WTF...Rat Rodzzzzzzzz?

[Sam F.]

that term sounds so pretty gay,and honestly, i think anyone who is ACTUALLY into building the things that we build dont SPEAK of our rides as RAT RODS...

...i live in the land that time forgot,and i still do my best to NOT call what i build a RATROD to people who dont have a clue what im talking about..

..ill say things like "real HOT ROD",traditional,stripped down,fenderless,and even "primmered black" but ONLY after that if they still look confused with out the slightest clue,then in a last ditch effort ill say rat rod.

i was reading a new magazine the other day and it seemed like they were more woried about the word "RAT ROD" than the actual cars that people are building.

i dunno,primmer is my best friend and i dig primmered rides,but at the same time im always trying to build the best car i can,,,not some rattle can piece of shit just so i can call it a RAT ROD....

just my 2 centavos

[Tman]

Had to skool http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif our new 19 year old part timer o this term today

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I found that "how to build a RAT ROD" story very informative! It captured the essense of "black primer, red steelies & 1000 Coop sticker" rod building PERFECTLY! All that was left ot was exactly how many PBRs must be consumed, how much Palmade must be slapped on & how big the PERFECT cuff is to reach RAT ROD NIRVANA! The "Highschool Hot Rod" was a thing of beauty- I would like to have seen the concept art that went with it- Detroit will be pumping out beauties like that in a few years just like when the original kustoms led the way in the '50s!!!

[JamesG]

When I think of a "rat rod" I don't think of a primered car with red steelies and wide whites really. I think of one that was pulled from a barn, made to run again, lowered, diff. wheels put on, what ever and drove. Thats just my opinion though http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[FoMoCo_MoFo]

I try not to think of the term at all...

[choprods]

I prefer"RUST ROD" ......kinda clears the air.

[Barn-core]

I'll second that. While some of these cars do deserve this title I would like to think that most of us are building reliable, safe, done right cars, with a little additude. I'm even getting tired of seeing black primer, I mean how can we pride ourselves in building such different cars that rebel against the high dollar cookie cutters, if all we are building is low buck cookie cutters. Now don't get me wrong i've built primered cars, and i will build others, and I still think black primer, red steelies, www, looks great, but come on guy's I know you didn't put all that blood sweat and tears into that ride to have it look just like a million others. Let's at least look into some different colors of primer, some are even tintable, make up your own color. I'm not trying to hurt anyones feelings, but lets mix things up a little.

[famous59]

I like both terms rat/rust rod. My car fits both, rusted with holes for the rats. Plus why use the terminology around people who no nothing of the culture ?

[QQMOON]

One name that makes me chringe is Retro Rod sorta makes me feel yack esp when they are talkin about my car the Rat i can handle but it aint a Retro Rat Rod
JR

[DrJ]

I think the first rod name alliteration was Resto-Rod back in the late 60's-early 70's. It described a completel stock bodied car right down to th lugage racks and cowl lamps but with new car running gear and engines stuffed in without molesting the firewalls.
looking back on it I think it was the hotrod version of the Lowrider "bombs", 40s Chevy's with all the bells visors and whistles but with modified suspension, on them it was/is hydraulics.

It's poetic, and "cute" so peope use them, alliterations that is.

I would venture to guess there are people who only think in terms of Rat Rod, Resto Rod and Billet Car and they probabaly try to plug eeything they see into one of them because it makes them feel safe.

Oh, I forgot one... Mullet Mobile!

Don't worry about it, In a hundred years you won't even care!

[Pist-n-Broke]

Rat Rod to me sounds like something built by someone that doesn't care or know what they are doing. The whole thing snuck up and caught me off guard. My first real exposuer to it was at Hot Rod reunion 1998. It really put things in perspective for me. I was there to help on one of our clubs A/Gas cars and I couldn't stay away from the far end of the bleachers. Right in front of me was the real thing! Exactly the way it was when I started. No body did mail order parts. You alwayse used something that was free or cheep. You did the best with what you could get. The important thing was to have it running Friday night. Paint and chrome didn't have much to do with horse power, still doesn't. That trip in 98 made me drag out my old friend and go have fun with it regaurdless what it looks like or what I'm capabol of building. I've been involved in nearly every type of motor sports and nothing compairs to my primerd Coupe on the street. I call it and all like it Roots Rods because that is the way it was 50 years ago. If you had paint and chrome, you had rich parents or no girl friend. I love it, I feel comfortabol in it and it looks good on me!
The Wizzard

[QQMOON]

WELL SAID

[SamIyam]

I'm surprized that you guys are forgetting the old adage of history having a funny way of repeating itself...

