Are rat rods going to be a fad?

[34cpe5w]

So I am getting to the point in finishing up my '33 and my mind is starting to turn about what the next project is going to be. I love the scene of the rat rod and like the no paint, no worries idea, just drive em like ya found them concept. My father owns a rat '34 PU and he is building a Model A roadster now that looks like it just rolled out of the barn, should be pretty cool when done. So my question is, is the rat scene going to be something of the past in a couple years like the splash graphics, pastel cars, digital dashes of the 90's? I have always been a traditional school guy and like the basis concepts, so I just thought I would throw this out there and get some feedback. Lata, Matt

[DrJ]

In Geological terms, Humans are probably going to be a Fad.... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

ALL cars just might be considered a fad of the past, a hundred years from now.
Just enjoy your HOBBY and don't worry about what you can't control. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Mass Butcher]

YES! ABSOLUTELY!! They are a fad. Hurry up, paint your car, dust off the billet, break out the tweed, hook up the digital gauges and go run the power tour. Check out Boyd,Foose and Troy's website. The cars they are building right now are the next big thing. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

[Mass Butcher]

Sorry. I'm in a "mood" today. It's ok though, cuz being moody and depressed is trendy.

[296 V8]

<font color="red"> </font> I think the term / label / stupid ass name should never be mentioned on the board ever again.

[4t64rd]

Yes, but who cares.

[34cpe5w]

Mass, Missed the point completely, did I mention that I am traditional, never owned anything billet, tweed, digital, or been on the power tour, take a look at my pics of the '33 and tell me I follow Boyd, Foose, or anything one of the guys, they are not for me, never have, never will. I create the style, I don't follow. I don;t need some pretty boy in Cali telling me how to look cool. Lata, Matt

[FoMoCo_MoFo]

I hope so, then I can go out &amp; buy a bunch of half done cars for cheap,

just like I did when the "Mod" kids in the 80's sold all their Scooters.

[Randy D]

[ QUOTE ]
<font color="red"> </font> I think the term / label / stupid ass name should never be mentioned on the board ever again.

[/ QUOTE ]

DITTO

[47lincsled]

Some things just deserve to die,all that pink shit,big rims,some things are eternal,rat rods have always been around and as long as there are guys who like to drive and build thier own cars there will be rat rods,it's too bad the gold chainers have to ruin an eternal joy,but they'll suck up the next big thing that comes along and the rat rods will still be there for the real rodders.

[Slide]

[ QUOTE ]
Mass, Missed the point completely, did I mention that I am traditional, never owned anything billet, tweed, digital, or been on the power tour, take a look at my pics of the '33 and tell me I follow Boyd, Foose, or anything one of the guys, they are not for me, never have, never will. I create the style, I don't follow. I don;t need some pretty boy in Cali telling me how to look cool. Lata, Matt

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm not catching your drift, man. Your first post sounds like you're all worried that if you build a rat rod (your term, not mine), the fad will be gone. Then you reply to Mass Butcher sayin' you don't care (which you shouldn't, unless you're overly worried about resale value).

If you build a car that you like, as long as it's safe (in consideration of my family being on the road at the same time as your "rat" rod), who cares if it fits the fad du jour or not?

[AHotRod]

Personally, I love the "As-found, in the ditch or barn, some what questionable" < Styles> of cars and trucks, always have, always will.
I'll never build or buy a car that does'nt "turn-me-on", so FADS don't mean a thing to me , nor should they to you.

So in other words,.............
Nope, Rat-Rods are NOT going to fade away!

AHotRod

[Pigiron]

Some moron street rodder asked me today why I smoked the tires on my 27 as as I was leaving the local hangout last Friday. He wonders if I was angry about something. I've been smokin' the hides for the past 40 years out of pure joy and that will never go out of style! Same with my "traditional cars".

[Broman]

Too many folks are putting the "rat-rods" in the same basket as the traditional hot-rod. They are not necessarily the same....

