Ed Roth's kids are building cars!

[seeker589]

Ed Roth's kids are building cars.

This one's called the Street'nik Bandit. It seems to be built on a GM metric G-body (Monte Carlo, Grand Prix, etc.) chassis with the front frame horns cut off and the rear frame section bobbed just behind the rear spring perches.

The engine seems to be int the same place (no setback) and lifted in the frame. The body is built using the same techniques that Ed used - Spit-wad plaster plug to mold to finished product.

I really like the concept and love that Ed's kids are doing stuff.

My observations are that while the body is as radical as it gets, the chassis is surprisingly stock. The engine placement baffles me - I would think they would have moved it back in the chassis and lowered it. The last thing - The wheels are very 60s - while the crome reversies with baby moons is iconic - I would have liked to see something more shocking - like some indy car wheels and tires or some modified (widened) version of a factory wheel. Something more outragous than the baby moons.

I really do like the car.

*Note* - I wrote this while half asleep - the views of the author may not reflect himself or some such hogwash.

[David G.]

I agree, the engine seems out of place where it is. Other than that, it looks pretty cool.

I believe the wheels are Western Smoothies. I've been looking for a set for my Olds for about five years now.

[Peter Lombardo]

For the greatest part, I loved what Ed Roth did, and I am glad that his kids are building customs.....BUT, Ed had some pretty big shoes to fill and 1. I think it is dangerous for them to attempt a build in the "mold" of their dads work and 2. if they are going to build cars in the general theme of their dads, they better "nail it".

To, number 2, I think they missed the nail and hit their thumb. I really don't care for this one.....I hope they have some more ideas. But as usual, this is just my thought on the car and I could completely wet.

[Greg Myers]

WOW! This works for me. I was always a little stand offish on Big Daddy's stuff but over the years I've mellowed and come to except his work for what it is. With him gone it's refreshing to see his offspring following in his footsteps and not far off. I think the engine is just right following BIGs lead and the moons on chrome take it a step further.Can't wait for the kit to come out .Thanks Revell.

Edited November 6, 2010 by Greg Myers

[Jon Cole]

Just because they can...

doesn't mean they should.

[crazyjim]

I like the wheels/tires.

[Joker]

Roth was an Original (RIP)

Family genes are physical (eye or hair color etc).

His creativity was his alone.

No disrespect for his Kids.

Thanks for posting

I love Roth's creatures and cars.

James

[seeker589]

WOW! This works for me. I was always a little stand offish on Big Daddy's stuff but over the years I've mellowed and come to except his work for what it is. With him gone it's refreshing to see his offspring following in his footsteps and not far off. I think the engine is just right following BIGs lead and the moons on chrome take it a step further.Can't wait for the kit to come out .Thanks Revell.

I still have some problems with Ed's designs - but when I take into account the time in which they were built - I makes much more sense.

While the idea/concept of this car is outstanding - the design isn't exactly mainstream - just like Ed's creations back in "the day".

Ed was the original Weirdo. Ed always represented the counter-culture -- even the counter-culture of the automotive sub-culture.

People shook their head then...

[sobpinstriping]

I have to say I like it for the most part, a few things are kinda odd but all of Roth's cars were a lil odd and that's what makes me like them so much. I'm really glad they didn't put some big ugly rims on it, I'm sick of seeing big billet rims on older cars, or any car for that matter, so they did a good job on that in my opinion.

cheers

mat

[Guest Johnny]

I have to say I like it for the most part, a few things are kinda odd but all of Roth's cars were a lil odd and that's what makes me like them so much. I'm really glad they didn't put some big ugly rims on it, I'm sick of seeing big billet rims on older cars, or any car for that matter, so they did a good job on that in my opinion.

cheers

mat

I have to agree! Just as dad's cars were "DIFFERENT" so is theirs!

To say they missed the nail and hit their thumb is to say if it isn't as you remember their dad's cars it isn't any good at all.

[Harry P.]