The term "hot rod" wasn't coined by what we now call early day hot rodders... it was a term that the public used to refer to the deliquent young "rebels" that raced their cars on the street, "endangering the car weary public".

It wasn't until a young Robert Petersen decided to use the name for his magazine that people began to take it seriously... and even then it took quite a few years of effort to turn the name into something half-ass respectable.

Now I'm not wearing rose colored glasses... I pretty much cringe when someone calls the Roach Rod a "RAT ROD"... and get even more defensive when someone calls me a "RAT RODDER"... I've built my fair share of cars over the years... and every one that I have built from scratch, with the exception of my Model A (it's not finished and painted yet) has gone on to win awards at car shows... but NONE of them even ever came CLOSE to gaining the amount of attention that the "compilation of used shit" that I built 2 1/2 years ago has recieved.

You might call it good timing, but I call it my 20 year old dream of building something from nothing finally realized after I had the knowledge and skill to see it happen.

The car runs faster than, and gets better mileage than most street rods (and I'm working on the way it stops http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif ) and is just as reliable as any of them. The car also has more hand built shit on it than most street rods...

A funny story... I was at a Danville Dukes breakfast when a guy called my car a "RAT ROD"... His painted, upholstered and chromed car was sitting next to mine... and I responded "The only difference between my car and yours is a bunch of bondo and a little paint...oh, and mine is engineered a little better than yours"

He got pissed... so I said "I don't see a home made intake manifold on your car that looks as though it was cast at a foundry"... he then kind of saw my point and realized there's a little more to ol' Roachy than the "other" rat rods...

So do we continue to fight the fight... or join 'em 'cause we can't beat 'em?

My opinion is that there is going to be an even greater fraction between people who are into "tradional rodding" and "rat rodders".

The self proclaimed "traditional rodder" is more likely to be someone who started out appreciating inexpensive home built hot rods... but continues to improve his fabricating skills, with each car that he creates being better than the one prior. I say "self proclaimed" because a real traditional rod is defined by Mike Bishop's Old Bluey... a true nut and bolt restoration... I define the self proclaimed traditional rodders as guys who are clearly wanting to separate themselves from the rat roddders and the cars that they build... simply put, they are more informed.

Rat Rodders on the other hand are guys who actually LIKE to see big gaping holes of rust on their car... the butchery found on pieces of shit rat rods are things like torched holes in sheet metal instead of neatly cut holes and "monkey fucking a football" channeled cars where the rails of the car are 2" off the ground while the car still has stock suspension... and don't get me started on the guys who keep their radiators and grill shells at stock height on these piles of shit.

I think I'm going to start my own clothing line called "RAT RODS SUCK"

Anyone care to join me?

Sam!

[PEDDRO]

"Rat Rods" is for the wannabe's to hail the trendy wagon with.....

I've never liked the term. Always sounded a bit wanky.

I also hate using the term "Traditonal Hot Rod" 'cos it invariably invokes some tosser/know-it-all to ask "well, what's traditional then?".......Ain't got time for that debate, seeing as I'm only a young guy and I don't know all the damn answers myself!

Can we cut out the damn labels???

[Kojack]

I think the reason I don't like is is tha fact rich folks have coined the term for anything that's got less then 100k into it. Just as we insult the rich guys with "goldchainers" this is their new word for folks with cars on the other size of the spectrum. Don't like it. Low brow!

[SamIyam]

You're absolutely right Pedro,

I would rather drop the names all together... and just keep Street Rod and Hot Rod... that's enough for my vocabulary... but there's a mentality that has sprung up with the advent of the internet where "like minded" individuals gather... the good thing to come out of this is that we realize that we are not alone in what we like and find comfort in people who are into the same shit as us... but the down side is that we (me included) tend to psychoanalyse every aspect of everything that we like. For christ's sake, take Von Dutch, Ed Roth or George Barris... those poor bastards are more popular now than they have ever been... and more people know more about them on more levels that we care to know... but as long as there are people out there that eat this shit up... the more rediculous it is going to get... the more fragmented it is going to get...

Realize my definitions are not your definitions... but I just see people trying to set themselves apart from one group to the next because they don't particularly agree with a small aspect of said group... the sad thing is, we're all in this together and the individualism that we strive to have in what we create is a double edged sword (sp?) that can separate us if we let it.

I've been away from my garage for too damned long. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Sam.

[Paul]

[ QUOTE ]
I would venture to guess there are people who only think in terms of Rat Rod, Resto Rod and Billet Car and they probabaly try to plug eeything they see into one of them because it makes them feel safe.