And IMOHO I think that traditional hot-rods will never go out of style - they are the jumping off point of the entire hobby. Everything else is a variation or a stylized version of something that can already be found on a traditional hot-rod.

Rat-rods however, they my fall out of popular favor someday and will be the minority. I personally like the (so-called) rat-rods (I HATE that term though). It's just another flavor of build. I like the fact that it opens the possibilities up and it allows for a car to built on a next-to-nothing budget. As long as they are built well - not just thrown together mindlessly that is.

O'course this horse is dead.......

[Jojo]

While I'm new to hot rods and am learning alot. I would have to say my car fits into the class of "Rat-Rod" for lack of a better term. While my car is not the purest dream of a traditional rod, I plan on continuing modifications to my car toward the traditional style.

I was pulling into the local car show (much gold chain and restoration, but a few nice traditional cars too) and I hear some of the guys from their lawn chairs say "Check out that Rat-Rod." I want to jump up and tell them it's a work-in-progress traditional car. The bottom line is we as people like to fit things into nice little catagories. I say fuckit I like my car no matter what catagory anyone wants to put it in. I building it my way, call it what ever you want.

As for "rat-rod" as a fad, if you take it the way I am then the rat-rod is just a work-in-progress and somebody elses catagory.

My 2 cents.
Cheers,
Tim

[Missing Link]

[ QUOTE ]
is the rat scene going to be something of the past in a couple years

[/ QUOTE ]

Some can only wish...

[Radman]

[ QUOTE ]
Yes, but who cares.



[/ QUOTE ]
That about says it all.

[redpunk]

Build it the way you want it. If you dont follow it wont be a Fad...

[flatheadpete]

I'm gonna go try and break the rearend in my hot rod doin' burnouts.....I might need something to do tomorrow on my day off.

[LOST ANGEL]

I think JoJo nailed this one. Everybody has to put a title on everthing and it just complicates things. Just because some magazine or person calls a particular thing some stupid name, the uninitiated have to use the term for every possible occasion. It ends up being the old " I crank, You suck" situation http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif-MIKE

[Tony]

I see a LOT of local guy's who have always been into high tech crap wanting to 'join' the traditional thing..

We laugh with each other about it, only because these are the same guy's that went ape shit with tweed, boyd wheels and re-sale red when all that stuff was "in".
Most don't have a clue what a real hot rod is, they just wanna be a part of the latest thing..

I hope the whole fad (for lack of a better word) does die out.
Then the traditional parts, etc, will be left for those of us that truely love that bare bones, old style of cars..
at least thats what i hope.. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

The way i look at it is, i'm going to stay with what i'm doing, fad or not.
And if thats what YOU like, do the same because it dosn't matter AT ALL what everyone else is doing..
Thats whats important..

Rat....

[=mike=]

Yes deffinately . Look at the over done mega rods of the 90's , the boring teal &amp; pastel rods of the 80's , the fad t's &amp; beer keg gas tanks of the 70's . . .

everything comes in &amp; out of fashion . Some of those things had small amounts of good taste &amp; a little style involved ( the chopped 49 51 merc seems to have struck around for some reason . . . ) but some things were just tacky to begin with .

The whole " building a car to look like you found it at the bottom of a lake " thing was played out and turned into a fashion statement almost as quickly as it started . The cars you see that are being built like that right now are gross parodys of themselves , the lowest , the shortest headers , the most no floor having , the most rusty unfinished welds . . . it was ugly to begin with and is now silly beyond its whole " unfinished barn-fresh " idea of building a car like that in the first place .

Take a look at all the cars that were described as " rat rods " in the first wave of that term and notice that they are mostly all ( slightly more ) finished , ( a little better ) painted , and look like real street driven homebuilt hotrods , instead of ugly rusty bailing wire heaps that look like they would shake apart over 60 MPH .


I think it will be looked back at as an ugly mark in the history of what we do , just like lavender painted bumpers &amp; side trim are to the rest of us . Ultimately , no long lasting resonance , nothing anyone will really look back at with any fondness .

