whats your definition of a "ratrod"

[vegadesign]

iv noticed alot of debates on the forum about "ratrods"
what would you consider one?


growing up i remember seeing ratrods as the run down, beat up cars or trucks.
a ratrod is known as a classic car or truck that was built with basically nothing. if you can make it look cool without buying anything and modify what you have.

the old rusty beaters with more rust than steel
ore the old beat up body with a rattle can paint job.

i know alot of people think a ratrod is just a lowered rusty car but i think there is more to it like a personality.

my truck symbolizes my personality and my truck has one all by itself and likes to talk back.


put what you think is concidered a ratrod and post a pic




here's my so called "ratrod"
i built my 70 with all hadmade components and i maybe actually bought $75 worth of supplies to get paint and used hub caps

[JointTech]

i always though any type of "rod" should be open wheel.

then yesterday I read tha Rat motors are big blocks and mouse motors are small.

so I say an openwheel with a bigblock.

orrrrr a hotrod that a rat drives...

[john]

click on this link for rat rod pics.
https://www.google.com/search?q=rat+...w=1440&bih=681

[69GWC]

My definition of rat rod. Well most times its thrown together junk, Iam not a fan of them at all.
Myself I dont consider your 70 a "ratrod". That ^ one is IMO.
Posted via Mobile Device

[GASoline71]

The rat rod phenomenon has gotten to the point of nauseating over the top junkers with any junk you can find and weld on to it. Blech... Pickups do not belong in the "rat rod" craze if you ask me...

The all flat black rigs are usually refered to as "murdered out" around here... which is another fad I don't like.

A stripped down slightly dinged up rig with stock wheels, and a mildly modified engine, and loud exhaust aren't "rat rods"... they are the true hot rods that started it all.

Gary

[Robznob11]

I think a rad rod is a car or truck that rides low. and is made out of repurposed parts, usually in an unconventional way. like a stop sign bent into a battery box. or 34 ford taillights installed into the rear fenders of a 43 chevy. not all are rusty most are but some are done with taste and the engine has nothing to do with it. a lot of them have flat head or stove bolt engines! but to qualify they have to grab your eye from a distance lol! they usually don't drive or ride well but are for the look persay!

[hopped up]

Originally Posted by john

click on this link for rat rod pics.
https://www.google.com/search?q=rat+...w=1440&bih=681

John got it right. Ratrods are up to 30s cars or trucks purposely made to look like crap. Usafe and really built for shock value. Dont insult your truck by calling it that . Im into traditionally built hot rods and customs as well as our trucks. I get upset when someone refers to any of my cars as one
Posted via Mobile Device

[Sillyoldman]

My def of a RR is a vehicle that someone couldn't afford to fix properly. No Offence to anyone, heck if you keep one on the road it's cool. Now as far as patina goes.....

[black_sheep454]

This was my rat rod I built a few years ago. The body and chassis was pretty traditional but the drive train and $3000 budget is why I called it a rat rod.

This is another one I built with a friend that had the rusty look of a rat rod with a traditional chassis and a street rod motor.

This was my rat rod/gasser I built

And my traditional/sled 48 ford which is the only one I still have, but now has full rear skirts and hub caps. IMO these cars aren't rat rods


In my opinion a rat rod is 1950 and older with a few exceptions that is built to look like a traditional rod that was built in the 40's or 50' and has been sitting since and someone just pulled it out of the woods, barn, etc... and put it back on the road. That's why they're rusty and patina'd. There are a lot of sloppy built ones out there that give the well built cars a bad name.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Robznob11]

Black sheep i think you hit it on the head saying that alot of sloppy ones give the well built ones a bad rap. I dont care what anyone says i'd roll that blown rat rod truck anywhere! I think many of you are right in thinking that some people use the term to excuise there short comings! But the real ones leave you scratching you head saying why didn't i think of that. Awsome!!!
Posted via Mobile Device

[Gokart Mozart]

[turp mcspray]

Ratrod...cool, trendy sounding name for a P.O.S.

[buckskins4ever]

Rat Rods were always know as the build it with whatever you have laying around without buying expensive blinged out parts cars. they consisted of junkyard builds. No special paints, all out interiors, or special wheels.
I personally dont care for the looks, but to each their own.

[GASoline71]

Originally Posted by turp mcspray

Ratrod...cool, trendy sounding name for a P.O.S.

Couldn't agree more.