[/ QUOTE ]

people need to have a name for them,

they, the "Rat Rods" are not "Street Rods" as currently defined.

they are "Hot Rods" but, that term can apply to anything hopped up,

they are not shiny or store bought, they are a little crude, hand-made and ratty;



http://photo.starblvd.net/~60s_style/4-2-1.jpg

http://photo.starblvd.net/~60s_style/4-2-2.jpg

http://photo.starblvd.net/~60s_style/4-2-3.jpg

http://photo.starblvd.net/~60s_style/4-2-4.jpg



I don't care what you call them,

just make them safe and don't let the name "Death Rod" stick.

Paul

[av8]

I want to step back to the point where JimA talked about when the original customs lead the way for the industry. This isn't intended to be a big dust-up, but I think it's good opportunity for injecting some perspective.

The old conceit that custom cars drove the styling trends of the manufacturers in the ‘50s is as naive today as it was each time it’s been expressed in the past.

One has to do no more research than examine the styling direction of the industry to see that it was headed in the opposite direction at a fierce pace.

While the customizers were simplifying shapes and surfaces, industry designers were sculpting and adding surface interest with attached details. While most customizers skewed the aspect ratio of turret-to-body in the direction of compressed turrets set on fat bodies, the industry headed in the opposite direction, increasing the volume and glass area of the turret relative to the main body mass.

Just as significant as the changing shapes, was adornment, reaching its zenith about 1958 with bright bits on every panel, plus large areas of matte-finished metallic appliqués on the flanks of most models of just about every line in the US industry.

Earl, Teague, Lowey, Darrin, Buehrig, Farina, and Ghia had a far greater influence on American production car styling and design in the ‘50s than Barris et al. Kelly Johnson’s Lockheed “skunk works” and Dutch Kindleberger’s design team at North American Aviation had a much greater influence on production car styling and design in the ‘50s and beyond than did our best-loved, popular customizers.

The irony of all this is that the current-tech bar-of-soap cars we all disdain are far closer to our ‘50s ideal in terms of aspect ratio, shape, and clean slippery surfaces than the actual production cars that evolved in the ‘50s and later. What a pisser that is!

[40oz.]

my rat rod is a 92 olds cutlass calias turbo quad 4 - i got 100 bucks in, not to pretty not to nice, but i can smoke most damn near any thing that comes along, within reason , and still strap on the boards and make the 500 mile trip to the coast when ever i want. to me its about taking any thing thats not suposeto, and make it suposeto. that makes the owners of those hot little imports and mustangs wonder what the fu#$ they spent 23k on.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Amen..exactly how i feel.

[thirtytwo]

i think the term rat rod has to exist what else would we call all the pos cars that shouldnt be on the roads problem is the definition is confused , anything primered or not prisine automatically becomes one also, what sucks is

when a few of these p.o.s. cars finally self-distruct and kills someone we will all be lumped into the same catagory, who knows what will happen then, people should make an effort now to slap some sense into the people buildin stuff thats unsafe or eventually we'll all be fucked!

[ray]

before there were rat rods, long before, there was rat bikes. if only rat rods, and their owners, were only more like rat bikes...

rat bikes are ugly as hell, generally with all kinds of crap hanging off them, but they get you there! made to ride.

its really too bad that "rat rods" got off to such a bad start, cause everybody should really have one. to go along with their nice finished rod or custom.

[Radshit]

Somehow or other....we need to figure out a way to blame Butt Reynolds for it....yea!....Let's blame Butt for the Rat Rodder term.......

Hey Butt, let's see some pics of that..."lowrider" 56 Chevy of yours... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[TINGLER]

I am with SamIyam and everyone else who HATES big rust holes in the body work and UNSAFE engineering.....
DAMN rat rodders! Stupid asses are gonna ruin it for the rest of us!

What are the current trends based on anyhow? Where does all this celebration of the UNSAFE come from?
Why back in the past they ALWAYS made things safe and well engineered.

I guess its just like everything else....the old days were better and the members of the older generation were saints. Damn hooligans nowdays have no respect.

Look at this guy. I know this is a new picture. It simply CAN'T be a picture of the old days! Nobody back then would have built such an unsafe "rat rod"! ....Damn PUNK! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif

[thirtytwo]

[ QUOTE ]
I am with SamIyam and everyone else who HATES big rust holes in the body work and UNSAFE engineering.....
DAMN rat rodders! Stupid asses are gonna ruin it for the rest of us!

What are the current trends based on anyhow? Where does all this celebration of the UNSAFE come from?
Why back in the past they ALWAYS made things safe and well engineered.