Never was a fan of Ed Roth's work... too cartoony, no real design finesse, just a whole lotta "look at me" with very little design integration or overall visual coherence. And this one follows that theme exactly.

[Terror]

Looks cool.I think it has more design than Foose puts in to his stuff. Lower,paint and put new rims on the thing.Maybe it was a car their dad never got around to?Reminds me of a retro lil coffin.

[seeker589]

Looks cool.I think it has more design than Foose puts in to his stuff. Lower,paint and put new rims on the thing.Maybe it was a car their dad never got around to?Reminds me of a retro lil coffin.

A topless Lil Coffin! I have been wanting to build something like that in 1:1 for years.

You might be onto something!

[Guest Johnny]

Looks cool.I think it has more design than Foose puts in to his stuff. Lower,paint and put new rims on the thing.Maybe it was a car their dad never got around to?Reminds me of a retro lil coffin.

That thought crossed my mind too!

[Greg Myers]

Never was a fan of Ed Roth's work... too cartoony, no real design finesse, just a whole lotta "look at me" with very little design integration or overall visual coherence. And this one follows that theme exactly.

Yea, you're right. This is what Kustom is all about.Look at th "finess" no "Kartoonoony" stuff here, not a lot of "look at me " on this one,and "design integration or overall visual coherence" WOW ! This has it all.:P:)

[Harry P.]

Yea, you're right. This is what Kustom is all about.Look at th "finess" no "Kartoonoony" stuff here, not a lot of "look at me " on this one,and "design integration or overall visual coherence" WOW ! This has it all.;):)

That's pretty ugly...

[Modelmartin]

This thread is cracking me up already!

Ed Roth was an original, a one-off. He was the Beatnik car builder and a man of the times. He was just applying his imagination to 1/1 cars. It was not about practicality or performance or "Design". It was a personal statement of his. Some would call it art. The car his sons have built doesn't have the flair or originality that Pop's work did. They are trying to recapture something but that doesn't work, usually. It's just nostalgia.

The Aztec is pretty ugly, I agree. It was a popular car at the time but it is really poor design. If you look at it in the context of car culture at the time, it is pretty successful. It is a cool car but I don't consider it well designed. Something like the Hirohata 51 Merc or the Matranga 40 Merc are beautiful well-designed customs.

Custom cars through the years are fascinating. The big wheeled Donks are just the next generation of the same desire that people have to personalise their cars. I chuckle whenever I hear someone disparage a certain era of customizing. Whether they are the clean customs of the early 50s, the scooped and scalloped late 50s-early 60s, the wild showrods of the 70s, customized vans, or low riders, donks and wildly painted tuners, they are all expressing the same desire to personalise a car according to the owner's tastes. They are different chapters of the same book and all deserve the same respect.

[seeker589]

Yea, you're right. This is what Kustom is all about.Look at th "finess" no "Kartoonoony" stuff here, not a lot of "look at me " on this one,and "design integration or overall visual coherence" WOW ! This has it all.;):)

OK - Um - WOW!

Now we are diving into sacred Barris territory. Pretty much anything done by the Barris Brothers after the Hirohata Merc is very "LOOK AT ME". I seemed to me that after Sam Barris died - George's imagination went wildly unchecked. Check out the Grecian (pictured) and tell me that that is attractive in "beautiful car" sort of way. But I do think the Aztec was built when Sam was still with us.

The trend toward brighter colors also followed paint and paint application technology at the time. Could the trend toward brighter customs be due to experimentation of those painting and building?

Yup - I said it.

We are delving into Kustom and Hot Rod philosophy. You definitely have my attention.

[seeker589]

This thread is cracking me up already!

Ed Roth was an original, a one-off. He was the Beatnik car builder and a man of the times. He was just applying his imagination to 1/1 cars. It was not about practicality or performance or "Design". It was a personal statement of his. Some would call it art. The car his sons have built doesn't have the flair or originality that Pop's work did. They are trying to recapture something but that doesn't work, usually. It's just nostalgia.

