Rocky The Roadmen

Big B Customs

$179.00 $200.00

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If you are a Roadmen CC member, email the WI Roadmen President for the passcode at RoadmenWI@gmail.com. Please put your name, time in the club, and your president's name. Automatic 10% off if your club orders 3 or more.

Material: 100% Metal
Dimensions: 6 3/8" tall x 2" long x 2” wide
Attachment: 1/2"-13 thread (1/2" course)
Weight: 1.8 lbs.

Hood Ornament / Shifter knob

Sold by WI Roadmen Club and distributed by Big B Customs

BEHIND THE DESIGN

Rocky The Roadman—what a character! Sculpting him as an exclusive hood ornament and shifter knob was pure joy from start to finish. I gathered every bit of Rocky reference I could find, from his gruff stance to his laid-back swagger. Once I got the vibe of him in my head, I dove right in, roughing out the shapes of his oversized hat, broad shoulders, and those short, stubby legs.

The fun really began with his face—mostly hidden beneath that iconic hat, with just a sly little line of a mouth, a cigarette dangling lazily from his lips. After shaping his rough form, I started fine-tuning the details. Buttons? Check. Collar? Of course! Necktie, wrench in his pocket, and even his thumb poking out, all sculpted with care. He was coming to life, piece by piece.

But Rocky wasn’t just going to be any ordinary ornament. Oh no—this one had to be special. I wanted him to pull double duty, so I designed a clever little base that could work both as a hood ornament and a shifter knob. My solution? A round base with a washer-like bottom that could easily screw onto a hood or shifter rod. When I showed it off to some Roadman members, they were thrilled! One even suggested turning the base into a globe, so of course, I made it look like the world. Now Rocky the Roadmen stands on top of the world.

And the final touch? I gave Rocky a little forward-lean as if he were braving a headwind, standing still but always ready to roll. It’s as if he's poised to take on the open road, no matter where it leads!

*Wood Base Blocks Sold Separately*

Exclusive to Club Members

This product is exclusively available to The Roadmen club members, as it serves as a badge of honor for those who share in the club’s values and commitment. Only members can purchase the hood ornament, as it represents a token of belonging within the worldwide community. To maintain this exclusivity, members will need to request a special access code from our chapter president. This can be done easily through a request button on our site, which will send an email directly to the president. Once the member has received their code, they can proceed with the purchase. By keeping the purchase restricted, the ornament is a rare and meaningful symbol of pride in our club.

Meet the Artist

My story starts in the fast lane of childhood, where I was revving up my days with Hot Wheels at every chance I got. I remember this sweet '34 five-window coupe I had—open engine, fenders, and all. It was baby blue with red, white, and yellow flames licking the sides. I even sketched that beauty and took it to the county fair, and guess what? It snagged a red ribbon. I still have that drawing.

My old man always had a junkyard full of beat-up cars scattered around the farm. I'd spend hours in those rust buckets, dreaming about fixing them up. Pops had this killer hood ornament of a Spanish explorer from his DeSoto dump truck. He'd slap that thing on every new Chevy he got, and over the years, it rode on four different rides. One day, he bought my brother a '39 Dodge coupe for busting his chops on the farm. Naturally, I asked if he'd do the same for me. And he did—hooked me up with a '47 Plymouth coupe. I tried tinkering with it in high school, but I didn't have a clue about building hot rods back then and ended up selling it off.

Life cruised on. I got hitched and had a rad son. It wasn't until the last decade that I got back into hot rods. Mom's estate gave me the green light to snag a derelict '29 Ford coupe, a dead ringer for the five-window I used to play with as a kid. As I started piecing this ride together, I wanted to pay homage to Pops' Spanish explorer hood ornament. I hit up a few car swap meets and found one, but it just didn't jive with the '29's vibe. So, being a 3D designer, I sculpted my own Spanish explorer head for the hood, but it still didn't sit right.

So I switched gears and sculpted something for myself, something Pops would dig. I created a female figure back-diving off the front of my radiator grill. I posted it on a few social media groups, and it blew up. Folks were clamoring to buy one. That back-dive gal sparked Big B Customs, and it just took off from there.

Fans and customers started asking for different sculpts—Rod the Rat series, Grease Monkey series, Slim series, and now the V8Girl. The journey's been a wild ride, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Design Process

I start by digitally sculpting each ornament, meticulously refining every detail until it embodies the essence of vintage car culture. Once I'm satisfied with the digital form, I bring it to life through professional 3D printing. From there, I meticulously sand each print up to a smooth 1200-grit finish, ensuring every curve and contour is flawless.

Next, the ornament makes its journey to my trusted foundry, where the real magic happens. Here, skilled craftsmen create a complex casting mold, capturing every nuance of the design. Molten metal is then carefully poured into the mold, giving birth to the metal version of the ornament.

Once the raw metal emerges from its mold, it undergoes a meticulous process to refine its finish. Any excess material is expertly removed, and the ornament is subjected to a series of polishing grits, each one bringing out its shine.

This dedication to craftsmanship ensures that each hood ornament not only captures the spirit of vintage car culture but also stands as a testament to the artistry and passion behind every piece.