Ratrod

I thought ratrods were banned from the hamb. All that fake patina bulloney makes me gag.

 

Not a fan of the term myself. People have called my car a Ratrod because of the style. I like shiny pretty paint and interior, not a pair of stop signs for seats.

 

I remember when the term Rat Rod was not derogatory.

https://www.motortrend.com/features/hrdp-9812-generation-x-rat-rod-car-club

 

But it was the beginning of the current traditional hot rods

 

Then all cars built today with period correct parts from pre 1964 are rat rods by that definition.
I am not trying to disagree, rat rods, or what is currently referred to as rat rods, are art cars in my eyes. Just think maybe some of the younger people do not know where the term started.

 

Haha
Not a fan of fake patina either.
I see you now refer to the original term rat rods as traditional style hot rods, that I can agree on, then a traditional hot rod or custom is really a survivor. Haha

 

Most of us know the difference between a rat rod, and what's traditional, and acceptable here. But seems some have to learn it, or often want to debate it.

 

I've never seen a traditional hot rod with the rear axle actually welded to the frame, I have seen that insanity on a rodent rod. HRP

 

It's funny.
Just google "Traditional hot rod" images.
then google "rat rod" images.
Google seems to know the difference most of the time!

 

I'm sorry, but the majority of the world classifies flat black primer and red wheels as a rat rod, and that's just not the case. Good thing they didn't say anything with shiny red paint and torque thrust D wheels is considered a rat rod, because the yuppie street rod crowd would fall into the fetal position and cry like a bitch. Years ago I read somewhere that a rat rod is a vehicle built solely out of spare parts and is not considered any make/ model vehicle. That said, I've seen so many Model A Ford's painted flat black with red wheels, extreme chop and channel, be called a rat rod that it makes me puke. But, just because a broke mother fucker builds a car and can't afford a paint job, interior, or $5k for a set of wheels from 1960, doesn't make his car a rat rod, it's just not finished. Or sometimes poorly executed. At my job, if I make fun of a new guy for being an idiot, I get my ass brought to the carpet, and my asshole is jacked up so far that I gotta unbutton my shirt to take a shit, because it's the old guys job to teach the young guy, not just in the fire service, but in life. Good talk

 

I've seen some original "survivor" cars that looked like the rats had been living in them a long time. Nastiness turns me away quick. Maybe you don't want to paint it, fine, but at least get the rotten, torn up, cotton strewn everywhere, ripped up seats and carpets out of there before you spread some kind of disease!

 

Some of you guys are way too concerned with other peoples sense of aesthetics and cleanliness.

Its not your car.

You are not driving it.

You are not involved...

 

Triggered again.

 

Yes. It seeps into you like some hideous disease. It takes hold of you and you can never go back. I can't look at a pre '65 rod or custom with radial tires, without breaking out in a fever sweat. There is no known cure for this malady.

 

Before you all come at me with torches and pitchforks, remember this is MY opinion and it holds no bearing on what others do, so bear with.

We all need to just freakin' RELAX!

They're just cars. They are items. They are conveyances. They matter not in the grand scheme.

Everybody has the right to like what they like. I have no business telling you what to wear based on MY tastes. I don't have the right to say you're wrong for your lust over redheads with big gazongas. Why then should I believe I have the right to say you must conform to what I like when it comes to a stupid hobby?

They are just things. They're ALL garbage. They can go away at any time. Everything is fleeting and we all need to understand that these are just peripheral distractions to help us find a level of comfort in a topsy-turvy world.

There is no need for subculture tizzie fits. We're ALL car guys. Which is to say, we ALL spend way more than our wives think we do.

We all find a great amount of joy that comes with finding that one car or that one part that is going to finish our vision.

While I am personally not a fan, I think the problem with rat-rods is the way they look compared to a concourse level restoration that costs a gazillion bucks.

It borders on automotive gentrification and is most definitely gatekeeping. Some folks don't want what they consider the have-nots playing on the same field and competing in the same arena solely based on the "value" of their junker.

Plus, some of you guys hold no space for innovation and trendsetting. If you think you can't be a trendsetter if you want a traditional hot rod, you haven't been paying attention or have no imagination. You CAN build a traditional hot rod and still be innovative. The guys in the 40s-60s didn't have any problems being innovative and imaginative. Go crack open an old issue of any periodical from that time frame. Take off the blinders.

Look, all I'm saying is everybody's crap is a junker and you're not special for spending a ton of cash on it. Especially when you're locked into such a narrow viewfinder of what most consider "traditionalism" to be. It places you into a situation where your car is a carbon copy of everyone else's.

No... we all need to stop looking down at others, come together in a barefoot Margaritaville sort of way. "No bad days." should be our mantra. Turn back the clocks, put away your D'elegance, champagne way of thinking, and let everyone just have fun FFS.

I swear... the more old people I meet, the less I want to be the old guy I am.

Again, this is just me talking out my ass. It means nothing. Don't feel attacked unless you want to.

 

This has been a great thread so far.
Very controversial no doubt.
I just want to offer up these two great images, in relation to all things of a controversial nature.

 

This site started what, in the late '90's? Went from underground type to G rated for the sake of the kids & traffic numbers. The term 'rat' has been bastard-ized as much as 'hot-rod'.

 

Art? I suppose you could consider rat rods art as opposed to HAMB era traditional hot rods but it would be like comparing Picasso or Dali's works to Rembrandt. There are people here who are capable of creating pieces of metal sculpture that are designed not only for appearance but for function. In no way is it possible to equate a well designed Hot Rod with a rat rod.