OT: Rat Rods...what do you think?

Merlin in Rushford · Feb 2, 2011

Hello!
I hope everybody is staying warm today! We missed the major snow amounts, but it is cold and windy here today. I saw an article in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune in the Monday Buisness section on "Rat Rod Magazine". A father-and-son team are publishing a magazine devoted to Rat Rods. The lead photo features a 1950 IHC pickup that has been "rodded". My wife and I are the proud owners of two 1956 IHC trucks: an S-120 4x4 (un-restored) that we drive often, and an S-100 2wd that we are restoring (Cub Cadet Yellow & Cream). For me, the "jury is still out" on rat rods: I don't know if I like them or not. (By the way, I am NOT a member of the "correct police"!) What are your thoughts? Be safe out there today!
Merlin

ncpapaul · Feb 2, 2011

I love rat rods but only if built out of bodies that were rotten to begin with, not out of good restorable vehicles. Those guys can show a lot of creativity with low bucks. Bothers me to shame when trailer queens have more in a paint job than I have in a whole car or truck. Rat rods go back to the early days when all you could do was strip it down and soup it up. Paul

Jonak · Feb 2, 2011

My Thoughts?? Well,if it is mine and I done the work etc.and it is to my liking, the correct police can take a hike!!

You are doing a nice job, the truck looks really nice, Congrats!!

fixerupper · Feb 2, 2011

Looks like a fun project. Keep up the good work. Jim

Anonymous-0 · Feb 2, 2011

"A rat rod is simply a custom car that is made for driving and hanging out with friends. Rat rods aren't ultra glossy show cars. Instead a rat rod is a "unfinished" street rod that is intentionally left a bit rough around the edges".

I always thought the "Rat" part of the name referred to a souped up engine with lots of HP. Who's ever paying for it can build what they like. Dave

Clodbuster · Feb 2, 2011

I like them all! At least the rat rods usually drive around unlike the trailer queens.

ericlb · Feb 2, 2011

looks to me like the term rat rod is just a new term for what we used to drive, rods that were drivers but as youngsters we just never seemed to get them finished , a good paint job cost money we just didnt have

Mike M · Feb 2, 2011

I'm for for fixing them up ,but to how they were originally. Like your truck appears to be.

To me the sound of the old straight 6 and all the rough edges of the vechical or tractor for that matter are what gives them character.

If I want something with power disc brakes rack and pinion steering,fuel injection,power seats and all the goodies then I go get a "new" one that came with that stuff.

Dean · Feb 2, 2011

Though not a Rat Rod fan, I'm definitely a fan of the late 50s - mid 60s performance cars as well as many of the later "muscle cars."

Dean

larry@stinescorner · Feb 2, 2011

I think Buzzman will like seeing that when he gets home from work, if Iremember correctly he like Iternationals, Send a picture of the 4x4 if you can

Ky Hauler · Feb 2, 2011

They have a big old car/rat rod show in Louisville every September. Every thing up to 1949 and now some sixties are allowed. Hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of work.

Old Roy · Feb 2, 2011

Beauitiful truck there.

Now I would like the same cab and bed -- same colors on a dodge Dakota 4 wd V6 auto. frame, for a Cub Cadet hauler

Chuck (CA) · Feb 2, 2011

I'm with you, Dean.
From what I remember, the term "Rat Rod" was coined by Grey Baskerville from Hot Rod magazine about 15 years or so ago. They kind of "morphed' from the old school rods. I gotta admire some of the creativity, though.

Rick Kr · Feb 2, 2011

Anything older, stock, hot rodded, rat rodded, bigger engine, customized, blower, nitrous, turbo... I like.

My favorite is a nice fenderless roadster. With a big block chevy, 6-71, and nitrous for good measure. With Zoomies when I feel like wearing ear plugs, and sprint cars headers for more general cruising with my little co-pilots up to dairy queen. I've had this car longer than I have been married.

Janicholson · Feb 2, 2011

My first car turned into a rat rod when the body rusted through and the wheels and tires scraped the body. I used a cold chisel and 2 pound ball peen to sut the header over the windshield, removed the doors, and pushed the body off of the back bumper.
My next was similar treatment to a 1959 Triumph hearld station wagon.
Dangerous, loose, marginal, and way fun.
The essense is slapping together what can work if you don't care what it looks like.
If that definition works, I like it. If it is a made up artifact of specialty items designed to be rat rod like, with painted on rust and anti lock brakes, I am way not in favor. It gags me.
The owners probably didn't even turn a wrench. Jim

Anonymous-0 · Feb 2, 2011

To each their own,not a big fan of Rat Rods,but I have respect for any old car guy(or gal!).I'm more for the original look,have an all original 70 Chevelle LS-5 car.

Anonymous-0 · Feb 2, 2011

I like the rat rods better then the way most of the cars are "fixed up" today. Personally I don't like the lowriders, but that is just my opinion. I guess anybody can do whatever they like to their own vehicle. My favorite's are the muscle cars of the sixties, but I enjoy looking at all of 'em. Just look at some faster then others! I've got a '79 GMC 4x4 short box pickup that I hope to restore someday. Some people won't like what I do to it, some will love it and some will think it is just okay, but I am the one that should be the most happy with it.

big fred · Feb 2, 2011

I didn't think I liked the lowriders either, then I went to the Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona a few years back. They had one building dedicated to the lowriders. Man, some of those are sweet cars! Not something I'd want to have, but beautiful to look at, and some incredible engineering and fabrication.

jm. · Feb 2, 2011

I do not know about Rat rods but I sure know where you can sell that IH pickup when it is finished..Looks like a number one job..jm.

greenbeanman in Kansas · Feb 2, 2011

After reading the definition I guess that I do like rat rods.

I don't care for chopped tops, channeling, or low riders. I prefer something that is still pretty functional and looks nice. Perhaps what you would call refurbished. Fairly modern engine, body tweaks without heavy modifications, i.e. Frenching, shaving, etc. is just fine.

I don't care for bolt together rods nor ones where the owner didn't do much of the work themselves.

Anonymous-0 · Feb 2, 2011

I own a '52 International L-110 for my street rod project, and have a '51 L-110 that I plan to keep "parade stock" [visually original, but some functional upgrades]. Love the S100!

My opinion on "rat rods" ?? Well, if they're safe [properly fuctioning steering and brakes, for example], I don't see the harm in someone "prsonalizing" their car or truck to suit themself; after all, it's their money and their vehicle. I don't plan to go that route myself, but tastes vary.

Anonymous-0 · Feb 2, 2011

You're psychic, aren'tcha Larry?

Anonymous-0 · Feb 2, 2011

The NSRA Street Rod Nationals are the first weekend in August at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center in Louisville. In 2011 they'll be August 4th thru the 7th. The 2010 Nationals had over 10,000 cars/trucks in attendance.

So what event in September were you talking about? Okolona Street Rods have their own event?

OT: Rat Rods...what do you think?

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