Donruss Odd Rodders (often called Odd Rods) were a popular series of non-sports trading cards produced by Donruss starting in 1969, with their distinctive art featuring cartoon monsters driving wild custom hot rods. The cards became a sensation among kids, combining two strong pop culture trends of the era: monster art heavily inspired by Ed “Big Daddy” Roth’s Rat Fink designs, and the custom car craze.
Origins and Early Series
The first Odd Rods series debuted in 1969 and included 44 stickers, each showing a monster piloting a creatively designed car.
The art was created by B.K. Taylor, whose work reflected the unique combination of automotive enthusiasm and a cartoon sensibility.
The cards were sold with gum and targeted kids hanging out at corner stores and candy shops.
Subsequent Sets and Spin-Offs
Following the original set, Donruss issued Odder Odd Rods in 1970, expanding the lineup to 66 cards; this set was reissued in 1973 under the name "Fabulous Odd Rods".
Oddest Odd Rods followed soon after, bringing the series up to 132 cards by continuing the numbering.
Fantastic Odd Rods, released in 1973, added new designs with pink borders but reset the numbering, which caused some confusion among collectors.
Odd Rod All Stars (1971) gathered fan favorites from previous sets into one "best-of" collection of 66 stickers.
Thematic Spin-Offs
Donruss also released related sticker sets during the same era, such as Silly Cycles (monsters on motorcycles) and Fiends and Machines (cards with mix-and-match monsters and vehicles), expanding the formula’s appeal.
Legacy and Collectibility
Odd Rods cards are noted for their bold illustrations, humor, and direct numbering—especially the large numbers on the first series for easy identification.
They helped solidify non-sports trading cards as a hobby, and are still sought after by collectors, though finding them in excellent condition is rare.
The series’ spirit was later revived by Topps with its “Weird Wheels” line in 1980, but many fans regard Donruss Odd Rods as the definitive monster-car cards of the era.
Impact on Culture
Odd Rods have become a touchstone for vintage collectibles enthusiasts, reflecting the playful rebelliousness and artistic creativity of late-1960s and early-1970s youth culture.
The series remains an iconic example of the intersection between monster artwork and custom car fanaticism in trading card history.
In summary, Donruss Odd Rodders trading cards represent a classic fusion of monster cartooning and car culture, making a lasting mark on non-sports trading card collecting and pop art nostalgia.