- Thread starter Duner Wi
- Start date
Mike in Mn.
Member
I think there are hundreds of answers to that question. I just love stuff built from salvaged parts as long as the workmanship is quality. Did you see the rat rod in Hot Rod Mag. last fall with the case tractor grill? Sweet!
Mark - IN.
Well-known Member
Beats me. I've seen old vehicles, Studebakers, IH 2-ton trucks from the '50's or '60's and stuff that say stuff like "...would make a great rat rod", and I figure they mean hot rod, with or without a BB-Chevy (rat motor). Think of it in the same terms as rap music. All foreign to me.
Mark
Mark
Tyler Jackson
Member
I would consider a rat rod something that has a custom grill like a tractor grill and rides real low with a really shiny engine and rough original body that the person just threw together on the weekends. It's a poor mans drag car. I think they're pretty neat personally especially with all the small details that you would have to search the thing over to see. A hot rod is what I would consider to be a new shiny everything suped up to personal preference. My ride in the pic I would consider a resto mod because it's restored to original but has some custom touches to it. Just my ideas
I would say an old car / truck form the 40'S to the 60'S maybe slightly chopped and bull nosed would be considered a "rat rod" and painted as origional that era other than maybe flames as was on the older Mercury--- in my opinion.
anything more like fancy paint jobs, heavy customizations would be a hot rod
Lets add another one. the fender less "street rods" and all the shiny stuff you could put on them of the 30's and 40's
the newer ones are called street machines.
Like I said my opinion! Wikipedia don't agree with me either .
.
But in our time we wanted it to look as good as possible.
anything more like fancy paint jobs, heavy customizations would be a hot rod
Lets add another one. the fender less "street rods" and all the shiny stuff you could put on them of the 30's and 40's
the newer ones are called street machines.
Like I said my opinion! Wikipedia don't agree with me either .
.
But in our time we wanted it to look as good as possible.
1941FarmallAboy
Member
YA WANNA KNOW!
TAKE A LOOK!
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=214553&highlight=definition+of+rat+rod
Most of the time its a POS! You can see I"m one of them traditional hot rod guys
TAKE A LOOK!
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=214553&highlight=definition+of+rat+rod
Most of the time its a POS! You can see I"m one of them traditional hot rod guys
Would these be considered Rat Rods? Notice the custom mailbox air intake, complete with Busch Beer can inside. Also take a look at the detail to the engine. There are a few of these type of vehicle that I've seen in Central Nebraska. I'll see if I can find some more of the pictures that I've taken.
Uncle Ernice
Member
The rod you shove up a rats arse to roast it on?
Fordfarmer
Well-known Member
I always figured it meant it had a big block Chevy... so I never got interested. I'm more into '60's-'70's muscle cars, (mainly Mustangs) whether original, restored, or restomoded.
Clodbuster
Member
A rat rod must be wearing its original faded paint or surface rust in my opinion. Like many things, you just have to know it when you see it, and there are many pairs of eyes!
Clodbuster
Member
2nd try
i think it came about some years ago due to the trend of hot rods being overbuilt, over budget, and over finished, ie, sema type cars, the average joe couldnt compete with that and most felt these cars kind of left the general idea of hot rodding, as originaly it meant to improve the performance, looks handeling of what you had to drive, back in the begining these cars were typicly fords and chevys from the 30's as right after wwll these cars were used up and worn down and could be had very cheap , add in the flathead v-8 and some performance pioneers in the sport and you had a missle on wheels for the time, gi's fresh out of high horsepower fighter planes wanted to move, and moms hudson wasn't going to get it done , now when you look at a rat rod and know where it all started, low and behold, the original concept of a hot rod is alive and well,
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Yeah, I was gonna send them there too.
Rat rod = Junk on wheels, and no, a bbc has nothing to do with it.
Top photo :
Mail box air cleaner makes it a rat in my eyes.
#93 looks traditional too me.
Chev pu in suede: I have to say rat even tho I wish it was traditional. I would not walk up to the owner/builder and say nice rat for fear of getting punched in the nose.
Crossly: I would ask the owner what he calls it. What ever it is I love that sort of stuff.
34 Ford. Rat only because of wrong tires and wheels. Could go either way.
Mail box air cleaner makes it a rat in my eyes.
#93 looks traditional too me.
Chev pu in suede: I have to say rat even tho I wish it was traditional. I would not walk up to the owner/builder and say nice rat for fear of getting punched in the nose.
Crossly: I would ask the owner what he calls it. What ever it is I love that sort of stuff.
34 Ford. Rat only because of wrong tires and wheels. Could go either way.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
I always thought a "rat rod" was a vehicle that was put together with parts from other vehicles. By that I mean they were built out of what ever you had laying around. Maybe a frame off a 37 Ford and a Buick engine with a Chevy rearend. Steering column out of a 69 International truck. Radiator and shroud off a JD combine. Heck, we've got all that stuff, maybe I will get busy and build one!! Wonder of I should use the seat out of the junked IH 1066?
1941FarmallAboy
Member
YAY im not alone! Maybe we need to post this link on the H.A.M.B
Its like when ya see a 16 year old kid buying a 4 door Nash or Rambler that he is going to make a HOT ROD LMFAO, KID, NASH nor Ramblers was never HotRods wont ever be and there not cool, Back in the day ALL HOT RODS WAS FORDs and SOME Chevys.
Flat Black or any other Flat color does not make it a RatRod.
Buddy of mine has a 39 ford truck he has been driving for 17+ years Every day, FlatBlack and flames, SBC 350, Its a working truck that he pulls trailers with, THATS what we call a "BEATER"
Tractor Grilles, Beer Cans Fuel tank in the bed of the truck, When have to look threw a 3 4 inch windshield, Skulls, SpiderWebs, RAT ROD
Rat Rod is like painting a Farmall Tractor JD Green
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Ya go by the same handle on the H.A.M.B ?
1941FarmallAboy
Member
NOPE!! HotRodTruck is my name there!
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
I'll keep an eye out for ya. I haven't been there too long, handle is Drunk Man.
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