Graphics: Jeff Williams

It all started when Jeff Williams bought that new pickup in 1979. He was working as an electrician at the time, fresh out of high school. He took the pickup to a local pinstriper to have him put some lines on it.

“I watched him do it,” Jeff says, “and I knew that I wanted to be able to do that. I loved cars and trucks, and my dad started taking me to car races when I was just a kid. I took a class at a community college, and went down to Rayco Supply in Chicago to buy a sign kit, paint and brushes. I was hooked. It looked way better than a real job.” [Laughing.]

In late 1980, Jeff went into the sign business. He was doing painted signs, but was still fascinated by pinstriping. He started working on his pinstriping skills, and soon found it gave him another product to sell along with his lettering.