In 1964 And Why Loved Now
But before I share my story,I'll share
my brothers and my creator, who I have
tears for who passed away in April 2001.
My brothers told me as soon as I had
been restored and happy with original
sparkling shiny look. I asked, where is
my creator Big Daddy Ed Roth? I was
told he died in April 2001. I cried very
much, my brothers all together, but
my third brother Mysterion died.
My Creator Big Daddy Roth,thought
the new car called Orbitron would be a
big hit. He thought a orb with three lights
in three different colors:red, blue and
green,would be cool.
See he thought the three colors would
produce the colors for television.
Colored TV was started in 1961,but
most television shows were in black in
white.It wasn't until fall of 1965,some
shows went color.Some waited until '66,
to go color,most persons would stick to
their black and white television sets.
Even ABC,Hazel had a episode,how
Hazel bought a color TV,to watched a
Perry Como special.All the neighbors,
went to see Hazel,so they could see
Perry Como in color.Mr. Baxter got
the point,her boss a well known lawyer
came home with a color television set.
With the idea of Big Daddy Ed Roth
having me,Orbitron drawn by talented
Ed Newt in 1964,he was excited.But
that drawing was to hard to build.Now
it pressured him. His idea was a curse
to him.Both Hot Rod Magazine and
Car Craft treated me,Orbitron as
nothing.So my creator,created me like
a sling back dragster,with three lights
in my cylinder orb.I was candy blue,with
pearl blue pin striping.He had a smile
driving me.I was at Lions Dragstrip.I
had thin white wall tires and pie crust
slicks on the rear,and Astros slotted
mags,full chrome front suspension,blue
and white interior,television set,white
steering wheel and blue shag fur carpet,
'55 Chevy engine with three chrome
carbs and manifold.Ifelt like somebody.
But when all the ugly criticism came at
my Creator Big Daddy for building me,
he then starting hating me.He was even
told to go with pearl blue then candy
blue.When scratched, I was then had to
be repainted pearl blue,with candy blue
pin stripping.I sure looked ugly,and my
photo shows it.
I was for sale by 1968 for over $6500
in Hot Rod Mart.SEll-Orbitron,showcar,
in excellent condition.Corvette engine,
completely electric w/trailer.Best offer
over $6500.Victor Apodaca Jr.
105 S.Kansas,El Paso,Texas 79901.
This car never had a Corvette engine.It
had a small V-8 then came out of Roth's '
55 Chevy.
Some stupid teenage boy cut my head
off in the '70's,so I looked like a hot rod.
I was left blind in the front.I only had my
side flush lights on my body.
I was left to rot,my brothers told me.I
wound up in Mexico,to be turned into
a hot tub.
It was the man that bought Road
Agent who had asked my Creator Big
Daddy Ed Roth,what is your secret to
making custom cars this way?All my
brothers told me this.
He or Jimmy Z who was given the
copyrights by Ed Roth's wife the use,
and build Roth custom cars,even clones.
Either one was inventor of the identical
Mysterion.
At that show the clone Mystrion,along
with Roswell and bubble top customs,my
step brothers.They asked ,how was it,to
be built by your creator Big Daddy Ed
Roth?He was a artist air brushing any-
thing.He invented hisRatfink that much
mirrored him.It is as the Ratfink to do the
talking for him,with all the other Finks he
created.His shop truck 1956 Ford F-100.
Instead of red flames on the sides of the
body,he had them up the sides of the body.
On the truck bed cover in white like his
truck,he had his shop name Big Daddy
Ed Roth.Revell even came with a model
of his shop truck years later.Then he
created my own brothers:Outlaw,who is
considered the best model T.Beatnic
Bandit,a pearl white,copper and cool
chrome masterpiece.Next is my late
brother Mysterion,my creator's car,he
liked the most.How Mysterion died,Big
Daddy Ed Roth,didn't know you had to
heat chrome up to 400 degrees, before
chroming the frame.When Mysterion
was borrowed to be shown around the
country,his frame cracked right at the
car show.So the parts he borrowed like
engines,transmission,were taken back.
What was left,was his body,his head-
lights,and everything in his round bubble
top.A boy had the body of Mysterion in
his own parents garage.They must not
been up on custom cars. Because they
said this:Get that junk out of the garage.
So Orbitron's body was crush to pieces.