[saltflataddict]

[ QUOTE ]
I hope so, then I can go out &amp; buy a bunch of half done cars for cheap,

just like I did when the "Mod" kids in the 80's sold all their Scooters.

[/ QUOTE ]


No shit!! I did the exact thing and made a ton of $$ reselling their scoots.. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Roothawg]

I agree with ya Mike.... but one thing you forgot....Customs almost vanished due to lack of interest. Luckily, a few of the hard core guys kept the eternal flame of customizing alive.

I try to build what I like. I don't generally get caught up in trends. I try and look down the road a few years and see if I will still like it or regret it. Wheels and tires are an easy change. ZZ Top stripes and Heartbeat stripes are kinda hard to erase.

[=mike=]

[ QUOTE ]
I agree with ya Mike.... but one thing you forgot....Customs almost vanished due to lack of interest. Luckily, a few of the hard core guys kept the eternal flame of customizing alive.

[/ QUOTE ]

I look at your car in your avitar , and it is timeless to me . It isn't dated or tacky or fugly looking . . . your type of build techniques and styling will never be looked at as anything but clean / functional / elegent . The same goes with a well done custom , or a mean looking well assembled hotrod . I think people will always keep the flame burning for that type of car .

I remember reading about the first WCC Paso Robles run ( 30 something cars ? ) or the first KKOA Kustom spectacular ( maybe the same amount of cars there too .. ) I didn't forget , I just don't think that kind of passion will be reserved for those type of clapped out rods .

I was too little to actually remember when MY kind of car was forgotten about and brought back to life , But it is in print and boy I am glad those few cranky old bastards didn't let it go easily . I just don't want to be here when this is cool again . . . . http://www.othg-havasu.com/car%20show%20pictures/Louisville%207-31-03/DSCF00382.JPG

[34cpe5w]

I think ya all make very good points and as a young man in this hobby/passion I value it. Thanks, Matt

[JamesG]

The term "rat rods" is be a fad, but traditional rods and kustoms will always be around.

[Sam F.]

im taking a break on building any "ratrod" junkrods for a while.

its too FUCKIN expensive nowadays,,its crazy..been to the swapmeet latley or looked at ebay?

yeah,its nuts, every Tom, Dick and Harry have raised the prices through the roof.

[Slag Kustom]

flat paint sux!!!! rust sux!!!!! you know it is a fad when some one takes a fiber glass 32 and bonds some rot holes in it and scuffs the nice shinny gelcoat and paints it flat black

[Tuck]

Who the fuck cares?

[2tall2beahotrodder]

Since I first loged on this board, I have Grown.

Yes Im older, but if you have talked to me in person, I act, talk, and relate like a 50 year old. I hang around with the older crowd, because frankly

Im the only one that knows about old cars at my young age. (Around where i live)

I was first drawn to the traditional way of life, at a young age.


To tell you the truth, it all started after i took at trip to York, PA for a car show and saw the SO- What crew.

Since then, ive been fixed on the bare bones, non- billetized cars.. I always went to the shows, and was drawn to the low budget rather than the 50k retirement rods..


I never had a computer. Never had Cable. Nor knew about magizines that were focused on this life style. I was just a young kid, looking at old 50s hot rod mags that were laying in the basement..

Once i loged on this board, i started to learn about Pretty much everthing.. I owe this board alot..

Between the techs, friendly people, cool rods, and a great enviroment. Ive grown.


Hey, ill admit im a Rat Rodder.
TO me its not a Fad. Ittta probably pass eventully like alot of things , but ill be in the shadows..


Thanks Hamb

steve-

[Donzie]

Man, you must be a man of vision because that's exactly what's gonna happen. Actually, if you look around you'll see more painted cares than ever. A lot of guys have gotten tired of the primer look. We're seeing nicer interiors and suspension upgrades. Take my advice...sell me the '34 NOW! Recoupe some of your money and invest in something with a future....like pharmacies. Drugs are the next Microsoft!