I guess its just like everything else....the old days were better and the members of the older generation were saints. Damn hooligans nowdays have no respect.

Look at this guy. I know this is a new picture. It simply CAN'T be a picture of the old days! Nobody back then would have built such an unsafe "rat rod"! ....Damn PUNK! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif





[/ QUOTE ] the shit buckets we are talkin about dont look that good..... i dont think dick kraft would even think of driving one around the block......besides get out your magnifying glass .inspect that pic! i see very stout wishbone brakets , i see a seatbelt i see a fairly decent constructed RACE CAR , i dont see anything that will break off at the whopping 70mph that thing probely did on the closed course drag strip the only person it will hurt is the driver when it rolls,, enough of that happened back then too ...mandatory roll bars.....cause and effect ,my friend...enough scabbed together rat rods break and take out enough bystanders on the freeway.what do you think the effect will be...

i know hot rods are supposed to be rebellious blah blah blah, if people arnt going to build a car that is safe on the road(built sturdy) they shouldnt be fuckin with them PERIOD..... get out the hair greese, make sure you do up your pomp nice and tall, give your jetta a nice fresh suede paint job, dont forget the red wheels and go talk with your buds about the latest tats you got, that would be a much better use of their time

[desertratrodder]

I'm a little confused.. I thought the whole genre of hot rods, customs or whatever were built on the concept of guys making a unique, modified car that was different than the next guy's. Each guy built it with a bit of himself attached to it.
You have guys trying to fit things into a certain category, and sorry to say, you go to Goodguys and bring your rod thats not all "goldchainered" out, those guys will poke fun at it.
Take real people like we're supposed to be, and a guy has something he literally created from junk, as my dad and all his friends did, and it fits the part of being "accepted by you as being a hot rod" then it should be in there..
I fully understand the safety issues and not everyone should "build" a car. But if a car is safe, but a little tatty looking, why crumb on the guy? Not everyone has the $$ or the luck of finding good cars that some guys have..
It almost seems like some of you really care what someone else thinks about you or your car.. I grew out of that in high school..
I guess if you don't like it, don't ride in it, and if you don't like what's coming at you, get out of the way!
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[TINGLER]

Maybe you all have a huge problem with crazed "Rat Rodders" out there in Cali.....If so, then I apologize for poking a little fun at the situation.

I just find all the hair splitting funny. I mean SamIyam is making fun of gaping rust holes when the Roach Rod (correct me if I am wrong) has a nice shotgun blast pattern in the side of it. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

So rust holes= BAD ...... Real bullet holes= Cool and "in the Know"

Fellas, SLOPPINESS SUCKS. That is universal.
STRONG powerful and fast are good. Thats about as far as one should take it.

Hahaha "get out your magnifying glass and look at the seat belt"....hahaha

Oh yeah, it looks real SAFE to me! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif ha haha.

Later,
JT.

[Brootal]

You obviously ain't a "real" rat rodder Butt... you cain't even spell PRIMER! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[kustumizer]

i hate the word. its sound like the word all the posers use or something. I call everything a sled, kustom, or hot rod. Nate

[Zodoff]

Is it really a big deal?
they who knows,knows.

[hatch]

Why not call them English hot rods or Swedish hot rods???...Those are the guys who made the idea popular...The cars in the US are just copys.

[flt-blk]

I drive a Jalopy. Let's bring that word back.
TZ

[porknbeaner]

Rat Rod covers a lot of territory these days. Everything from junk rods to someones high zoot fautina job.

I think that what "we" call a Rat Rod would be better termed Jalopy. That's what my ol man called them when I was little. Never quite finished, but well on the way.

Primer is a good medium to work in, but by my way of thinking it's just not a finished ride. Not that it can't be if that's the look you're after.

My goal has always been to own one that had perfect body panels and paint a mile deep. Unfortunatly my rides very seldom get past the primer 'n' blankets stage while I own them. Too impatient, and going faster has always been my first priority. So I guess I'm destined to drive jalopies, or beaters as we called them when I was comming up.

I try to avoid the term Rat Rod just because it really doesn't mean anything anymore.

Oh, one other thing, I don't care if you grease or don't grease. If I see your britches legs rolled up I'll just figure that your pants don't fit. The way I remember it that's why we rolled ours. But I was real little and memory is selective. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Dooley]

According to my calendar this conversation is two weeks and three days late...

Let's see..this means the Von Dutch complaint, should have been after this and right before the "I can't believe they are asking for this much $$ on E-gay' Thread.

Hmmmm, we need to get this stuff in order fellas.

