rat rods

around here seems lots of people are pulling a car out of the farmers field, slapping some black primer on it and calling it a rat rod. i think this is the furthest thing from it. more like rat nest.

Rats are a source of satisfaction for many of us that want to enjoy hotrodding at its true roots. It started with a snot-nosed kid that wanted his ride to be faster and cooler than the others while on a budget. I enjoy the rides that truly are pieced together by the thrifty builder!

I'm personally building a '23 t-bucket that will use a found / scavanged parts. It will be sitting on a '94 Ranger chasis and have a 429 BB to move it down the road, hopefully only on the rear wheels

Rat rods are a back to the basic's type of rod that is what started rodding some kids scrounged up an old junker and made it fast using any parts from any car that is why they had cadillac motors and mercury trans.They didn't have money for seat covers so he used and old mexican blanket. I think their great! but their really UGLY!! LOL

Originally Posted by ratrod1923

I'm personally building a '23 t-bucket that will use a found / scavanged parts. It will be sitting on a '94 Ranger chasis and have a 429 BB to move it down the road, hopefully only on the rear wheels

Sounds cool! Just build it with safety in mind, ok?.. I've seen too many folks drag the remains of a '40s pickup cab out of a swamp, slap it on the rear of an S-10 or other easily obtainable bone yard frame, bolt the (whatever) motor solidly to the frame, set up the suspension with hardware store grade bolts, forget about having a full floor, sit with the driveshaft out in the open next to them, twist a bunch of wires together for a harness, run 2 wheel rear brakes and consider such an unfinished (and unsafe) POS a Hot Rod.

At first I liked the Rat Rod scene, building what you can scrounge into a rod, but too many idiots building unsafe junk as I described about...plus the Rat Rod Kulture crap pretty much gave me a bad taste along with a TON of others. Trad rods, whether finished or not are great! But I don't want to share the roads with junkers pieced together with baling wire.

Jan

Like the cars, hate the term. Understand it's origin, but now every rusted POS part on eBay has the "rat rod" keyword on it. I supposed its as good a term as any for a hand built rod thats built with found stuff rather than billet. Maybe "fink rod" would be a better tribute to The Rat.

I don't like the term, but I do like the concept. My brother has pickup built basically like a T bucket. The '40 International cab has many holes in it and most likely would have ended up at the crusher. The '38 Ford pickup grille is rusty and bent and not worth restoring. Put together safely and with the right attitude, it makes great use of junk. We're more into the traditional hot rod look, but his pickup was cheap and easy to build. It takes all kinds in hotrodding. I'm not big on lowriders, tuners, or trailer queens, but they all help the aftermarket expand and that makes more parts available to me. The only thing I hate to see is good rod material that the rat rodders hack up and turn into junk. There's already plenty of junk without creating more.

I think the rat rod idea is getting back to the roots of hot roding . It is nice to see the guys put more into the build it your self , get as much go for as little coin as possible . I don't like the new ricer with carbon fiber hood and super stereo with shinny paint and call it a rot rod . Any body can buy a fast car you just need deep pockets . When you start building the cars is when we find what you know. I have a friend that can't change a tire but he has a 9.00 second show car and a ton of money.

Originally Posted by ckelly

Like the cars, hate the term. Understand it's origin, but now every rusted POS part on eBay has the "rat rod" keyword on it. I supposed its as good a term as any for a hand built rod thats built with found stuff rather than billet. Maybe "fink rod" would be a better tribute to The Rat.

I was almost able to applaud the "rat rod" crowd, but it seems they took a left turn somewhere. I have no problem with using found parts, what turned me off from the whole scene is the reverse attitude. So many rat rodders spend more time complaining about everyone else, instead of getting on with the business of doing their thing.

The last time I gave any real attention to rat rods, I read an article where they were complaining cause they weren't welcome at street rod show, then later on in the article there was an account about how they did a drive-by; doing everything they could to disrupt the show ... out of revenge?

Huummm ... I wonder why they weren't welcome.

Way I figure it a rod, even back in the day - was an evolving process. Just because you started out with junk, doesn't mean its finished once you and start it up and sputter down the street. The term "jalopy" is not synonymous with Hot Rod - at least not in my book. I really prefer seeing a "finished" rod, I also like to see a project that is in process, a POS that a guy is working on is a joy to behold. Watching the dedication it takes as he smooths off the rough edges, building the car that only he has the vision to make personalizing it to his specifications.

I just don't get the idea of blaming someone who wants to finish his dream (whether he has it professionally upholstered, pro painted or did it with a roller and latex paint). Part of being part of a hobby is accepting that not everyone sees things the way you do. I prefer a car that is less flashy, but packs maximum motor and bullet proof running gear. But I can also enjoy looking at the high dollar dream car that is so far out there the it is barely street legal. They don't have to meet my standards, 'cause they were never meant to be driven everyday. I have seen a few cars that were rust buckets, usually driven by kids that don't have access to a lot of money, what makes it work, in my mind - is the kid washes, waxes and works on that car every spare moment he has, in his mind its the greatest car in the world.

Car clubs have always had rules and requirements - I'm not a low rider, but I know a few guys that are...you don't just drive up and take a seat, you are invited to join. And they expect to see some progress on the car over time. The guys will come over and help you get your car up to the club standards and if you don't keep it up to the standards, you may just as easily be asked to leave.

So, if your only reason for joining a club or a movement is to thumb your nose at other clubs, great - just don't expect to be welcomed with open arms.

When I look at rat rods at a show I always keep my distance. For some strange reason I expect a large rat to run out of one at any moment.

I Dig anything that has an engine! Years ago a friend of mine had a gas powered washing machine it had a kick start, it was cool!

Yes to RatRods, gassers, 4X4s Lowriders, prostreet, Protouring, Jap junk,
restorations, racecars, motorcycles, gas powered skate boards and lawnmowers. If it runs on gas, diesel, alcohol, propane, steam or what ever...I like it. Even Chevrolets (not really)

I've even found myself checking out streetsweepers and garbage trucks,
Its a sickness, I'm in denial.