[Sam F.]

[ QUOTE ]
Recoupe some of your money and invest in something with a future....like pharmacies. Drugs are the next Microsoft!

[/ QUOTE ]

actually im investing in Pabst Blue Ribbon,after tonights show on "Rides" im sure the stocks will skyrocket!!!

[Tman]

Is your dad the one that bought my/Rockys old PU? If so, both of us had visions of real paint and perid details on that truck in its final form.

[hankcash]

No, but Fat-rods are gonna be Rad!
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
HC

[Missing Link]

[ QUOTE ]
The whole " building a car to look like you found it at the bottom of a lake " thing was played out and turned into a fashion statement almost as quickly as it started . The cars you see that are being built like that right now are gross parodys of themselves , the lowest , the shortest headers , the most no floor having , the most rusty unfinished welds . . . it was ugly to begin with and is now silly beyond its whole " unfinished barn-fresh " idea of building a car like that in the first place .

Take a look at all the cars that were described as " rat rods " in the first wave of that term and notice that they are mostly all ( slightly more ) finished , ( a little better ) painted , and look like real street driven homebuilt hotrods , instead of ugly rusty bailing wire heaps that look like they would shake apart over 60 MPH .


[/ QUOTE ]

BOO-YAH! Thanks =Mike= You hit it right on the head, chiefy.

[four-thirteen]

crap, i just realized i need to finish my rat rod so i can sell it to some sucker so i can get a head start on the next fad.....

Ugly POS cars will always be chunks of shit. cars build with style and passion will always shine through. no matter if they are flat black, surface rusted or covered in shiney paint.

last month i sold a rusty beat up old model A coupe body. it had about 20 bullet holes in the driver side door. the guys plan for it? take it up to his cabin, shoot the whole thing full of more holes, then put it on a $10,000 chassis based on '32 rails with a blown big block chevy. stupid shit like that was never in style, it was never cool. the guy who is doing that is a dumbshit attention whore. he just wants to roll up to the cruise night in the rattiest rod, so he can be the coolest.
good for him.

[Dat Dirty Rat]

Rat Rods?? DAWg were rocking 'DUBZ' now...Rat Rods were like sooo 15 minutes ago!

Dirty

[Crease]

Hopefully you aren't building "rat rods". Not sure what the hell a rat rod is, but Im thinkin it's a car that's built really crappy. I don't see many cars on the HAMB that are built that way. I heavily suggest that you concentrate on the traditional aspect, rather than crappy when building a car. Building a crappy car just isn't very smart. No one will respect the workmanship and on top of that you'll probably die in it and that would suck. Like my buddy Barnett always says "primer is a stage before paint". I see no shame in building a well engineered, period car and putting it in primer. However, I think in the next few years you will start to see more cars of the same style in gloss with more chrome. Personally, Im gonna get ahead of the curve and build an aluminum Gremlin!

[aussiesteve]

I hate that term Rat Rod.It,s a fuckin Hot Rod.Nothing more and nothing less.And just because you are building a " Rat Rod" there is no excuse for unsafe construction or undrivability.
Apologies for the rant but that term pisses me off.I,m sick of telling Wankers that it is a HOT ROD.
End of rant.

[crewcutkid]

Heh... he said "wankers"... heh heh.
-Crew

[rjb]

do what you want because you want to do it.
but if your car is unsafe, keep it off my fucking road. i dont care what title you give it.

rjb

[Flat Rod]

I hope it passes cause I don't wanna see every hillbilly redneck around here tryin' to build a real hot rod. They can stick to their 60s Mustangs and 80s Camaros.

Leave the real rodz to the real men (and women).

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Thought this was kind of amusing to add to a post that bitches about rat rods being the next big thing...if you type "rat rods" into a google search this is almost the first thing to pop up...

[Zeke]

what's a rat rod?