The Aztec is pretty ugly, I agree. It was a popular car at the time but it is really poor design. If you look at it in the context of car culture at the time, it is pretty successful. It is a cool car but I don't consider it well designed. Something like the Hirohata 51 Merc or the Matranga 40 Merc are beautiful well-designed customs.

Custom cars through the years are fascinating. The big wheeled Donks are just the next generation of the same desire that people have to personalise their cars. I chuckle whenever I hear someone disparage a certain era of customizing. Whether they are the clean customs of the early 50s, the scooped and scalloped late 50s-early 60s, the wild showrods of the 70s, customized vans, or low riders, donks and wildly painted tuners, they are all expressing the same desire to personalise a car according to the owner's tastes. They are different chapters of the same book and all deserve the same respect.

You missed the insane Pro Street cars (Dobberton J2000?) in your listing of illogical hot rod trends.

But seriously - it is good to look back and speculate what these historic builders thought of when they created their mechanical expressions. We're just bench racing - no harm in that.

[Peter Lombardo]

We have all heard that line...."beauty is in the eye of the beholder" well, the same is true with custom cars. What makes a great custom for you (the editorial "you")may make a dog for me, also the editorial "me". We all know what we like. There are many people out there that laid out good money to buy the Pontiac Astek. Obviously, they love them, I, on the other hand, would not be caught dead in one....having said that, watch, if I die before my wife, she will get one for me to be used as a Hurst just to bust my stones. Anyway, as was said before, Roth's customs were an expression of the "beatnik" era and they had a sacred place in our custom car history. That was then, and this is now. Personally, I think the "show" rods of the 70's were fine back then, but look out of place today.

Today, you don't see many current models being "customized". Today, for the most part, you see modern takes on the timeless beauty of the great cars from the past. It would be almost impossible to screw up a 49 or 50 Merc.

Back to my point....Roth's cars worked back then because they were unique and timely.....wild but with a flair that was controlled and tempered. He kept the color schemes consistent and not scattered every which way. The Outlaw was white and turquoise....the beatnik bandit was white and brown....the Mysterion was yellow....this new creation has just too much going on in two many directions for me. red with light blue scallops and medium blue and white interior. Sorry it just doesn't work for me....no continuity...no flow. Like they say, " I don't know how to describe pornography but I know it when I see it"...well I can't describe what makes a great custom, but I know it when I see one. and to me, this ain't one.

P.S. by the way, the black 34 Ford, The California Kid, right behind the new Roth "thing" is a great classic car...that one works.

Edited November 7, 2010 by Peter Lombardo

[Harry P.]

That thing is absolutely hideous!

[Greg Myers]

[Greg Myers]

A new trend:Here we go again Watch the video.

[Dave Ambrose]

The Kid Roth car seems like a first iteration. They worked on the body, and kinda punted on the running gear, and maybe the paint budget. I wonder if they weren't a little short on funds?

I find it interesting that they used Roth's fabrication methods. I'm actually surprised that it's not used more often because it's a good way to get one-offs built without a lot of tooling costs

I'm glad somebody's doing it again. Maybe we can get creativity back into hot rodding?

[seeker589]

The Kid Roth car seems like a first iteration. They worked on the body, and kinda punted on the running gear, and maybe the paint budget. I wonder if they weren't a little short on funds?

I find it interesting that they used Roth's fabrication methods. I'm actually surprised that it's not used more often because it's a good way to get one-offs built without a lot of tooling costs

I'm glad somebody's doing it again. Maybe we can get creativity back into hot rodding?

I was also thinking the budget challenged scenario also.

When I read about the method they built it - I was puzzled also. i would have thought they would have tried fiberglass/foam composite method. No need for a mold - the foam gets surrounded by the fiberglass. The finished product is much stronger than the fiberglass itself.

Check this link for a more detailed build: http://www.rqriley.com/frp-foam.htm

I believe hot rodding needs more creativity, also.