During the show rod era of the 1960s and ’70s, wild sketches done for magazines became full-size cars, 1/24-scale plastic model cars and/or 1/64-scale diecast cars.
Shown here are four examples that came from Rod & Custom magazine.
First, the Horn Toad.
Before there was a Horn Toad, there was this sketch by Tom Daniel on the cover of the January 1965 issue of R&C. It was one of eight Model T styling ideas TD sketched for the issue.
In the “TD designs” section of his website, he wrote that the design was inspired by his memories of catching horn toads as a kid.
Later, he revised it and created the Horn Toad, the design for a plastic model released by Monogram Models in 1971.
Next, the Mob Rod.
Before there was a Mob Rod, there was this sketch of a Vicky in the “Off the Sketchpad” feature in the September 1965 issue of Rod & Custom. It was one of six wild styling ideas for ’32 Fords presented in the issue by Tom Daniel.
It took 3D form as the Mob Rod in 2010 when Mattel made it part of HWC Series 9.
The Surf Woody, too, came from the Sketchpad.
Before there was a Surf Woody, there was this sketch dubbed the Meat Wagon in the February 1964 issue of Rod & Custom. Created by Tom Daniel, it was one of four design concepts he presented for builders of models or full-size cars.
George Barris picked up the idea. His shop’s build of the car renamed the Surf Woody was covered in four consecutive issues of R&C (August, September, October and November 1964).
Shown here is the AMT model kit reissued by Round 2 in 2016.
Finally, the Beatnik Bandit.
Before there was a Beatnik Bandit, there was this Beatnik Band-it sketch in the June 1960 issue of Rod & Custom. Joe Henning created this design concept after Ed Roth asked him to come up with something “along the lines of The Outlaw, only a coupe.”
Later, Roth built the Beatnik Bandit show rod with a bubble top and without the hyphen in the name.
Shown here is a 100% Hot Wheels casting produced in 2002.
Rods and Ends 