Part II:

Let's look at Joe "store bought" for a moment. He's somewhere between 30 and 60 years of age, he's got a family, a kid or so at home, or maybe just left the nest. He's worked hard for a number of years, and progressed in his chosen field, might even own his own business and all the responsibilities that accompany that. He's knocking down pretty good coin now. When he was a young, less affluent stud, he used to scrounge used parts to keep his heap going, so he's not unfamiliar with the junk yard scene. But now he's in a position in life where he feels in control of things to a degree where he can indulge his fantasies. Being reasonably intelligent, he knows the lace stocking fantasies could cost him more than he's willing to risk, so he chooses the (as he believes) safer distraction of that hot rod he's dreamt about for oh so many years. He takes a rational look at how much time and effort he can dedicate to this re-emerging hot rod interest and realizes that he has far more on his plate than he did when he last "played with cars". What does he do? He looks at the value of his time, and the way he has to allocate that precious commodity (a funny thing happens as you mature, you realize you have less time left, and therefore value the remainder more highly). Does he spend time scrounging the yards, or ebay, or the local swap meets, only to buy used parts that have some unknown remaining life span, and will require more time to clean up, refurbish, and then modify to fit the unintended application? Or does he exchange his money, which he earned doing what he does best, for the products supplied by someone else who does that best (that's called an economy)? And, in doing so, he saves some of that valuable commodity called time. By extension, even if Joe has the willingness, skill and time to build his own, his buddy Sam, who has a similar interest, is so deeply involved in the rest of his life that a more rational choice for him is to have a pro build the car for him. He can do this because he is very skilled at his "day job" and can earn enough money that he can afford to pay someone else. Oh HORRORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get over it!! There are some people who have EARNED a lot of money by making sacrifices others are unwilling to make, but still have the passion, just not the time, to play with building rods. If you allow yourself to be manipulated by envy, give it up, you'll be better for it. As long as these guys are not just plain jerks in life, I don't care how they enter the hobby. Jump in the pool, the rodding's fine!

At the other end of the spectrum we have the "low buck" guy who doesn't earn enough, or chooses not, to afford the pro builder, or the pre-engineered and prefabbed parts. What he does have is time that he can exchange that allows him to mess with recycled parts. He might even be the retired guy who once bought pro parts, but now has earned the recreational time to "revert" as it were. Maybe it's his way of maintaining a healthy psyche. He gains great pleasure, relaxation even, from the refurbishing process. Or maybe it's the challenge of "the hunt" that floats his boat. He can play too.

A few of these people are extremely talented. They have the inate ability, or the acquired skill, to create art from others cast offs. While I deeply admire these folks, I also realize they are an extreme exception within the ranks of hot rod lovers. They are a rare cat!! They seem more prevalent because many share that admiration, so they garner a lion's share of the attention, but within the overall ranks of hot rodding, they are unique.

Then we have the do-it-yourselfer who takes wholly incompatible components and assembles a "car". It would be easy to discredit them at this point, but I'd rather put it in context. As an example, they will use a donor frame, say from a small pickup. They'll adapt it in some way to an older body, and then drop in some cast off drive train. Creative they are, artistic they often are not. Are they hot rodders? Maybe. Just because you can bring together a mixed bag of parts and have it move down the road doesn't mean it's a hot rod. But likewise, just because it doesn't look like a '32 highboy, doesn't mean it's not a rod. What it might be is a training tool for a future product that will indeed be a rod. Or it might be some awful mistake that sends the builder a message to pursue some other hobby.

My biggest rant is with the people who seem to imply that if a self professed rodder doesn't "do everything himself" he is an illegitimate rodder. Well, by that criteria, nobody is a rodder!! If you don't mine the iron ore for the drive train and body panels, don't process it through a steel and/or iron mill you built with your own hands, raise your own naugas and tanned their hides, made your own thread, welding wire, welder, compressor, etc., drilled your own oil well, refined the crude into lube oil and gasoline, then, buddy, you ain't no rodder. Or you can wake up to the reality that we ALL buy something from someone who is an expert at what they do in order to put together the car we desire, it's just a matter of degree as to how much we employ those experts in our project. So shed the attitude!!

Hot rodding has evolved. Like it or not, it has taken on the trappings of an art form. Modern hot rodding pays homage to the best of the "good old days" while folding in the elements reflecting our progression in things automotive. Rat rods not withstanding, they're somewhat of a counter culture statement, most of rodding is about paying tribute to innovation and art in an automotive theme. The tuners probably feel the same way about their approach. So maybe they are a younger, yet kindred spirit. It's just that they don't like our kind of music, or our style of car, or let's say they might have to stretch some to have some level of appreciation for it. And the feeling is mutual.

Now, where's that bag of dried prunes!