[Kojack]

I just don;t understand the point of making your car look like shit. I've seen a lot of punk and grunge kids in high school walk around in what were nice clothes, and they rip them up, stain them, write all over them so they look like social rejects in the name of some kinda underground fashion, I don't know. These type of people have the same mentality when it comes to cars. It's so much cooler if it looks like shit and I get mud all over it and spit on it and it's got flat tires. Rockabilly!

[du$ty]

are rat rods gonna be a fad?http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&amp;Board=UBB1&amp;Number=503187&amp;page=0&amp; view=collapsed&amp;sb=5&amp;o=14&amp;fpart=all

[Zeke]

[ QUOTE ]
I just don;t understand the point of making your car look like shit.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah just stick a visor on it and be done with it :P

[leadsleadolds]

Who cares I'm building a custom.

[SamIyam]

The Rat Rod fading away is just the reason people should build their cars to the best of their abilities and not thrash some piece of shit together in a weekend just because it's whats hot.

Build them to last...

Sam.

[SamIyam]

[ QUOTE ]
Mass, Missed the point completely, did I mention that I am traditional, never owned anything billet, tweed, digital, or been on the power tour, take a look at my pics of the '33 and tell me I follow Boyd, Foose, or anything one of the guys, they are not for me, never have, never will. I create the style, I don't follow. I don;t need some pretty boy in Cali telling me how to look cool. Lata, Matt

[/ QUOTE ]

Your "pretty boy in Cali" comment is classic dumb-ass... first off, Mass isn't from California... secondly... uh, nevermind.

Sam.

[JohnnyB327]

i think you should build em to run and run good make sure its reliable but still within your budget. if you have a fuckin huge budget build it the way you wanna just as long as your not painting a car primer because its what others are doing.

[willowbilly3]

Back in the early 80s before anyone ever heard of a rat rod, some bikers were building rat bikes. Bikes built on the cheap with cast off parts. Almost immediatly they started showing up with 100 inch built panhead motors with some oil throwed on the outside to make them grungy. I haven't been following that trend, it probably died out except for a few of the old hardcores that never followed trends anyway like the Gypsy Jokers.
30 years ago I read in a magazine that a true hot rod was an old roadster body with a big assed engine, poor brakes and wobley steering that scared the hell out of you every time you drove it.
The low buck 28 rpu I am starting on is a hot rod, that's what they've always been and will continue to be. Let the tangent facets like street rod, rat rod, resto rod all come and go and just keep building hot rods and don't worry about it. The guys that jump in because it is campy will soon find out that all the wrenchin and sweating to ride in a car that burns the heel off your shoe and cooks your ass in the summer, freezes you butt in the winter, has no wipers when it rains, well they will all morph into the new rat rod style with some overdone Boydmobile with flat paint and red wheels.

[53_210]

Who cares? And I feel kinda bad for even responding to this, and it's been said already, but why bother building a car that's a piece of shit? I can understand wanting to drive it, but fucking finish it! I don't care wether it's a hotrod or whatever either. When did flat black customs become somewhat popular too? Primer was never a goal, it was a step.

[thirtytwo]

i dont know why but i need to reply.......... you must be bored to stir the pot this much matt???

RAT ROD/ PATINA = FAD

( almost anything in street rodder magizine)


traditional car = TIMELESS

(doane spencers car was just as cool in the 60s 70s 80s and 90s as it was when it was fresh in the 40s........maybe not to everyone but to people who understand...........if it wernt for old lakes pics pete and jake and lobeck wouldn't have a clue how to achieve the look

[AnimalAin]

My roadster started as a top-notch car, and has been worn out to the point that it is approaching rat rod status. But it won't ever be a rat rod, because when it was built, it was built as well as the budget allowed.

The entire ethic of hot rodding has been (for the forty years I have been involved) to built the best piece you can with the parts/funding available. Building a rudimentary car with primer and few frills certainly fits in to this ethic. Building something deliberately fucked up/stupidly unsafe to be "in" is a waste of time, money and tin.

