I thought that for these rat rods, "raggedy" was the point of it all. :-) As long as every part on the car is bare metal, dark colors, and flat or semigloss paint, and you have no polish or chrome, that is going to be the result.

Black is the "real test" of a painter! Whoever is doing it had better be experienced in exacting high-end work, or you will not be satisfied.