[plmczy]

To me I don't care what they are called.
I'm just glad that for now we can build these cars and drive these cars on the road. We as a group should remember that, because everyday there are people out there that want to take that away from us. We should focus on that PERIOD! But, we do need a good discussion like this once and awhile to get what bugs us out. Kind of a tension breaker so to say. I don't know....later plmczy

[Buick59]

Who gives a shit! Its like gay marriage....what a divisive non issue.

[SamIyam]

[ QUOTE ]
Maybe you all have a huge problem with crazed "Rat Rodders" out there in Cali.....If so, then I apologize for poking a little fun at the situation.

I just find all the hair splitting funny. I mean SamIyam is making fun of gaping rust holes when the Roach Rod (correct me if I am wrong) has a nice shotgun blast pattern in the side of it. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

So rust holes= BAD ...... Real bullet holes= Cool and "in the Know"

Fellas, SLOPPINESS SUCKS. That is universal.
STRONG powerful and fast are good. Thats about as far as one should take it.


[/ QUOTE ]

It's called a double standard! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

About your first point... yes, I think we do have it bad out here in California. Although their numbers are dwindling, you go to Billetproof or Paso, or VLV or any other "Rat Rod" show and you will always see an example of the shitty. And then it is these cars that get a lot of the attention... they are also the cars that everyone talks about and remembers.

About the rust holes vs. bullet holes comment... I know it looks like I typed a lot on the subject of shittilly built rat rods... but the gaping rust holes and torched out holes are just a couple examples... I wouldn't be caught dead with big rust holes in any of my cars... to me, that shit ain't cool. $400 of the total cost of $2800 to build the RR went towards having the body acid dipped. As far as the bullet holes go, yes... I did leave them in there for a little shock value... but some day when you actually get to see the car in person, you'll be able to tell the difference between what I built and what some of the rat rodders out here in Cali. build... the difference is what I was attempting to point out... no offense, but the people that throw the term "rat rod" at every primered car in existence typically are the people who also "can't tell the difference" between a well built and thought out car and one that isn't.

FWIW, the Roach Rod is also slowly evolving... I have plans for a perimter roll "belly" pans... dropped nose, new hood and sides, exhaust, interior... and yes, when I find a nice door, I'm going to replace the one with the bullet holes.

Sam!

[burndup]

WHY THE HELL is this always such a pissy topic?

What is the subject matter here, a vehicle for rapid propulsion, or a goddamned fashion statement?

Its an old car. build it/fix it, drive it, keep driving it.

[Fat Hack]

I hate to break the news to you people...but the term "Rat Rod" actually goes back MANY years.

When I first started building models, I had this little gumball machine trinket rubber rat that I would stick inside of them for fun. Any hot rod model that he happened to be 'driving' was knowns as "Rat's Rod".

Bunch o' damn copycats ridin' my creative coat-tails!!

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

[SamIyam]

Hahahahaha, that's some funny shit!

You should tell Alex from the shifters that story.

Sam!

[du$ty]

wussies...i just tell people my shit is "puNk Rawk" or "OL'skQQl".i only show the ladies the "DEATHROD"

[JamesG]

I wish everyone in the HAMB would pick up the Marh 2004 Hot ROd magazine and read the "Starting Line" editorial by David Freiburger. It's titled "How the interent is ruining Hot Rodding". Now normally I go past the editorials and go straight to the cars and tech article but for some reason this cought my eye and I read. It's all about MESSAGE BOARDS...........This guy really hit the nail on the head!

[Satinblack]

Not this again, lets see

Hot Rod = any nicely built older hopped up vehicle

Rat Rod = any nicely built older hopped up vehicle with a chevy big block http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The term I think you guys are looking for is what I call a
Junk Rod = Any piece of shit car that, when is going down the road, things are falling off, batteries are falling out, fuel lines are JB weld into the tank and so forth. It can be a potentially cool 32 ford coupe or a 84 olds, either way its an unsafe piece-o-crap!

