Mike, Donsrods and Bob,

As I read through your posts, I see quite a few different parameters that you each use to define a "rat".

Era, patina, mechanical correctness, safety issues or mechanical soundness, unusual components, unorthadox styling, the attitude of the builder, and others.

It would seem to me that a rat rod would actually be defined by those items that affect the appearance. Otherwise, a boyd Coddington car with a bald tire, a high-end custom owned by a millionaire with an ego problem, the "skull car" '34 coupe seen on this sight, and any other typical hot rod, with a bad weld, an incorrect driveshaft angle, or an unsafe wire connection, are all rat rods.

I would ask if you would all agree that the flat finishes, patina, intentionally incomplete cosmetics, unusually extreme styling, non automotive components (blankets, road signs, tuna cans, etc.)and unusual vintage parts, used in combination, would loosely fit everybody's "rat" criteria?

If so, then generally we could agree on a broad definition of what fits into the rat rod genre.

In a nutshell....a rat rod looks like a hot rod built by vagrants, transients, and homeless persons! :-)~...........at least that's my impression.

P.S. Those who take offense to this, probably see the rat rod as some sort of anti-establishment statement anyway, and built theirs just so they could irritate onlookers, and prove they are a true rebel, by getting "in their face"! :-)