About
At 15, Larry Wood’s life changed forever when he laid his eyes on HOT ROD magazine. His dad, a college football coach, confiscated it from a player during practice who was checking out cars instead of participating in drills. Larry read every page, every word, and credits it for launching his lifelong passion and love affair with all things automotive. Sitting by the road of his hometown in Connecticut, he would watch the 1950’s cars drive, with their fins, colors, curves. This is when he decided he wanted to design and build cool cars.
Larry bought his first car, a 1930 Model A, for $25. He was too young to get a license so he kept it hidden from his folks. He flew around the dirt backroads of Connecticut until his dad found out and made him sell the Model A. With his profit of $25 from the sale, he built his first engine, a Ford flathead, in a back shed on a dirt floor. Using a ’34 frame, wire for the gas pedal, and a wood box for the seat, he was learning how to hot rod. He then bought a ’36 Ford and installed that Flathead, and later, put in a Chrysler Hemi with 6 carbs and drove it all over. His hot-rodding roots were established.
After high school, he worked briefly for Pratt & Whitney as a sheet metal apprentice. He decided to pursue a degree in Transportation Design and was accepted into the prestigious Art Center College in Southern California. The SoCal car culture greatly influenced him. Upon graduation, he was hired by Ford Motor Company. At Ford’s Design Center in Dearborn, MI, he met his wife, Shirley. She says “he used to roll pennies down the hallway into my office” and remembers “his work reviews were excellent” but notes they also included notes from supervisors who noted Larry “complain about the weather too much.” To that note, back to sunny California the newlyweds went.
Larry worked for Lockheed on the L1011 interior and graphics before hearing about a job opening at Mattel Toys. His good friend, Howard Rees, was the current designer of a new brand called Hot Wheels. Rees wanted to work on other Mattel brands and he encouraged Larry to apply for the Hot Wheels job opening. Larry started his career as the Hot Wheels designer in 1969. No one knew at that time that Hot Wheels would become an enduring and iconic brand producing over 10 million cars a week.
Wood is proud of his 50 years as Senior Designer and consultant for Hot Wheels at Mattel Toys. Affectionately known as Mr. Hot Wheels and the Godfather of Hot Wheels, he is considered to be the most prolific car designer in automotive history. His designs have inspired generations of car enthusiasts of all ages. Among the thousands of designs created by Mr. Wood, Hot Wheels collector favorites include the BONESHAKER, PURPLE PASSION and TRI-BABY. He also worked with Carroll Shelby, Jay Leno and George Barris on Hot Wheels Collector Sets
In addition to Ford and Mattel, Mr. Wood’s career includes working with:
• The ZZ Top Eliminator Coupe
• Carroll Shelby of Shelby International on the 2010 Mustang GT 350
• General Motors, Chrysler, Honda, Lockheed and others
• Toyota Motor Company – the Baja 500 winning truck for Ivan Stewart and the Lexus Roadster show car
• Robosaurus - the car-eating monster that was on tour for years
• Promotions Inc., - the Pac-Man car, Mork and Mindy Egg car, and Mafia Mixer show car
Larry is humbled and honored by his 2023 Induction into the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, Michigan. Mr. Wood joins renowned icons in the automotive industry, including Henry Ford, Carroll Shelby, Mario Andretti, Enzo Ferrari, Roger Penske, Ferruccio Lamborghini, to name a few, in recognition of his decades of designing and building extraordinary cars.
Wood, a well-known figure in the hot rod and automotive industries, has been featured in numerous publications, magazines, social media channels and television shows. In addition to his Automotive Hall of Fame honor, he previously was inducted into the Hot Wheels Hall of Fame in 2003, the Die Cast Hall of Fame in 2009 and West Coast Kustoms Hall of Fame in 2019.
Larry has owned motorcycles and hot rods every day of his life, since 1959. He can be found at his shop daily working on multiple cars and motorcycles. Current projects include a 1931 Ford Coupe as well as a 1953 Jaguar resto-mod father-son project. In addition, Larry and his daughter are restoring a 1934 Ford Victoria Deluxe, a barn find, untouched for over 40 years. His collection includes a 1913 Harley-Davidson, a ’32 Nash Ambassador, and a ’51 Ford Woodie.
Larry Wood Design formally launched in 2023. His new company allows him to continue his passion to create and design exquisitely detailed original works of automotive art.
From the dirt roads of Connecticut, to the sunset rides of Southern California, and into the Automotive Hall of Fame in Michigan, we invite you to join us as we Design the Drive.