My creator did loved Orbitron,but he
never tried create another.He said:His
cars belong to the world.I received much
flack from both Hot Rod and also Car
Craft Magazine for making me.See I did
not have the cool curves like Outlaw,
Beatnic Bandit,and Mysterion,,I was
square,with curves on the sides,and two
scoops,and also two hoods.the second
hood was behind my engine.I had lights
on both sides flush,but with a curve.My
creator pulled my engine from his daily
driver '55 Chevy.He was embarrassed
of my engine.I had a six pack.All he had
to do to show me, is make three long
tubes going to my carbureters,and make
three fiberglass scoops.I would then be
cool like my own brothers.He put a hood
on me,Big Daddy said,not showing my
engine,is his thery why they didn't like
me at the car shows.My pretty chrome
top engine couldn't be seen.He was on
a strict budget in building me.I guess,if
if he had more money,I would have been
built differently.
They treated my creator Big Daddy
Ed Roth rotten,so he would not show his
cars in those car magazines,by Peterson
Publishing Company,that produced Hot
Rod and Rod And Custom,as well as
othersHe went went with McMillian
Publications,Custom Rodder,and Street
Rodder.My brothers did say when it was
the 80's he did go to Revell and help
reproduced the molds,of his three show
cars like before.A special monthy sub-
scription around 1984 with Hot Rod
Magazine.Also I was told the winner,
used my brother,Outlaw model and
made a buggy model with it.Which my
brothers can back up.They said:Big
Daddy Ed Roth could seen, having
that buggy to drive.Announced in Hot
Rod Magazine,as well as the top ten
builders of car models using Hot Rod
Magazines Series.
You knew as The Big Daddy Ed
Roth who had created Ratfink,Mr.
Gasser,Mother's Worry,and many
other kinds of monster Finks.
People wanted Ed Newt's Orbitron,
Big Daddy to build,not Ed Roth's
version.I felt sorry for my loving
creator,for the flack he got from both
Hot Rod and Rod and Customs and
others.That sad story Orbitron,I
know how you feel Mysterion.Hey
Orbitron do want us to race, like
your brother Outlaw?SureMys,let
us go to Lion Dragstrip.The best two
out of three.The loser buys dinner.
That drag fuel octane,Nitro.Yes,We
fix you up,Orb.My new owner puts
Nitro tanks.Ok We Both have Nitro
Tanks.Your Hood was removed,we
just installed a GM C 6-71 blower,
with Craigar blower belts,We put
your three carbs on top.We even
made those three scoops.Now Orb
let's burn rubber.Cool,This the life
Mys.now drag.Hey Mys.we have
to go to Lions Drag Strip with also
Rozwell and the rest of your bros.
Megatron,and Streetnic Bandit.
They look like something Big
Daddy Ed Roth created.Yes,our
creator taught all his sons,his
method of making his cars.They
might make more cars in the
future Orb.We just have to see Mys.
Hey Orb you look cool.Thanks Mys.
.Below are two cool pictures of me
restored.That green one was Ed
Newt's Idea that everyone wanted,
my creator Big Daddy Ed Roth to
build in 1964.Also I have real pics
retouched of Orbitron.
Orbitron's bubble top,with interior,
blue shag fur,TV white steering
wheel. Pic 1. shows the chrome
six pack Orbitron has with also
chrome generator.Pic 2 is 1968
Hot Rod Mart showing the ad
for Orbitron being for sale over
$6500.Picture 3. you can see the
real hood opened,up side down.
Pic 4. is Ed Newt's Orbitron
drawing that people wanted.The
fact is this design,was not ready
for this car.Not in 1964.However,
when tires were larger in 1966,it
would be appropriate.The fact is
Ed Newt's design was too far,for
their time.However most people,
didn't get that some car parts,are
too futuristic,to have now. Pic 3.
This when Ed Roth loved his wild
candy blue Orbitron on Lions Drag-
Strip.5.Orbitron at the car shows in
1964.6. Ed Roth at Lion Drag Strip
with candy blue Orbitron enjoying
himself.Pic 7. Orbitron retouched
at Lion Drag Strip 1964 in the
cool candy blue with pearl type
blue pinstriping.8.Orbitron from
1964, car show from rear.9 This is
the rare Orbitron next to Surfite.
