The Beatnik Bandit is a Hot Wheels casting which debuted in 1968 as part of the first sixteen Hot Wheels ever, sometimes known as the 'Sweet Sixteen'.. It is based on the custom car built by Ed Roth in 1960.
The real-life Beatnik Bandit was built on a shortened 1950 Oldsmobile chassis and featured a fiberglass custom body, complete with a bubble-top which doubled as both the roof and door. It also featured a unique 'control stick' which operated the acceleration, brakes, steering and gear changes. The car still exists today and is on permanent display at the National Automobile Museum in Reno, Nevada.
The original 'Redline Era' version of the Beatnik Bandit was manufactured from 1968 to 1971 in both the USA and Hong Kong factories. This casting was used a few times before being retired and again re-tooled for for this version release in 2013 for HWC. It's Spectraflame, Light Green is beautiful and the model still conjures up childhood memories of 1968!