[Paul]

[ QUOTE ]
Rat Rod = any nicely built older hopped up vehicle with a chevy big block

[/ QUOTE ]

I guess I do have a rat rod..

oh wait, you said "nicely built"

I don't do "nice" http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

http://photo.starblvd.net/~60s_style/3-3-1.jpg

Paul

[Satinblack]

I havent heard of anything falling off your rod, Yuk! Did I just say that! LOL

[2tall2beahotrodder]

I guess I do have a rat rod..

oh wait, you said "nicely built"

I don't do "nice" http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I'll remember that quote for a long time. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif


Rat Rodders on the other hand are guys who actually LIKE to see big gaping holes of rust on their car... the butchery found on pieces of shit rat rods are things like torched holes in sheet metal instead of neatly cut holes and "monkey fucking a football" channeled cars where the rails of the car are 2" off the ground while the car still has stock suspension... and don't get me started on the guys who keep their radiators and grill shells at stock height on these piles of shit.
__________________________________________________ _____
I really dont know how to respond to this, but I have to considering my screen name, and what i have been called by Hot rodders around the country...
I Use my name cause it sounds good, plus it gives the stranger a idea of who I am. You might say, that i cut around the corners, miss a weld or too, or not use that trusty ruler all the time, but its still my ride, which i take pride for...
People might have no idea what the hell it is, but going down the street it looks mean and hell, its better taking the bus, or riding in a rice burner....

I think Rat Rods have ALOT more character than a normal billet car, or the next primered sled. They have 7/8s less cash in the car than a normal Hot Rod and to me, they look 7-8 times cooler .
I know you guys give me shit cause my name, and basicly the "rat rod" trend but to me, its a different style, and i couldnt care less what some Billet Yuppies say at the show... "Livin' High, Ridin' Free"

[HillBillytheKid]

Rat Rod's just easier to say than explaining what traditional means to me. Could be worse, could be something like...Man Rod or something.

[Tackett]

I'm not suggesting that we all drive around without brakes, but all the comments like "these unsafe cars are going to ruin for all of us" confuse me.

Are people really suggesting that if the front end falls off a "rat rod" and ends up killing a busload of orphaned kids we won't be allowed to have hotrods any more?

Damn, there have been fast (seen as "unsafe" by the cops and public) for decades. What is different now?

Yeah, there's stuff on my truck that is going to look bad at first, and when I have more cash, the ugly things will go away. However, it'll be on the road before it's 100% "done". I guess I could wait till the paint is perfect, the seats are perfect, the engine isn't a SBC and my cuffs are just right - but I'd rather drive the damn thing than let it sit in my driveway forever trying to get "perfect".

Tackett

[Sam F.]

sorry,my intentions of this post werent for it to go this way. im just so sick of hearing the term .

cabin fever i guess,,,ill go back to the gargage now... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

[Germ]

HI!
"FAGGOTS"

ITS BEEN A WHILE........
But
I been busy making dreams after I suck the cum out of Cole every weekend morning in his shop........

LISTEN
can one of you dorks do me a favor?
Its not much, but I was thinking that maybe after your DONE dogging out JESSIE JAMES for WELDING better then you or getting HOTTER BITCHES,,,
,or after you have reached the HAMB point of when you think you have finally ADDED a political AGENDA to justify your GUILT of "DESTROYING the TRUE SPIRIT of BUILDING HOT RODS..........with your FUCKING BANTER of FUTILE VEXING bullshit.......

JUST MAYBE you will HAVE THE ENERGY

TO DO THIS ONE THING FOR ME??????
I'll even get NESS to sign a sticker for you...

Can you make the RAT ROD DIPSHIT dudes in OLDDDDDD SKOOLZZ RODZ. MAGAZINE hire a MOTHER FUCKER who can TAKE PICTURES of the SHITBOXES(tm) that you JERK off to in the SHITTER........

I would be STOKED!!!!!!

SKRATCH is GETTING FAT.
AXLE is BALD.
and SETZER is GAY

I got RAT RODS...

I have some HAMBER WIT to add.........

"The downfall of a 4 day COCAINE BINGE is when you have to TRY and shit out thet PETRIFIED log the size of MIKE TYSONS FOREARM that has decided to call your ASS "the exit door to the LOCKER ROOM""......

HELLFIRE is the ORGASM produced from the thought that TRUE HEROS BUILD THINGS in the FREEDOM of PURE PASSION...

SHOVE YOUR POLITICS,
and fuck your scene.......

Bye,

GERM

[Thirdyfivepickup]

I want some of what he's on...

[trey]

germs back!

[Sam F.]

on a side note,i have a friend with a friend who says he "gets off" every time he takes a shit

[haring]

I kinda feel that way when I pee.

[Chuck Fish]

I think we should all pray for Germ.

[ShortBus]

My nose makes its own bubblegum.

[RPW]

Poor workmanship, poor welding, poor reliability, poor design and so on. An old term for that was Shot Rod.
And that was a bad word as well. I never used the term Rat Rod and never will, I prefer to call the worst examples Shot Rods...

