The Honda Civic of legendary pinstriper, cartoonist and father of the Rat Fink, Ed “Big Daddy” Roth, has come out of hiding and is for sale on eBay. Though Roth was a hugely influential figure in the Kustom hot rod culture of the 1960s he owned several Hondas including a N600 and pair of Civics, one of which is the car you see here.
The cars served as Roth’s daily drivers/work vans/canvases when was a painter for various movie producers and Knott’s Berry Farm. He often took the cars to hot rod events with a trailer in tow to sell his now-famous Rat Fink gear.
This Civic comes complete with tow hitch to accomodate said trailer and, according to the owner, Roth’s original pinstriping, paint drips and circles left by his cans. Artsy types love this stuff because it’s like being in the studio of a great master, and for Roth, the car was both his studio and his canvas.
Roth’s other Civic now resides in Japan, and the N600 is owned by a collector but was recently on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.
Thanks to Autoblog for the tip!
