I am finally learning to ignore people who say "street rod is a bad word". "If you use a smallblock chevy, it's not a true vintage hot rod". "Don't call my primered, rusty, unupholstered, dirty, shoddy car a rat rod"! "Nothing made after 1964 is worth building, owning, or being called a hot rod". Older guys just want to build those shiney well-designed and well-built cars, so they aren't real hot rodders". Etc., etc., etc.

My impression is that most of the folks that sing this tune are relative newcomers to the hobby....or they can't afford a nice build yet. They usually weren't involved in the '50s...'60s...'70s...'80s....or maybe even the '90s.... but they have all of the answers. They are not bashful about telling all of us that the craftsmanship, advances in design, time proven pieces, favorite cars and parts, or the eras and activities we enjoyed are not valid!

They base all of this expertise on the fact that they have worked on cars for 5 years, have a tattoo, and listen to rockabilly!

Don't let it bother you. It's like a mosquito...it will be gone with the first freeze.