Slick 60's

I like to surf EvilBay, and it seems like ratrod is one overused term!
if some body wants to pull a ford cab out of the trees, stick it on a studebaker frame,scab on a chrysler motor,and bolt on some lights from an old tractor,....i have no problem with it.
but it seems like they want to start with something halfway nice, paint it flat black, chop here, chop there.....
I hate to step on somebodys toes, but thats my opinion

whats yours

lots of cool for almost no money. no matter what parts are used. that's my definition of rat rod. if you got more than two grand in a slammed, chopped, sectioned, death trap, then it's not a rat.

Let me make an analogy. When I was pulling wrenches for John Deere, I worked like a mule. Crawling in and out of combines, I went through boots like crazy. Toes wore out, everybody knows this. When I went out on the town, work boots got tossed and threw something a little more respectable on my feet. Then I seen that the style was a to BUY boots with the toes already wore out. How retarded was that. Point I am trying to make is that there will always be somebody out there who is trying to copy a look. I never knew what a trend setter I was

As far as ratrods go, I think it is a cool thing but it is unreal how far people will go to make something look bad and cover up the perfection underneath.

Ultimate oxymoron - ratrod trailer queen

There's my for ya Pat!

To me, this is the ultimate rat rod

For Fords, they ONLY come with a flathead V8.

For Chev's they can look like this
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn38 ... S08035.jpg

Johnny Canuck wrote:To me, this is the ultimate rat rod

For Fords, they ONLY come with a flathead V8.

For Chev's they can look like this
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn38 ... S08035.jpg

i'd define this one as a hotrod not a rat. just my

For me, the difining line is the expensive paint job.
this would be a hot rod

To me, the line between rat rod and hot rod gets more blurred every time you turn around. For instance, I ran across this Slick up in Marshal Minnesota about a month ago. It's been cut, it had mexican blankets covering the seat and it had flat paint. It followed some of the trends of rat, but i really didn't consider it ratted out.

Rat rod is a generic term like stepside.....

There is no excuse for slapping something together from useless junk that is un safe while parked let alone when in motion.

Rat rod was coined to describe those rolling wrecks. not rods with fake patina.....

Jimmie Shines truck is in no way or form a rat rod...

Garbz

BMJ's 65 wrote:To me, the line between rat rod and hot rod gets more blurred every time you turn around. For instance, I ran across this Slick up in Marshal Minnesota about a month ago. It's been cut, it had mexican blankets covering the seat and it had flat paint. It followed some of the trends of rat, but i really didn't consider it ratted out.

That thing is COOLacious
How much did he want for it?


for the things you describe as "rat rods" Garbz there is another word in my vocabulary. POS

My buddy just built a 48 F-1 rat rod,and for the time and money he could have somthing he coiuld get his money back out of and be comfortable in while driving it.It is also damed ugly!!!!! He had a gorgeouse 54 yellow, flamed, Ford f-100 before.Said he was tired of waxing and worrying about someone scratching it. But I guess it is to each his own. Not everyone likes Pro ST. either. Merle

anybody can take an old beat up pos and cover it in flat black primer and call it a ratrod. doent make it anything worthwhile, just a flat black pos.

on the other hand flat black is cheap, maybe a ratrod towtruck?

[albumimg]3734[/albumimg]

Yeah to me a rat rod is something you "make" work because thats all you have not something you go and try to make it look like you pieced it together. My truck has an Indian blanket on the seat but I dont consider it a Rat Rod. Its lowered with a rake and has a 390. To me my truck is a Hot Rod. Its loud sounding, has a somehwat loud color and its old...Hot Rod. I dont have much money and the work that I do is in the driveway but I dont consider it a Rat Rod. I like rat rods if its traditional but flat black doesnt make anything a rat rod. Then again everyone has different taste and likes which then in turn makes certain lifestyles for some. So whatever....as long as you dont put 20" spinner rims on it Im cool with it.

Jimmie Shines truck is a true workmanship of patience and dedication. Thats not a rat....I dont even think there are many true rats out there now and if there are someone bought it and is putting money into to make it look even more "rattier"....

I like the rust and I like the beautiful flake paint but just keep the spinners AWAY!!!

I agree, the term "Rat Rod" is way overused, even abused. Same goes with "Survivor", although that seems to be not used quite as often these days.
To me, a rat rod is definitely some nasty looking rusty bucket-o-bolts that looks like it wouldn't run under it's own power...the bottom of the automotive food chain. The next step up is just a beater, then the vehicles progressively get better from there.

BMJ's 65 wrote:To me, the line between rat rod and hot rod gets more blurred every time you turn around. For instance, I ran across this Slick up in Marshal Minnesota about a month ago. It's been cut, it had mexican blankets covering the seat and it had flat paint. It followed some of the trends of rat, but i really didn't consider it ratted out.

That thing is just TOO cool! Do you have any more pics of it? Looks like it's about the same as a Bronco wheel base.

I like the concept of ratrods if done with good taste.

I agree with you Pat! and Chris,The term survivor is a new one to Me, but I like what it describes, and Cam has the perfect example of that!
Alan,

JC, I don't remember what he wanted for it and I'd hate to mis-quote his price. I know it was high enough that I chuckled as I walked away. I took the pics on my cell phone and had a couple more at the time but have since erased them. I ran across it while I was up there helping move my brother back to Lincoln.

I think opinions vary quite a bit on this subject, to say the least
sorry JC but i dont think a paint job is the deciding factor for me
suede rod? never heard that one before.
greg i dont consider your truck a rat whatsoever
maybe a Rattle Can Rod?

30 years ago in a Hot Rod Magazine I was reading they designated a Rat rod as a hopped up hot rod with a big Rat engine in it. now they paint it hot rod black and put it in the local sales ad and call it a Rat rod just to get people to look becausse it has become such a trend. Rat motors ( I cal lthem Engines) were known as Big block chevys as small blocks were known as mouse motors. the entire Rat rod theme has been blown way out of proportion. What people do not understand unless they are following the new trend is Traditional Built hot rods from a specific Era, say a T bucket that was built in the late 40's would have certain items only done in the late 1940s or a specific engine was very popular in the late 1950's and many many many confuse these cars to be " Rat Rod" I remember Bodyworx and I joking around on ol skool rodz about a late 70s chevy half ton pickup painted flat black and for sale as a Rat rod rofl

I'm sick of hearing the term, half the time which it is applied to something that isn't even a rat rod.

It's a fad. Yes, back in the 50s rat rods were a legitimate thing. They faded away for the most part. Then someone thought it would be wonderful to bring this niche back and it caught on full force because it gave lots of guys an excuse to have a 'rod' without actually having to make it look decent.
A true rat rod can be a thing of beauty. 90% of them, however, look like ass to me.