to make sure you get exactly what you are looking for so your ride stands out from the crowd.

Get Your Pinstripe Gear Today

If you want to support a local artist and get some cool gear at the same time you should definitely check out the shop. Besides the chrome eyeball shirt, I have other designs like the V8 Logo with Pinstriping Shirt and several Vintage Lowrider Tees. They make great gifts for your friends who are into cars or just a good way to treat yourself to something unique. For this shirt especially, I want the photos and wording to match the real product page so what you see in the blog lines up with the actual chrome flying eyeball shirt and the real available colorways you can order.

I am always adding new stuff to the site so check back often. And if you have an idea for a custom shirt or a custom pinstripe job on your car don't be shy about reaching out. I love talking to other car and motorcycle enthusiasts and I am always happy to answer any questions you might have about my process or my pricing.

Welcome to the family of custom car lovers and thank you for taking the time to read my blog. It means a lot to me that people are still interested in the art of pinstriping and want to keep these traditions alive.

Get In Touch
Call or Text: (602) 397.7134
Email: Tony@astripe.com
Location: 75th Ave and Union Hills, Phoenix, AZ
Website: astripe.com

If you have any questions at all please give me a call or text me anytime. I am usually around the shop or out on a mobile job but I will get back to you as soon as I can. Thanks for visiting and I hope to see you and your ride out on the road soon.

Best regards,
Tony