Kustom Kulture was such an enthralling movement in the 50s and 60s due to the inputs from talented people like Von Dutch, the Barris brothers, as well as contributions from the amazing artist, cartoonist, and custom car designer Ed “Big Daddy” Roth. Born in 1932, Ed Roth grew up in California and got introductory art lessons in high school through the auto shop and art classes. Roth is best known for creating the hugely popular hot rod character Rat Fink.
Also, Roth created several custom show cars, sold silk-screened T-shirts, and was associated with numerous artists such as Steve Fiorilla, Robert Williams, and Ed Newton who designed several of his cars and T-shirts. Notably, in the later stages of his life, Roth got more spiritual and deeply regretted some of the things he did to make money in his past which includes endorsing illegal street racing. However, he never regretted building cars and these are some of the craziest examples of custom cars fabricated by Ed Roth.
10 Mysterion
A Detailed Look At Ed Roth's Mysterion reveals how incredible the build is. Often described as the quintessential show rod, the idea behind Mysterion’s powertrain came from dragsters with multiple engines. Ford’s Bud Anderson gifted three new Ford engines for the project while Roth used two.
Also, he adopted hydraulics for opening and closing the bubble top and adjusting the rear suspension’s height. The car was painted Candy Yellow by Larry Watson from Watson’s House of Style, and the project was completed in 1963.
9 Outlaw
Undoubtedly one of his most iconic fabrications ever, Ed Roth started work on the Outlaw in 1957. Mostly hand-built, the entire drivetrain which includes a 1950 Cadillac engine was patched together from junkyard parts.
Roth sold his car to finance the project which cost a total of $800 to complete. Outlaw is built on a Ford Model A frame while the entire body is fabricated using fiberglass. Also, the car made its first public appearance at Disneyland in 1959.
8 Orbitron
In 1964, Roth built a unique bubble top show car called the Orbitron. The car is created to look like a space-bound slingshot dragster and the design is credited to Ed Newton. Also, Dick Cook and Dirty Doug assisted Roth in the fabrication process.
Underneath the car’s tiny hood is a 1955 Chevrolet engine taken from Roth’s daily driver. The car is finished in blue paint and features a uniquely built nose that beams green, red, and blue lights.
7 Beatnik Bandit
In 1961, Ed Roth built the Beatnik Bandit from Joe Henning’s sketched design called “The Grapes of Roth.” Roth added some features to the original design during the build which include the bubble top made from custom plexiglass produced by Acry Plastics in Los Angeles.
A total of 38.4 m of fiberglass, 907.2 kg of plaster, and over 189 liters of resin were used in building the Beatnik Bandit. Also, the car is powered by a 5.0 liter Oldsmobile V8 engine.
6 Road Agent
Like some of its predecessors, Ed Roth’s Road Agent was also fitted with a bubble top. Built in 1965, the show rod features an innovatively adapted powertrain consisting of a Corvair engine and rear suspension.
The car is documented to have been owned by Mark Moriarty from 1996 to 2005 during which he restored it to its original spec. Subsequently, Road Agent was auctioned off for $187,000 at the RM Auctions in 2009.
5 Surfite
In tune with the surfing trend of the 60s, Ed Roth built an innovative yet ideal machine for beach fun-seekers and called it the Surfite. The car is fitted with a chrome-plated 1,269cc Austin power plant from a Mini Cooper but has no bubble top.
Also referred to as a beach buggy, Surfite is built as a single-seater with a specially designed space for a surfboard, and it also has a windshield and a wiper. The Surfite was featured in the 1964 movie “Bikini Beach” among others.
4 Tweedy Pie
Unlike Roth’s other show rods which were customized by him from scratch, Tweedy Pie is a 1923 Ford Model T Roadster that was originally owned and customized by Bob Johnston before Roth acquired it in 1962. Johnston’s customization includes reducing the wheelbase to 84 inches, widening the car’s body by about 3 inches, and fitting it over a bobbed 1932 Ford frame.
Notably, Johnston contracted Roth to pinstripe the car. After acquiring the Tweedy Pie, Roth adorned it with dual headlights and chromed reversed wheels with Baby Moons.
3 Rotar
Notably, the scope of Ed Roth’s fabrications was beyond his personal cars as several enthusiasts commissioned him to build custom automotive for them. A classic example of such is the Rotar. The car was commissioned by Bert Boeckmann, owner, and president of California-based Galpin Motors, and Rotar means “Roth Air Car.”
It’s powered by two Triumph 650cc engines built by Bell Auto Parts with a high-pressure prop placed on each engine thus creating an air cushion for easy movement on land and water.
2 Mega Cycle
Another iconic show car from Roth’s stable is the Mega Cycle. Designed by Ed Newton, the car was originally built for hauling Roth’s Harley XLCH before he acquired a Triumph. Initially named Captain Pepi’s Motorcycle & Zeppelin Repair by Robert Williams, the custom car was however renamed Mega Cycle after a convincing suggestion from car show promoters.
Contrary to what its name suggests, the Mega Cycle, just like most cars, has four wheels, and the creation is powered by a Buick V6 engine.
1 Druid Princess
When the Addams Family Producers consulted Roth to build them an equivalent of Barris’ Munster Koach, he went to work and birthed a masterpiece which Robert Williams named “Druid Princess.” Dan Woods and Jim Jacobs built the chassis while the drivetrain features a Dodge 383 cu. in. B-series V8 mated to TorqueFlite three-speed automatic.
Also, Roth constructed the body using plywood and sourced the décor from Hollywood. Notably, the show car’s battery and gas tank are fitted in the rear coffin.