What the….? That was my first reaction when I spied this Ed Roth custom creation. Roth, better known as “Big Daddy” was a mainstream fixture of the California custom car culture in the ’50s and ’60s. He was also known for his cartoon characters like the Rat Fink, as well as over-the-top caricatures of custom hot rods. Where customizers George Barris and Dean Jeffries went more for imaginable or television/film-friendly customs, Big Daddy swerved towards the outlandish though this particular custom is more staid than many of his designs. While the origins of this custom are not entirely clear, it is referenced as a 1955 model, located in Camarillo, California, and available here on eBay for $20,000; zero bids tendered as of this writing. Thanks to Peter R. for the tip!
The story around this custom is that it is referred to as an Ed Roth custom that was built in 1959 and featured in a magazine article entitled, “How to Build and Race Hot Rods” with actual work performed by Bob Knessel of Bell, California. The “Big Daddy” association is vague as there is no actual connection to him in the single page of the article that is included in the listing.
What we have here is an amalgam for parts from various different cars as the Chassis is from a ’36 Chevrolet and the engine is a ’56 Corvette piece. It apparently had a grille from a ’50 Mercury which is present in the parts pile but removed from the car. The seller’s description and details are extremely thin so it begs a lot of questions.
Right out of the gate, this custom doesn’t look right, at least when compared to the photos in the ’59 magazine article. The body appears to have been “dropped” over the chassis and is completely ill-fitting; it makes one wonder if it is even attached. While it is not stated specifically, the front clip looks like a ’55 Chevy design.
There is no interior, just a steering column and wheel, a partial dashboard and a speedometer positioned over the recently powder-coated frame. The firewall appears to be constructed of wood, somewhat defeating its intended purpose. The Chevy association continues with what looks like a speedometer from a ’55 model.
The power train, as stated earlier, is from a ’56 Corvette so it’s probably a 265 CI V8. The transmission looks like a three-speed manual and the differential definitely has a mid- ‘50s Chevrolet appearance; no indication if any of it actually works. The seller states, “The Corvette engine, transmission, rear end, and brakes were worked on. The extent of the work is not known”. It sounds like a polite way of saying, “Good Luck!”
Vehicles like this are always hard to figure. Auto auctions will frequently represent a ‘50s custom that was once lost to time and the elements and then resurrected to its former glory – more often than not, those creations seem to have originated from either Barris or Jeffries’ studio – this is the first Ed Roth design, on the open market, that I have encountered. And then, the Ed Roth connection is not firmly established via the listing documentation. I have searched to find a connection between Roth and this very car and have not been able to establish a relationship. The seller does state that the restoration, which was started five years ago, was stopped short of completion. That’s an understatement! I’d say it stopped well short of completion.
It would take a tremendous amount of effort to get this custom back to its ’59 origin and intention, and then there is the starting bid to consider – zero bids since the listing went live two days ago. This Roth special could be an interesting tribute to the ‘50s Kalifornia Kustom hot rod scene but a major commitment of time, skill and dollars will be needed. Is this a project that you would consider?
What a pile of crap…!!! I wouldn’t give the seller $200.00. If the guy that did the body work is any indication of work quality I’d be scared of the work done inside that engine and transmission. Put it out side and let it die a natural death. Rust in peace poor car.
What’s the car hobby equivalent of ‘stolen valor? Trying to nail a legends name to your unfinished backyard POS in pursuit of a bailout is beneath contempt. The softspoken creative genius Ed Roth FINISHED his projects, and this aint one of “em!
But.. it WAS a finished project, correct?
Surprised this body has not found its way to a 4 by 4 chassis.
I like the basic style of the body but man what a mess. Not sure this can even be called a project.
Well.. it definitely gets the Rat Fink seal of approval 🤣👍
Does the plywood firewall and floors make this a woody?
The magazine article clearly states that Bob Knessel and his father built the car. The Big Daddy article is on another page. Where is the connection?
The connection is it’s in the same magazine, and in the seller’s head.
As Miss Poovey might say: Actually…this is pretty interesting, actually.
It doesn’t seem that Big Daddy was involved in the father-son project in any way, perhaps as ethereal inspiration, but the old mag pics show it, apparently, running and driving. Gotta be the right price, but this could be really (hard) fun to re-store and re-customize!
Wish the history of how it went from the original builders to this sorry state was available; betcha that would be pretty interesting, actually.
It’s obvious that there is NO connection to Ed Roth! The listing on eBay is making patently false claims and Bard Finds should not promote something that is a fraud.
The seller is going by what HE was told it appears, and that’s not right. Without proof of it being an Ed Roth custom, he should never have even repeated that part. All this is, is someone’s backyard custom of the day and nothing else. I see nothing worth $20K, either.
It’s funny how unsubstantiated claims in these ads always favor the seller.
Steve R
Wow, I think even the “Forgotten Fiberglass” guy would like to forget this one.
Gramma always said: “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything.” So… No comment.
Maybe he painted it? If anyone asks the seller about the Big Daddy connection, please let us all know.
Bell, Ca (Bob Knessel’s home at the time) was less than a mile from Ed Roth’s first Maywood Ca shop.
