Rat Rod is a Rat Rod?

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Originally Posted by Flipper_1938

I have tried to muddy the waters a bit while building mine. It is a home-built hot rod that used a field-fresh, rusty body (no fake rust here!). Even though it is a ratty body and is built with recycled parts, I am trying to make it look like the build was planned.

My dad calls it a rusty street rod instead of a rat rod.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...8/HPIM0170.jpg

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I agree with your dad. A street rod is a street rod. I think of rat rod and I think of a period incorrect fenderless paintless (no professionally sprayed flat or matte paint/primer does NOT count as paintless or make it a rat) and running with a BIG BLOCK. otherwise I make fun of it by calling it a mouse rod .. if you dont get that poor excuse for a joke then you should do some research.

Anyways. If it isnt bare bones stripped down if it can go without it cut it off, go fast, to hell with stopping, if you dont work out you'll regret it when you try to drive this metal 'thing', it probably isnt a rat rod.

There are too many defenitions of rat rod so i just call my 38 chevy "the 38 special" and leave out any references to it being a rat, hot, or any other type of rod. It is Fast. Thats all that matters.

But if you want to call it a rat rod thats fine by me. :)

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Originally Posted by Steves32

I hate the term 'Rat Rod". They are hot rods.
However, I don't care for the ones that look like a death trap. We didn't build them like that back in the day. This is something entirely different.

However- the big dollar builds to resemble a "Rat Rod"- I'm kinda on the fence with them.
Until I saw Todd Varble's 37. What's not to like?

http://streetrodderweb.com/features/...ord_coupe+.jpg

Would I call it a Rat Rod? Probably not. But I guarantee you I would make room in the garage for it- right next to my shiny 32.

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I like this car just because they made the owner park it outside with the cars people 'slapped' together in their garages until they realized this car cost more to build than most the judges lives are worth.. aka the car has a great story behind it. I call it a sleeper though. its mechanically PERFECT and is aesthetically sabotaged for the exact reason of being a sleeper.

things are the way they are and theres nothing people can do say or anyhting else that will change it , and i know this from experience

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Originally Posted by Ken Thurm

Some of you have watched me build my truck, how would you classify it, rat rod street rod or what?
Ken

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An exquisite machine......in progress! :)

Dave G

I don't care what people call it. It's only a name and I call it my truck. I didn't build it to please other people, only myself. If other people don't like it that's fine we all have different tastes. If everyone liked the same type of vehicle it'd get pretty boring.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/h...0truck/034.jpg

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/h...uck/002-25.jpg

I never thought of the term "rat rod" as a negative. I think it started in the bike hobby, where the term "rat bike" was in use, long before I ever heard it used for cars....but the build style is the same: weathered finish...vintage parts...and minimalistic. :-)

Once the term surfaced in cars, I think the problem was that the younger guys who liked the style seemed to take the name as a criticism or judgement.

Some of the boys in our family (who I love very much) are always looking for someone to insult them so they can make an issue of it. It's a social issue that seems to have gotten worse since another term, "dis" or "disrespect", became popular. I find that if you look for something long enough, you will even find it where it doesn't exist. I believe that "rat rod" is taken as an insult much more often than it is ever meant that way. Too bad. If a guy is really selfconfident, he doesn't even give too much value to others opinions, so it never gets to the point of angering him.

I personally like the term, as it is a funny way of describing the deteriorated or worn look of the car. I also like the imagination I see in them, as the enthusiasts who have long term involvement tend to become more "generic" in their building style.

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Originally Posted by dmw56

I don't care what people call it. It's only a name and I call it my truck. I didn't build it to please other people, only myself. If other people don't like it that's fine we all have different tastes. If everyone liked the same type of vehicle it'd get pretty boring.

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/h...0truck/034.jpg

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/h...uck/002-25.jpg

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agreed ,, i built mine cause it was what i wanted,, if can appreciate your ride why cant ya do the same, my taste is very cultured toward all kinds of cars, i have built a 75,000.00 69 mustang, it wasnt no where near as much fun to build the 46 ford i am doing now,,i use to work for harley davidson, i quit because, i had become not to like people who rode them,, i built cars , i stopped working for the public for the same reson, but now i am happy, cause i do what i want,, and it doesnt matter if someone likes it or , cuz i do! but i can like anything that someone puts their heart into.. not just their money!!