[zonkola]

Sorry to veer off-topic here, but I really dig this coupe:

http://photo.starblvd.net/~60s_style/4-2-4.jpg

[Radshit]

[ QUOTE ]
My nose makes its own bubblegum

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh Yea????


Well, I don't own a jacuzzi, but I can turn my bathtub into one after I eat generous portions of refried beans and boiled eggs

[CadillacKid]

Christ, you guys are getting almost as bad as Titus! Call 'em whatever you want....i been reserving the name "death rod" for the rods I've seen driving around with no floor, seat, bad steering, etc. My model A's got rust in the bottoms of the doors, cowl, rear quarters....I've been working on the thing for 2 1/2 years and I just wanna drive it a little....It'll get patched, as I've got the patch panels, but maybea not before it takes it maiden voyage around the block....until it gets patched, the thing quailifies as a rat in my book....oh well, you can't please everybody all of the time....I don't know, if you don't like having your car called a "rat rod", ask the next person who calls it that why they feel it is a "rat rod". Then, maybea you can give them some perspective on your car as to change their way of thinking....if everybody on here changes the thinking of just one goldchainer....that's a lot of goldchainers......

[CadillacKid]

Oh yeah...Zonkola...I have to agree....that coupe is pretty bitchin!

[Yosemite Hermit]

I love 'em all, especially the really raw ones that exude power rather than cosmetics. I don't care if it's shiny or rusty, they are all good. Safety is definitely first with my stuff but to each their own.

[Bigcheese327]

Were it me, I'd just tell them it was a hot rod and let them draw their own conclusions if they asked me to list the components involved.

[junkboy]

Poor thing. Sounds like Germ didn't get a nappy today. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif Fight the power! Down with disinfectant and anti bacterial soap! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[Germ]

NO..........

OLD SKOOL RODZ........ IS THE GAYEST THING ever..

Is it that MAGS attemp to fucking SAY """RAT ROD" every sentence??

and when does some GAY 50's "SHITBOX" become a "ROD"????

wow man SCENESTER LINGO sells MAGAZINES??
so does FAT ROCKERBILLY CUNTS with GAY hair??? and bad tats?

at least GET someone who can take some PICTURES...
the MAG has some GOOD reading.but in the end I can't remember because they said RAT ROD, 899900334 times a fucking ISSUE

[Germ]

I wonder if we could have a HAMD AUCTION to donate to my DRUG REHAB?

[Nads]

germ dude, you sounded really effed up when I talked to you Saturday night. Your pal Cheater Mike's got a totally square shaped head.
The dude from Ol Skool Rodz was there to cover our show.
Are we gonna lose street cred if we're featured in the most despised mag since 'Beaten to Death Seal Monthly'?
Oh don't worry, we don't have any anyway!
I swear I never used the term Rat Rod when he interviewed me, if it slips in there then it was journalistic license that put it there.
I just bought an issue of Garage magazine, was I hiding in a cave? I'd never seen it before, it's pretty good, no it's REALLY good.

[tinyelvis]

You know whenever this topic comes up, I don't say anything about it cuz it's so beat up. One thing is always in the back of my mind tho.. I remember, not too many years ago, the term "rat rod" was bantied around as much as "flatty" and "scallops" and "zephyr gears" and whatever you can imagine is used frequently in the hot rodders world.

It seems now that once it became a mainstream term that your average gold chainer threw around as much as "billet" and "cragars" and "LT1", the very people who once embraced the idea of their own car being a "rat rod" and were damn proud of it, now shun it and forego a thumbs for a middle finger.

Eventually it will go away (RAT ROD) but until it does, why not just choose to ignore or maybe even remember when YOU were once a proud rat rodder yourself.

[Nads]

Tiny, I don't ever recall a time when I ever used the term, I've used rat bike before.

[Fat Hack]

I think it's a hillarious sign o'the times that Revell actually TRADEMARKED the term "Rat Rods" for exclusive use on THIER model kits and die cast toys!!!

Ha Ha Ha...what really kills me is that ten years ago, I got laughed out of a model car contest for building a Revell Model A pickup kit into a rough and rusty backwoods hot rod...and now the company has re-vamped that exact same kit and released it as a RAT ROD!

The term didn't exist in popular circles ten years ago...and today it carries a tm!!

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

[tinyelvis]

Yeah I don't mean anyone specific on this board.. but in the circles I once knew.. it was thrown around quite a bit. 10 years ago I can honestly say I was not into rodz/customs (just old cars I guess) but 5 years ago.. for sure..

Anyway.. I put in my 5 pence about it.

[Buick59]

Germ that magazine does have someone who can take pictures.

ME!

Does this car look familiar?