[DelinquentDoll13]

Rat rod is kinda a person to person term... everone has a slightly different idea about the definition... but who cares what you want to call it, just do what your doing. and hopefully when you look up, time will take care of the ones in it to look "cool"...

~josie

[DrJ]

[ QUOTE ]
My roadster started as a top-notch car, and has been worn out to the point that it is approaching rat rod status. But it won't ever be a rat rod, because when it was built, it was built as well as the budget allowed.

The entire ethic of hot rodding has been (for the forty years I have been involved) to built the best piece you can with the parts/funding available. Building a rudimentary car with primer and few frills certainly fits in to this ethic. Building something deliberately fucked up/stupidly unsafe to be "in" is a waste of time, money and tin.

[/ QUOTE ]

What he said...Well said!

[Mass Butcher]

Matt, I wasn't responding to your post with any ill will towards you, but with a little sarcasm. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif I just read your statement(forgot about this post) and I must say, chill out.
I am all for a spirited conversation about most items related to hotrodding, which is why I'm here on this board. However, use the "search" function first to see if this discussion has been had before(or in this case beaten to death). This way there won't be so much negative feedback when you post. Just a little tip from another new guy.

[Dooley]

This is a great thought provoking thread, and I would just like to add that I...ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ..... oh uh build what you like cause I aint drivng it.

[metalshapes]

Driving a car around for a while with no Paint, Chrome or finished Interior is an important stage of the build,IMO...
I have seen a lot of Hot Rods that had something wrong with them ( like touchy brakes, bad seating posision, or after market parts that just dont work right ), but the problem did not get corrected because a small fortune was already spent on Powdercoat, Chrome, Tweed and Paint...
I am still tweaking and adjusting my Roadster and when that involves cutting and welding, I throw a rag over my Engine and let the sparks fly...
But Paint and Interior are planned for it, and have been all along.
In the mean time people can call my car a Rat Rod if they want to.
I dont call it that, but it does not piss me off if others do...

[CruZer]

Ever notice how we (humans) have to label and pigeon hole everything? Streetrods vs.hotrods vs.ratrods.Traditionalist vs goldchainer vs.greaser !!!! I get so sick of this bull.
I either like a car or I don't.That's it.

[Sven]

Who cares, it's your car build what you like and fuck what other people think.

-Sven

[Vorhese]

Who cares. Enjoy hot rods while you can. This is their big last hoorah before oil prices soar, emission restrictions are impossible for a gas engine, and we move into the hybrid and electric vehicle era.

[tomslik]

for a while!?!?!?
what is "for a while"?
mines been in primer or less for over 20 years....

...and i still get "what color are ya gonna paint it?"

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[glassguy]

wow..i been trying to say the exact same thing for qiute a while.but dont have the same way with words..look at some of the shit in ckd it would take a good weekend to make a good lookin hotrod out of some of them,,and for christsakes clean your fuckin whitewalls!!!!!!no self respectin hotrodder back in the day would cought dead with dirty tires (especially if theres a magazine doin a friggin photoshoot on it) WTF.

[mexibilly]

I hate the fuckin term "rat rod"

[baytowngreaser]

No i dont't belive "rat rods" are a fad. What seems to be happening atleast in my case anyway is a revival of the hot rod. The kind that our fathers and grandfathers used to build. Most people can't afford a $150,000 glass bodied billet barge. Personnally i wouldn't have one if i could afford one. We are finally getting back to the basics. There's a new generation of greasers out there, like my self, that are taking part in this resurrection that makes us feel that we are part of something that isn't artifical like so many other things in this day in age. Man i hope this makes sense to someone
Later Kats.

[Smokin Joe]

I like cars with bugs on the windshield and a few rock chips in the paint. Two signs that they do what they are supposed to do. If you have to trailer it because it won't make the trip across town or because you're afraid of having to have it detailed again then I'm not interested.
Anything that doesn't get you going when you get in it is a fad to me. If you're worried about the resale value, get rid of it and buy stock.

