If you want to learn more about Roth’s “Monster Hot Rod” art form, including the legacy of Rat Fink and hot rod culture, check out the great 2006 documentary, Tales of the Rat Fink. Rat Fink’s presence lessened as the hot rod era passed, but his likeness made a reappearance in the 1980s and ’90s in the grunge rock movement, with some bands using the artwork for album covers, concert posters, and promotional materials. (819) Sale Price 3.75 Original Price 3.99 (6 off) Add to Favorites RAT FINK 3' X 4' Die Cut Color Vinyl Decal Water/Weather Resistant (2.7k) Add to Favorites Original Mont water slide decals No. Despite never actually appearing in his own animated productions, Rat Fink was–for a time–one of the most recognizable characters around. This new character, Rat Fink, immediately caught on after appearing in a Car Craft magazine ad in 1963, showing up on shirts, wallets, keychains, toys, stickers, and much more. The character’s friends included other characters Drag Nut, Mother’s Worry, and Mr. ![]() Roth designed a mascot to promote his custom car kits and art brand he created a grotesque green/grey rat with wild eyes and sharp teeth–an intentional opposite of the wholesome Mickey Mouse which Roth disliked. He’s recognizable for his crazed look, unattractive body, gaping mouth, and overalls with his initials on them. Called “Weirdo shirts,” the style caught on among enthusiasts at car shows across America in what’s known as the “Kustom Kulture scene.” In the late 1950s, artist Big Daddy Roth received attention for his twisted, surreal designs, which he printed and sold on T-shirts. Over the years, the hot rod community has developed its own unique culture with unique styles, appeals, and leaders. One prominent product from hot rod culture which enthusiasts recognize but the general community often doesn’t is the Rat Fink character.Ī cartoon creation of artist Ed “Big Daddy” Roth, Rat Fink is a brash, grotesque character that lives on as a symbol of a motoring era. In 1995 Ed Roth built the Beatnik Bandit II as a tribute to the original Beatnik Bandit.You’ve probably seen this green menace before, but do you know what it is? This was Roth’s last bubble top build, and it shared many styling cues with his first bubble top, the original Beatnik Bandit. Photo by Sondre Kvipt - Kustomrama.Įd “Big Daddy” Roth was a founder of what later became known as the Kustom Kulture movement, starting off his career as a painter and hot rod builder in the 1950s and eventually creating world-famous characters like Rat Fink and wild show cars such as The Outlaw, The Beatnik Bandit, Mysterion, and Rotar. ![]() ![]() Working the show car circuit in the 1960s, Roth promoted his bubble-topped customs, sold airbrushed monster t-shirts and promoted Revell model car kits based on his own designs and creations.Įd's parents moved to Bell, California from Germany in 1928. He remembers going to kindergarten in 1937 not being able to understand what the teacher was talking about. During WWII Ed was harassed at school for being a Nazi. He didn't have any friends to help him out, so his pants often ended up in the top of a flagpole. He spent a lot of time escaping reality by drawing wicked things in his notebook. The notebook became a battleground, filled with drawings Japanese, German and American soldiers, guns and wrecked airplanes. After school Ed would spend his time making machine guns and bombs out of plywood and coffee cans. It wasn't because of the peace, but Ed had turned 13 and he was getting primed for his driving license. ġ4 was driving age back then, and Ed was bugging his dad about buying a 1934 Ford. As it turned out the car had no pink slip, Ed's dad told him not to buy the car. Ed really wanted the car, and used to dream about it at nights. Ed saved all his money for another car, a real cherry 1933 Ford 3-Window Coupe. He paid $350 for the car, and became king of the hill. Over the years he worked with a variety of Kustom Kulture icons, including Robert Williams, Ed “Newt” Newton and Von Dutch when the two artists worked for the Brucker family’s Movie World theme park in the 1970s.Įverytime Ed tried to street race his coupe, he'd usually break the engine, so he became a cruiser at early age due to the economic aspect of it. Roth passed away on April 4, 2001, but his use of bright hues, wild bodywork, outrageous monikers and over-the-top promotion has turned his original show cars into rolling art, and most have been snapped up and restored as icons of a highpoint in automotive design and expression.
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