Ed also lived there so there may in fact be a connection.
The connection to Ed Roth might be that once, back in the mists of time, he drove past this car while it was parked in the owner’s driveway and may have actually swiveled his head to glance at it as he headed to his shop, which Jeff says was less than a mile from Bob Knessel’s home in Bell.
Or it may not. We may never know.
El Junk
The Knessel car shares that double page with a ’36 Ford coupe and a Bucket T. There doesn’t seem to be any implication that Roth designed or painted any of them.
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/1959-build-race-hot-rods-car-book-ed-roth-ak-miller
Hey, I’d give him $200 for the 56′ Vette valve covers, the rest is salvage. My wife would find a good divorce lawyer if I dragged this home. Sorry, I see absolutely zero value in this project, and I’ll bet your tired of it living at your address.
I don’t remember the old customs being that ugly. Two different builders… one on the front and one in the back, never speaking to each other.
Leaving out profanity, politics and personal attacks I got nuthin to say.
I am not saying Ed Roth owned the car however take a look at some of his early work after being left outside for many years, there is some construction resemblance between the two:
http://www.jerryheasley.com/orbitron-1
Referencing my copy of this Fawcett book, the article shows several vehicles that Ed Roth has built, scalloped, flamed, painted, or striped. Ed Roth might have shot the metallic pink paint, but the article does not say so. Ed Roth is not listed as the builder of the car. Looks like the car is covered in primer now. Maybe some scrap of the pink paint color still exists on the car that could be matched, thus keeping what little Roth connection there might be. More documentation needed here.
Outside of the Roth claim, as it was a magazine featured car of the 50’s , I think it is a worthy candidate for restoration , but certainly not at the asking price. I think someone has that “pride of ownership” that so many people have had , and then allowed their “treasure” to deteriorate to the point of “almost” no return. Seriously almost better to donate it to some California High School that still has an auto shop program ( Are there any left ?) , write off $5000 on your taxes and be done with it : let some kids who really might learn something go at it with some help and then auction it when its done , at least then the car is saved, someone gets an interesting vehicle , the Auto Shop program gets some money …….. Letting it continue to sit or parting it out because you did not get your asking price would be a sad end to it .
There is a Roth connection to this car – they’re both in the same magazine.
Exactly Mike, they may have been on opposite sides of the page even (unverified). Looks like the what was it, Nardibaker? On eBay for years. Spectacular in its unattractive appearance. Give me American or even Italian design, GT 40, Daytona, Viper, Ferrari, Vette, and better yet, a Devin SS. Sorry, but that car really stinks!
I’m surprised to see so many biting on the Roth story, let alone feeding on it?
I’m looking @ it from the standpoint of being a father, son build (Knessel) of the period & would like to know more of the cars history from that branch. Considering all the crazy ideas & designs that were built @ that time & since, I don’t see anything about the creation that makes me want to puke.
Let’s see the majority of readers create something today that would stand up.
Think of it like the inflation of dollars, then dollars vs. now dollars. What once was, does not mean it will forever be. Although, I think this car should be forever. A lot of people still today build things out of what’s on hand.Not to everyone’s taste, but regardless you cannot deny credit to what father & son created. I don’t care how many different manufacturers were pieced together in the build. Haters go build yourselves a plaster mold & build a car & see how many magazines are interested today.
It’s a shame the current marketing ad is not showing more interest in prepping to sell. Looks like a day of “prep” could present the car much more desirably?
I’d love to see it saved, regardless of asking price.
Less interesting, bigger turd barges have been saved.
I don’t think anyone is arguing against the original father son build, more so the current state of affairs. Let’s face it in it current state it’s just a pile of junk that will require talent and money to sort out, Lots of both.
Run, Forest run away from this as fast as you can! Body doesn’t even match up to chassis or wheelbase and appears to be just a pile of parts from someones garage that were laying around!!
No thanks.
junk
Anyone who pays 20k for this I got an iceberg in the Atlantic for sale!!!
Only if it’s the confirmed one that sank the Titanic !!!
I have one for sale in the Caribbean too.
I am the owner of this vehicle. Just to clarify: ED Roth WAS INVOLVED IN THE CREATION OF THIS HOT ROD. In the last paragraph of the first page of the Ed Roth article it states, “On this pages are some examples of the work on some of the sport’s best privately built machines that have been topped off by the Roth touch.” Ed Roth included this car for the article as one of the Hot Rods he was involved in.
Around 8 years ago, I spoke to the widow of the original owner, Bob Knessel. She said Ed Roth used to come over to the house all the time. She said he helped in the design of the car as well as the bodywork. Ed Roth painted the car a metallic pink.
Thanks for clarifying this Michael!
Thank you. Michael.
I don’t think “topped off” by has the same cachet as “built” or “designed.” The metallic pink paint job is now a moot point. I like the pictures of what it looked like, and could look like again. A pleasing Corvette/T-bird vibe.
Michael F,
Awesome to hear from you and for verifying the Roth connection.
One of Ed’s younger sons still lives within two miles of where your car was built.
Jeff…