[DelinquentDoll13]

[ QUOTE ]
Personnally i would have one if i could afford one.

[/ QUOTE ]

what? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[baytowngreaser]

thanks for showing me the error of my ways delinquentdoll13.

[flatshoebox]

Let them coin that term! Then you'll know right away who your talkin too when it come ups.
GFY!

[Tony Bones]

Rat rods are a fad.
Traditional rods are not.

Stick around for a bit. Keep your mouth closed and your eyes open. If you're lucky you'll figure out what the difference is in the two.

[Maso]

Yeah...I love the "Rat Rods" too and the Retro Rods...that's my stuff.

Here's a picture of something that really "Floats My Boat"...!!! I took this one at the Moroso Motorsports Park in Florida. It's a Chevy, notice that it is channeled at the rear but not in the front. The wheels are a fair attempt, but just don't quite get it...that's understandable considering how hard it is to find out of production mags.

http://www.bigblueheron.net/images/ChevCoupe.jpg


I took my digital camera with me to the California Hot Rod Reunion at Bakersfield last October and took loads of pictures of thr REAL Rats... If you or anybody else wants to have a CD-ROM of them...get me a mailing adderss and I'd be happy to send it to you.

[Boones]

I hope that poorly build rat rods are a fab. Quality build nostalgic/ traditional cars will always have a place in this hobby

[KnuckleDragger]

I build what I build, I dont see the point in trying to classify what type of car I build. As long as it moves me down the road and is safe it works for me. I dont need any one telling me that my car fits into a certain group because of my cars appearance..


Jonney

[48_HEMI]

Well in the immortal words of Jim Arnold
I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THATS BEEN SAID ON THIS POST. I don't understand most of the arguements but I AGREE!
Back in the 50's there was a saying going around
.
"The wind Blew, The shit flew, I was here! Where were you? "
.
I haven't changed one bit (except the grey hair and wrinkles)in over 50 years. The neat thing about standing in one place. About every 15-20 years you are in the middle of the group as they move from right to left, then left to right. and as they move on down the road chasing the next cool thing. they drop what they were doing and I can pick up my stuff almost free, Knowing that in 15-20 I'll be COOL AGAIN!
Running around with Flames and Moon disc's in the 70 to early 90's was kind of lonesome and I'm sure to be lonesome again. But if I live long enough I'll be COOL ONCE AGAIN

[Canadas lowest]

I'd rather see any old Iron rolling around as long as it's safe. building traditional cars isn't something that gets cheaper as it gets more popular. The more that it becomes trendy, the more all the farmers and colectors raise their prices because there is people dumb enough to pay way to much for stuff that useto be cheap to the people that are truely die hard enthusiasts. I'm young and smart enough not to be into fads. I built mini trucks cause I was too poor to build something old. I'm building something traditional now cause I have the skills to build something that wouldn't be a un safe peice of junk driving down the road

[bikebum1975]

Mass, Missed the point completely, did I mention that I am traditional, never owned anything billet, tweed, digital, or been on the power tour, take a look at my pics of the '33 and tell me I follow Boyd, Foose, or anything one of the guys, they are not for me, never have, never will. I create the style, I don't follow. I don;t need some pretty boy in Cali telling me how to look cool. Lata, Matt


PURE sarcasm man on Mass' statement but rat rods to me as well as nice shiny cars are always cool I love old cars no matter what. Could be some cool old rusty piece of shit or something totally custom and blinding shiny either way screw the labels and go with what you like to hell with what others think if you like it and are happy with it that's what's cool.

[A32Flathead]

PURE sarcasm man on Mass' statement but rat rods to me as well as nice shiny cars are always cool I love old cars no matter what. Could be some cool old rusty piece of shit or something totally custom and blinding shiny either way screw the labels and go with what you like to hell with what others think if you like it and are happy with it that's what's cool.

Congratulations on digging up a pointless thread from 2004...you win....

[bikebum1975]

Oh well new to the forum thought it was funny so dropped in my 2 cents lol