If you look at the front you will
see a small piece of paper,this
had Ed Roth and Obitron the car
he entered.There was no flashy
to bring a greater audience.It was
also dark at early car shows only
having minimum lighting compare
to our car shows today.It was a
real shame people were expecting
Ed Newt's design Orbitron over
Big Daddy Ed Roth.Ed Newt did
ask Big Daddy if he had any plans,
but Big Daddy Ed Roth,said they
are in my head.So ed Next drew
what Big Daddy,had in his head,
but it wasn't exactly the same idea.
10.Orbitron with light in the dark
reminding you of a planet.11.Pic of
Orbitron from the rear.All pics 10,11,
12,13 and 14 are from the restored
Orbitron.Pic 13 shows you what the
restored Obitron chasis with engine
and wheels would look like.It is a
work of art chrome and light blue.
Pic 14.Shows side view of the cool
Big Daddy Ed Roth's Orbitron.
Working at Sears Roebuck at the
time,and was married.He was quite the
artist,who could airbrush with style and
creativity,it was in his blood.
It was my creator,who invented the
first slogans on T shirts? Yet he didn't
just put slogans,he put cool cars with
monsters.Got to love him,for doing this.
In 1957 Big Daddy came out with
Outlaw show car,made with a new type
material called fiberglass.My brother's
pearl white and green metallic scallops,
was considered best Model T custom
made.If you wanted give Henry Ford
credit, for my brother's custom body,
OK he'd liked that. He was powered
by a Cadillac with four Stumberg 96
carbs.His body did resemble a wild
Model T made of fiberglass.The
pretty metallic green scallops had
continued on the back. It had a tall
windshield.My brother had white
scalloped upholstery and green
like scallops,the bench seat alone,
was a work of art.My brother The
Outlaw even liked, the wing flaps
pear white,and metallic green cool
scallops.Below these, his twin
lights on both sides.Big Daddy Ed
Roth gave most of us independent
chrome suspensions in the front.
Outlaw has beautiful in the front.I
guess my only metal,oil, relative
Tweety Pie has a dropped axle,who
is more like a uncle to us.He is real
cool,my brothers were all fiberglass.
Tweety Pie is steel, but I love him
like a brother.He had comforted me,
years later when I was fully restored.
Back to my bro Outlaw.He had a cool
set chrome three pipe headers,to that
Caddy mill.He had motorcycle wire
wheels and tires.
What Big Daddy Ed Roth did not
know is my oldest brother thought of
me as the dragster of the family.So
Outlaw and I had secret drag races,at
the strip when it was closed.
My brother is so happy Jimmy Z was
able restore me.For about fourty years
I was blind.
My bro Outlaw was so cool with his
white wall rear slicks and chrome hub-
cabs just small bullet in the middle.My
bro told he was the best custom Model
T and has all the tropheys to prove it.
My brother Outlaw had some cool
shiny nerf bars front and back.My bros
had model kits by Revell.A deal with
Big Daddy was set up,that he got a
penny for every kit.So if they made
250,000 models he would get $2,500,
which he could use to build more cars.
This money was used, to make my
brothers,as new one came out a year.
My brother Outlaw was changed
many times.According to the rules,a
custom car in contests three times
without major changes to the car.
After that it would be very much
drastically changed or not be in the
contest.My poor brothers, were all
worn out,by the 1970,s they were all
sold to a man in the place they in cool
Disneyland.The cars paints were
rough.But one my brothers died,my
creators favorite Mysterion .In 1980's
my brother Outlaw was changed from
metallic green scallops to pearl blue
scallops.I am happy both my brothers
Outlaw and my second brother bubble
top Beatnic Bandit, and Beanic Bandit
II, are youngest brother and also are
motor cycle brothers,Rumber Duck,and
the rest.Then there is Mega Cycle,he is
a cart truck,carries Red Suzuki.Also a
Big Daddy Ed Roth motorcycle,are seen
by many in Harrah's Reno downtown.We
are sorry are sister Druid Princess was
sold.My brothers,and sister got to see
them regularly until around 2007.It was
around this time the Custom Car Museum
closed.Then they auctioned off the cars.
They did a nice job restoring my pretty
sister,brothers,and cousins,uncles.I'll talk
about my second brother Beatnic Bandit in
Part 2.
Oldest brother Outlaw won many tropheys.
The Outlaw was retouched for beauty.
