Tom was born in Los Angeles in 1936. Eighteen years later, obsessed with the drawings of futuristic vehicles he’d seen on a high school field trip to the Art Center School of Los Angeles, he applied and was accepted to the school based solely on his high school portfolio (without the prerequisite two years of drafting experience usually required). At the Art Center he spent four years of intense study and no-nonsense, 5-days-a-week labor. Learning color theory, perspective theory, drawing, drafting, architectural rendering, clay modeling, illustration, painting, indication work, landscape painting, automotive design, product design, packaging and Saturday classes stressing technical aspects of design and art history.
In 1959, General Motors called, offering Tom Daniel his dream job. Off to Michigan the artist flew, to work in the “Advanced Transportation Studio" led by General Motors. There, Daniel designed the production hood for the 1961 through 1966 Chevrolet and GMC light and heavy truck bodies.
He also completed design studies for commuter trains and heavy switching locomotives for the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors. In between drafting and designing, Tom and his artist friends would often go out exploring, taking their watercolors with them to make art in the areas surrounding the steel plants of Michigan, gaining a strong appreciation for the possibilities for industrial fine art.
Tom's design and illustration work caught the eye of the founders of Monogram Models located in Morton Grove, Illinois. Then, from 1967 through 1975, Tom designed over 75 plastic model kit designs that Monogram manufactured, many of which enjoyed multi-million unit sales. Tom's second model kit design - the Red Baron - became the all-time highest selling plastic vehicle model kit, and the Mattel 'Hot Wheel' version of Tom's design is the 2nd alltime best selling Hot Wheel.
Tom also worked with his longtime friend - the late Gary Gabelich - former holder of the World Land Speed Record of 622.407 MPH- set at the famed "BONNEVILLE SALT FLATS" near Wendover, Utah, on October 23, 1970. Gary's LSR record stood for 13 years.
