When the name Rat Rod first came out, I really thought it was more intended as insulting...but later I came to like the title. Something about being human...we have the need to classify and catagorize just about anything we see.

I agree with the statements made, it is a fantastic "brotherhood" if you will (no offense to the ladies....just a term I know), these folks, like the lowrider scene, made it into a culture...they don't care if you are running four, six, eight or twelve cylinders...it can be flat head, overhard, cammed whatever, as long as you did it with your own two hands...and usually with the hands of many friends helping you.

Some do "look" dangerous, and some really are dangerous....but you get that in any automotive culture. I've seen some cars at the track you really wonder what they folks were thinking when they made it, but overall most are fun, and legal, to drive.

As for adding on stupid things that don't work or function as they should...well to me that is personalizing your ride...and that is what it is all about, making a personal statement. Yes, I've seen the adaptor to put two Stroms onto a four barrel manifold...sure it hurts performance, but the owner made a choice to go with what he likes, if he is concerned about getting every single horsepower out of that old Buick Nailhead, or Ford Y-Block, he would have made a more practical choice. But sometimes in this insanity (sorry...hobby ) we do, practicality isn't the right way to go...you want to make a statement, not be like the rest.

I like the idea of Rat Rod...and one day I hope to be able to get a buch of friends together, get an old barn find and just see what happens....sometimes the build can be more fun than the results.

Mike

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