Gary

[cubber]

I think "ratrod" is an overused term. Seems like it is used to describe anything that's not showroom condition, or covered in billet and tuck and roll leather. I like a truck that looks like it's been a mile or two. The chopped up creations that are the true ratrods are sometimes impressive in the way they have repurposed parts from various vehicles, but lots of them are death traps. A lot of people would probably say that my truck is a rat because of the "patina" paint, but I just did it to cover up the purple the truck was when I bought it, and I can't afford a high dollar paint job right now because I spent my money under the hood and in suspension. I will eventually get a nice paint job, but I would rather have a ride that is mechanically sound than shiny.

[special-K]

Let's just say my definition of a rat rod doesn't even put the topic in the 67-72 GM Truck message board

[big d's red67]

"Rat Rod" pull it out of the field or barn get to start and drive it spend $0 or as close as you can get. Not my thing but thats whats fun about what we do, everyone likes something different.

[AMERICAN PICK-UP]

here is one.

[GRX]

Agree that the term 'rat rod' is way over-used these days. While I am not a big fan of them, it is better than seeing those chrome blinged out trailer queen hot rods which are essentially jewelry with wheels.

"No I can't fire it up. My chrome might get discolored!"

[LEEVON]

I don't know but as a genre (cars built with the single to be a rat rod) it's been going on for almost 10 years...you know like spider webs and tractor parts. To each his own, but I do cringe when I see perfectly good 40's and 50's cabs ruined to make an art car.

I'm freaking over it already!

[Madtat]

Rat rod: (IMO)
Weld, glue, tape, bailing wire, string, JB Weld, dumpster dive, to add on any rusty old household item on an already broken down rusty vintage/old/antique car (That has true hot rod/restoration potential) just to be trendy and make it look like a rolling junk heap. Art cars and burning man cars have more of a decisive look. There were no "rat rods" from the 30's to the 50's. Budget built hot rods do to the lack of $ in the pockets of thier builders with what little preformance parts available back then were called jalopies. Not rolling modern day salvage yard explosions of odd's and ends that constitutes them as a "rod". Thees rust buckets should be called Tetanus Rods.That Vette made me throw up a little vile in my mouth.
But, whatever floats your rusty wash pail I guess.
Here we go.......

[Daddy Brim]

To me a rat rod is a hot rod built with out all of the bling and $$$. Not some of these rolling junk yards that you see. This one my good friend built. He started with the windshield and cowl, then built the truck around it. This thing is truley a mix match bag of parts, but not junk. The insurance company that it is fully insured with apraised it at $22.000

[BossHogg69]

Originally Posted by 69GWC

My definition of rat rod. Well most times its thrown together junk, Iam not a fan of them at all.
Myself I dont consider your 70 a "ratrod". That ^ one is IMO.
Posted via Mobile Device

Originally Posted by GASoline71

The rat rod phenomenon has gotten to the point of nauseating over the top junkers with any junk you can find and weld on to it. Blech... Pickups do not belong in the "rat rod" craze if you ask me...

The all flat black rigs are usually refered to as "murdered out" around here... which is another fad I don't like.

A stripped down slightly dinged up rig with stock wheels, and a mildly modified engine, and loud exhaust aren't "rat rods"... they are the true hot rods that started it all.

Gary

Originally Posted by Sillyoldman

My def of a RR is a vehicle that someone couldn't afford to fix properly. No Offence to anyone, heck if you keep one on the road it's cool. Now as far as patina goes.....

Originally Posted by turp mcspray

Ratrod...cool, trendy sounding name for a P.O.S.

Well put by all...

[Robznob11]

IMO, the people that see rat rod as this including the ones who deam ther own junkers as rat rods truly don't understand this hot rod culture! And that is why they get such a bad rap! The above car being a perfect example its clean! Not everyone has the bucks to just throw at a rod! Ok so i could not afford to buy full floor pans to replace my rusty ones, so i made my own! They are welded in great no more rust and besides whos pulling the carpet to look! This was a rat rod approch but. Imo does not deam my truck rusty junk! All im getting at is there is a fine line between good creativity and just wrong! Im not a fan of that vette or any like it but that does not make the good ones bad!
[QUOTE=Madtat;6029557]Rat rod: (IMO)
Weld, glue, tape, bailing wire, string, JB Weld, dumpster dive, to add on any rusty old household item on an already broken down rusty vintage/old/antique car (That has true hot rod/restoration potential) just to be trendy and make it look like a rolling junk heap. Art cars and burning man cars have more of a decisive look. There were no "rat rods" from the 30's to the 50's. Budget built hot rods do to the lack of $ in the pockets of thier builders with what little preformance parts available back then were called jalopies. Not rolling modern day salvage yard explosions of odd's and ends that constitutes them as a "rod". Thees rust buckets should be called Tetanus Rods.That Vette made me throw up a little vile in my mouth.
But, whatever floats your rusty wash pail I guess.
Here we go.......[/QUOTE]
Posted via Mobile Device