For those of you in the Southern California car scene, especially the hot rod and custom community, you might recognize the name Johnny Martinez. The pinstriper’s pinstriper, Johnny taught himself the art of classic pinstriping simply because he wanted to know how to do it. Attending and winning Grand National Roadster Shows, his time was interrupted as he and his wife fought off cancer simultaneously, only to return and pick up where they left off.
“You’ve got to keep going, it’s easy to focus on the bad, but more rewarding to focus on the good,” he said. “We never take a day for granted and we love what we do.”
Born and raised in Southern California, Johnny was exposed to cars early on, remembering a time as a 10-year-old boy that he’d ride his bike a few blocks from his house to watch a guy work on hot rods and other cars. Years later, Johnny would be the one people were watching. His signature is his 1929 Ford Model A Pickup which he restored and had painted by a young lady who taught paint and body in Canada. Interestingly enough, he met her at an event, and when they got to talking, she was in shock because for her class she would show an inspirational interview about a pinstriper in America who fought cancer and kept on going and built his own car and learned how to stripe and so on. She never thought she’d ever meet Johnny, but in doing so told him she wanted to paint his truck as it was in pieces and needing paint. So, he let her paint it and it came out exquisitely.
“She was really excited when she got to see it all together,” he said. “I guess she never gets to see the cars she paints because they are all in pieces and she doesn’t get to see them when they’re done. So it was great to see her expression and see her see the car.”
Interestingly, that pickup would go from being the car everyone knew as Johnny’s car, Johnny’s Grand National winner, the truck Johnny restored to being known as the pinstriper’s truck.
“It’s interesting hearing conversations because you overhear people talking about the truck and they’ll comment about what they think of it and then someone will say, ‘hey, do you know what this guy does?’ It’s a little surreal, so many people knew me and the truck for so long, but I’ve become a pinstriper and my truck is kind of my calling card.”
Keeping up that vibe, when Johnny attends shows, he often has the truck in or adjacent his booth, so people always see him and it and the work he does all in one stop.
Living in the coastal town of Ventura, Johnny never seems to stop – his Facebook page is riddled with amazing pictures, not just of cars and pinstripes, but of scenery around him. Sunsets and sunrises, time around the backyard firepit with family and friends, drives along scenic roads and so on. While it all reflects his mantra of live life, another facet is, of course, his pinstriping work. Some might think Johnny was trained by some masters, but the reality is, he knew a pinstriper named Rick Grindle, who was known as the Auto Artist in the car community, who simply encouraged him with the basic idea of, “Just do it.”
“He was a man of few words, but he was a great striper,” said Johnny. “And I guess I thought he was right, because I got some paint, a few brushes, and an old piece of wood and practiced.”
What began in earnest turned into a hobby-business that he enjoys immensely.
“I love making custom pieces for people and events,” he said. “The bowling pins are a lot of fun and people love them. You can cut them in half lengthwise and get two and because it’s flat on one side, it can be mounted flush for a better overall look.”
Sadly, his mentor of few words passed away, leaving Johnny to fly solo. But, with this fearful freedom came the ability to soar and stripe as he wanted, without any real barriers or boundaries – what he created would exclusively be his.
While awards aplenty he has striped, Johnny has worked his magic on surfboards and helmets, engine parts and interiors, even funeral urns, giving each a unique, bespoke look and feel, something very personal for the keeper.
Johnny is a true professional and a true gentleman. He works his magic with a brush like no other. He has put his personal touch on my 48 Plymouth and 29 Ford hot rods, 56 Chevy and even our 1955 canned ham trailer. His art work adorns my home as well. Thank you for sharing this story.