Yes, Tom is still alive and recently moved to souther Utah.
http://www.tomdaniel.com/
I built a bunch of these in my teens and there are several I would like to get again but even lousy built kits go for way to much on ebay. Keep hoping they will get rereleased. Still want the Rommel's Rod, Dragon Wagon and Tijuana Taxi.
He has released several of his cars in diecast in 1/43rd and 1/16th.