Dale Starr
Sean Starr
History
My father started Starr Kustom Paint in 1977 in San Antonio, Texas and I started working in his shop in middle school during summer vacation, so I have been doing this work full time for over 35 years now. In those years in my father’s shop it was all custom paint, lettering and pinstriping on cars, hot rods, trucks and airplanes. The majority of what I learned in his shop I still use to this day. We later worked out of the back of my father’s Chevy station wagon doing paint work all over the state of Texas until his death in 1994.
My father started Starr Kustom Paint in 1977 in San Antonio, Texas and I started working in his shop in middle school during summer vacation, so I have been doing this work full time for over 35 years now. In those years in my father’s shop it was all custom paint, lettering and pinstriping on cars, hot rods, trucks and airplanes. The majority of what I learned in his shop I still use to this day. We later worked out of the back of my father’s Chevy station wagon doing paint work all over the state of Texas until his death in 1994.
Influence & Inspiration
For my automotive lettering and pinstriping work my father was my biggest influence, and I also reference my massive collection of vintage photos since I am a stickler for period correct work on classic cars. As far as inspiration goes, I think Ed Roth did more for guys like myself than anyone else in laying the foundation for us to have a career doing this kind of work that allows us to be around the classic cars we love.
Bragging Rights
I restored the painted lettering on a 1954 Ferrari 750 Monza that won at Pebble Beach Concours D’ Elegance and also won the Cavallino Classic. The car set a bunch of records racing on the beach in Mexico by a driver named Alfonso de Portago in the 1950s and then disappeared until about a decade ago when it was discovered and restoration work started. For anyone who has spent their life working on classic cars, to be able to do what I do on a piece of history like that car and have it win at Pebble Beach is going to be hard to ever top.
My work has been featured in the documentary film and book "Sign Painters" as well as on the Discovery Channel, NBC Television, Robb Report, Juxtapoz Magazine, Art Forum, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Magazine, Dallas Observer, Houston Press, Fort Worth Magazine, and Cavallino Magazine to name just a few, and I have worked for some of the top car collections in the United States.