The Beatnik Bandit was created in 1961 by artist and custom car designer Ed "Big Daddy" Roth. He created the "Rat Fink" cartoon character, and is considered a seminal figure in the hot rod movement of the 1950s and 1960s.
This particular hot rod typifies Roth's aesthetic, as well as that of the California "Kustom Kulture" as a whole. "Built on a 1955 Oldsmobile chassis, and featuring a supercharged engine as well as joystick steering control, the Beatnik Bandit epitomizes Roth's take on custom car culture," he said.