I know that a lot of guys are highly critical of them, but I guess that is why trailers are around. Build what you like, and take it on trips, even if it is a truely "HOT" rod. Of course there is the added expense of a truck and trailer...

I am a dinosaur, so I believe that a hot rod's first duty is to have exciting perfomance. A dual duty car would be nice if you don't have the room in your life for two cars. If you went with a torquey motor about 400 inches, then built it for low end, so you could run a tall gear, I would think fair mileage would be doable? Also, an automatic might help multiply that torque.

Just a few thoughts.