Built by Ed 'Big Daddy' Roth in 1959.

Outlaw was the first car that Ed created using his special plaster and fiberglass method.

Ed originally named the car "Excaliber" (after his mother-in-law's family Revolutionary War sword that was used as the shifter) but changed it be cause people had trouble pronouncing it.

Ed sold "Little Jewel" to pay for the chrome work that was done on Outlaw.

Historical Look at Ed "Big Daddy" Roth’s Beatnik Bandit Through Original Photos

Written by Brian Brennan on May 25, 2016
Contributors: Chuck Vranas, Petersen Archives
Construction and car feature photos from deep within the archives

There’s a very famous story involving Ed “Big Daddy” Roth and some “less than socially acceptable” outlaw bikers and a fight that occurred in Roth’s shop. To get some basic information on this we dipped into one of our own reference books (Ed “Big Daddy” Roth: His Life, Times, Cars and Art) by Pat Ganahl (former editor of Street Rodder and Hot Rod magazines and author of numerous hot rod and custom books).

Roth had his shop at 4616 Slauson Avenue in Maywood, California that he started in early 1959. Next up he ran an ad in Car Craft magazine, again in ’59, telling everyone about his new shop address. And, it was in the Car Craft archives that we found these construction and feature photos by Pat Brollier taken back in July of 1960 There’s a very famous story involving Big Daddy and some “less than socially acceptable” outlaw bikers and a fight that occurred in Roth’s shop. To get some basic information on this we dipped into one of our own reference books (Ed “Big Daddy” Roth: His Life, Times, Cars and Art) by Pat Ganahl (former editor of Street Rodder and Hot Rod magazines and author of numerous hot rod and custom books).

For a period in the mid-1960s, Roth associated with various biker clubs and his shop was a gathering point. His shop was also a “hangout” for not only bikers but musicians, police officers, federal agents and all manner of interesting people who were in the area…which included Hollywood!

Roth was taking photos of some of his friends who were bikers and then making posters. According to Roth he paid these bikers for the use of their likeness. Roth would periodically give these bikers small amounts of money, but soon some of the bikers started to feel that Roth was "getting rich" off of them and they wanted a larger cut. Despite Roth's agreement, rumors began to circulate that a certain club intended to attack Roth's shop. The gang arrived at the shop with guns drawn, but Roth and his guys intended on not backing down and were prepared for whatever was about to happen. Roth challenged the head biker to a mano-a-mano fist fight to settle matters at his shop. Roth gained the upper hand and "just started to beat the living crap out of the guy".

After this incident, Roth left the lifestyle behind. Things started winding down at the shop in the late 1960s, and in 1970 the shop closed.

In 1968 Mattel introduced Hot Wheels and Roth’s Beatnik Bandit was one of the first 16 die-cast toy cars produced by the company.

From 1970 to 1975, Roth worked for Brucker's Movie World and their Cars of the Stars display. Brucker said, “…that Roth was a very loyal guy and a very hard worker, even though he wasn't making much money.” Brucker said, “…that when building something, Roth had a natural knack for seeing how things fit together; he would build something in a few days which would take other guys a couple of weeks.” Although Roth was a laid-back, amiable guy, Brucker also remembers that Roth was a hell of a fighter and if anyone came through the museum causing trouble, Roth would put them in line. Roth's Druid Princess was one of the many cars displayed there. Also during the 1970s, Roth worked for Knott’s Berry Farm as a sign painter and artist. He worked there for 10 years until about 1980.

There’s a theme evolving here and it became abundantly clear that while Roth was a mellow and fun guy to be around you didn’t “upset his bucket” of Bondo without repercussions. The man knew how to settle a “disagreement”!

Roth will forever be known for …Rat Fink. An oversized and oh so uniquely designed. To this day you can readily find Rat Fink decals to purchase and you can also see this “counter-culture” mouse adorning everything from tool boxes to the back windows of many a hot rod and custom car.

The year after his death, he was named as one of the 50 Who Made a Difference at the 50th annual Meguiar's Autorama in Detroit. He was also inducted into the show's Circle of Champions in 2000, and was showcased as its Builder of the Year in 2006, which is where Street Rodder’s own Chuck Vranas rounded up the current color photos of the Beatnik Bandit.

Enjoy.