Jamie Pfeiffer: 1944-2018

“They Don’t Make Them Like They Used To.”

This was the headline of a Moss advertisement from the late 1980s. The “camera-ready” artwork sat for decades in a dusty file cabinet—and it truly was artwork since within the ad was a drawing by Jamie Pfeiffer. Jamie worked as an illustrator at Moss Motors in the ’80s and ’90s and there was something about the joy, friendliness, and humor of his work that wonderfully captured the British car spirit. The drawings, too, certainly were a reflection of the artist himself.

Jamie fit into the Moss toolbox like a Whitworth wrench. His passions fueled his work and vise versa. Jamie loved vintage racing and would campaign his Berkeley #99 at the Monterey Historics and the Pittsburg Vintage Grand Prix, where he won first place in his class.

After retiring from Moss, Jamie and his wife Jan travelled the country in a motor home, often with their grandchildren. And, never far from our thoughts, Moss reached out to Jamie for his help in designing the Moss Motorfest logo and other projects.

Jamie passed away earlier this year after a brief battle with cancer. We are saddened to have lost a friend. Jamie left behind many drawings that we will proudly continue to display. And when we do we’ll remember how we can’t make them like he used to.

“A cartoon I did in the ’90s for a race I was in with a very eclectic grid.”

“Ventura Speedway, mid-80’s. Promoter let me take my Berkeley on the track after the midget races. The drive from Santa Barbara south to Ventura is 30 miles, follows the 101 highway along the Pacific Ocean. Should be no big deal but, starting for home in the dark around 11pm … well you start hearing all the sounds—every Berkeley owner knows them. Remember, no cell phones! Only telling someone when I ‘should’ be home. Made it safe and sound, in fact, purring along the coast in the open Berkeley—can’t be better than that!”