I remember when CKD came first came out. There was the same amount of weeping wailing and gnashing of teeth. Give it some time....and let them find their nitche.

[hatch]

Twenty years ago in Daytona during bike week I saw my first "Rat Bike" close up. I had seen the bike in the mags for awhile..I think it was a knucklehead. It was the first bike that I remember being referred to with that term. It had a dead rat on the front fender.(along with a whole bunch of other crap hangin off of it).. I was intrigued, but not to the point of building(?) one. The same with cars....intriguing, but I'm not ready to build one. If I found one in a barn from the early days, I would use it...but somehow, the "rat rods" of today are just "Universal Studio" cars...a recreation of sorts.


I much more prefer Sams "Roach Rod" type car....actually "built"...not just thrown together junk.

[Paul]

[ QUOTE ]
OLD SKOOL RODZ........ IS THE GAYEST THING ever..


[/ QUOTE ]

My curiously perverted sense of morbidity is piqued..

Where in the Seattle area can I glom a copy of this subject of controversy?

Paul

[Jester]

I finally got my hands on issue number 2 and I happen to think its done pretty well and the fact that no punches have been pulled in the reading makes this rag my first and only choice to buy off the newstand from now on. You want to talk about gay reading look at "Rod and Custom", "Street Rodder","Southern Rodder","Northern Rodder","Hot Rod", and the list goes on and on, these rags focus on the same cars all the time. Anyway life is about choices and freedom of speach is a right so this is just my opinion feel free to piss on it if you must.

[saltflataddict]

Mike - they do now, but you were not working for them in the 1st issue, and those pics were not that great. Your spread on Bo's car is shot very well, but that was just your shots, not the other guys who forget to shoot the side of a cool car. Hopefully they will have you do more as time passes.. Its a good mag though, I like it but what do I know I am living in Utah..

[SamIyam]

All discussions aside... I think their ONLY problem is that they didn't call the magazine "Rat Rodder".

Sam.

[2tall2beahotrodder]

[ QUOTE ]
All discussions aside... I think their ONLY problem is that they didn't call the magazine "Rat Rodder".

Sam.

[/ QUOTE ]


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

[SamIyam]

Not after you, my friend.

As in "Street Rodder, Custom Rodder, American Rodder... Hot Rod..."

It's just the logical choice for a name if they are going to be preaching Rat Rods... Oooo, there's a name "Rat Rodz"

They can keep their corney play on words... AND preach the gospel of the RAT ROD!

Sounds like a win-win situation to me.

Sam.

[Jester]

california sux.umm sorry just an observation continue don't mind me just passing through

[porknbeaner]

Hatch,
The term Rat Bike goes way back. I road ratz clear back in the '60s. It refered to the Bike that was owned by a guy that didn't spend a lot on chrome and googahs. Usually rattle can paint (or not), nuthin' more than it took to get down the road. Kind of a bare bones type of a thing.
By the 80s it had become pretty well bastardized, a lot like what you see with the fautina crowd, in hot rodding.
I knew a guy in the 80s that actually built a complete new bike new frame, disc brakes new 80" motor (nosecone) high dollar seat... He didn't paint it and left it out in the rain. He called it Rust In Piece, he was just a gold chain biker trying to fit in.

[RF]

What about Rat KustomZ?!

[rikaguilera]

I really don't see a problem with the term "rat rod". I have a rod, that would fit into this ,current, description. But really do not care what others term it. Do you really care if somebody calls your ride a rat rod, hot rod, old school rod, trad. or anything at all? I don't.
What I do have a problem with, and it is just my own selfishness, is that this kind of rod is starting to become main stream. I like that my rust bucket is not a riddler winner. But now there are many "goldchainers" who are building their cars to emulate ours. Kinda sucks...
But then again this is just my opinion.

[Hot Rod To Hell]

Ya know guys, we've got the "Kustom Kulture" (with the obligatory "K"'s), "Kustomz" and "Rodz" (with the "z"'s), "Rat Rodz", and all of the other GAY ASS terms that we come up with to CATEGORIZE ourselves as ANTI establishment (Yep, we're all so different we're the same.). Now all we need to do is come up with a way to spell them all with "X-" at the beginning (as in X-Treme and X-everthingelsegay) and we'll be really cool! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

[AHotRod]

Looks like it's all been said and done!
Now go to the garage and get busy!

[TINGLER]

hmmm...what was Butt Reynolds hollerin' about TWO years ago???

Well, lets see...

:D

bttt,
one from the crypt. Found it on Yahoo searching for "Hillbilly Rat Rods".

hahaha...