I've collected 67 of the Muscle Machines, which is a cheap (inexpensive) diecast line. I really like 1/18th scale, and these from GMP look awesome. I'll have to build another showcase and start getting these. Nice looking stuff GMP.
That's it - thanks! You should see it in the case - it is like 4 or 5 feet long! The ultimate Die Cast if you ask me. You'd really need some dough to burn but it is killer. The slicks are really big. it's cool!
I will never own anything that says "Rat Rod" on it if I can help it. Just shows right off the bat that you're either A) Trying to cash in on a stupid fad or B) That you don't have a clue I kind of like it when someone brings up "rat Rod", it let's me know right away what kind of person I'm dealing with and how fast I can get away from the conversation. Its not just a phrase or term, its an indicator of who you are. The GMP model is a cool, traditional looking hot rod and should be labeled as such. How many Rat Rods have Ardun heads? How many real steel '32 rat rods are there? Boy those marketing guys got this one wrong...as usual. Spike
Hey Fellas, I work in the die cast industry (www.M2Machines.com) and I can tell you first hand that Tom and all the guys at GMP are true car guys. They make a top notch product and best of all they are really good guys. I love hanging out and seeing there new stuff every SEMA show. And John is right, no matter what you do you can't please everyone. Someone is always going to find something they don't like, it's human nature. Oldschool66, Muscle Machines is not a cheap line. It's a mass retail line, that is why it's affordable for most people. Plus with real licensed product, die cast molds & labor there really isn't no cheap die cast. I happened to get my start at Muscle Machines, that's why I got a little defensive. Thanks, Sean
Whatever to the BS, thats an awesome looking diecast. I would put that right above my TV and be happy driving it around with my kid
I agree with most all of you that the term "Rat Rod" needs to die...BUT I can completely see why GMP would use the term "Rat Rod"... Its marketing... I search Rat Rod on Ebay every day for parts.. Today there are 5000 items under the "Rat Rod" title.. I hear that term at every show when I am hanging near my 64 C10.. So when the average Joe wants to look to buy something with the traditional or vintage look chances are the words "Rat Rod" are going to be used... NO matter waht its a bad ass model that I would like to see on my shelf..
JohnnyGMachine Well you are closer to Tom that I am. Why not hit him up to become an Alliance Vendor on here. Might even boost sales some. Who knows you might even get some great ideas and good feedback from here.
I didn't get "Worked Up" over, just stating that like MOST of the guys on here the Rat Rod name does not apply to that style of car and it's shame that this would propagate that to the general public who will then continue to call all Hot Rods Rat Rods. Just trying to help move things forward in a positive manner.
I can't define "rat rod" but like pornography, I know it when I see it. I don't see one in this coupe, but it's all about marketing. The term is getting alot of use these days.
Spike, hey ya know I know right where you're coming from and again - actually we did do the marketing right. At first we just used "rat rod" as a working name for the project and were trying to come up with ANYTHING bu that and still set it apart from the OTHER "traditional" hot rods we've already produced. At the end of the long discussion with the whole group ultimately Rat Rod was the best name to not only set this home built hot rod series apart from the Vintage Deuce Series (to me vintage and traditional sound too close to the same thing and that was the dilema) bu give the new series a name with attitude. Spike, I promise ya if we get talkin' about hot rods, muscle cars, whatever we'd never stop talking. I can't tell you how many times I've been called an "Automotive Purist"....I'm a perfectionist by nature as a designer and completely understand why it should be called traditional and why you a few of the objecting die hards think that way. But in this case we wanted a lineup that stood apart, had a name with attitude, and would sell to the masses...Rat Rad fit the bill. This is a small series and I asure you that we got more of this type of stuff coming and I know when you all see what we have coming you'll be grinnin' from ear to ear. I love cars, I draw cars, I race my 85 notchback at the drags, I wrench on my own stuff, I eat, sleep, and crap cars. Ask my poor wife! We're all a bunch a car freaks at GMP and the great thing about what we do there is we listen to the enthusiats and we appreciate ALL input even if you don't like it - we still listen to ya. We're open to input and hey I'm sur me and the guys are even open to doing a car for the H.A.M.B board. We did a pro-touring Camaro with lateral-g.net and let the members vote for options, styling, etc for a 1st gen Camaro and it went into and did very well. Thanks for you suggestions and support, we're all ears at GMP... John [email protected]
I am just trying to state that the average person (who are not into cars) would probably think most of the rides on this site are "Rat Rods". Mine certainly included. Who cares, it is just a term people use.....
GMP do some stunning models, I have a bunch. They are also prime canditates for modifying. Below is what I did to a second Socal coupe I bought. Geoff aka whodaky
WTH???? It's Geoff!!!!! Right on....the model looks killer... Still striping???? I always liked your style......
Hey John, Thanks for the response! I can understand WHY the name is used. It fits a broad range of people out there who don't know any better..and a few that should as well. Actually the whole package fits the general public. I mean if I see another '32 Ford..dressed up as anything...It's been done, ya know? Now the Ardun... most people won't get that, so that was a curve ball. I'm surprised that made it through the first meeting. I bet most folks will call it a Hemi.. Why not try and do what Geoff did, and modify a '33 or '34 Ford? Maybe put some E&J's on it? Maybe an Olds Rocket motor? (and not an SBC with those silly Olds valve covers...we know the difference) Here's something crazy....Why not some other brand than a Ford??? Chevy? MoPar? Durant? You may actually have to do some work on that one... I've worked for Franklin Mint way back when doing photography for the scaling part. Lots of work. But for what you charge for a model...well... Feel free to ask my opinion any time.. [email protected] Spike
I like your thinking Spike. GMP already do what you suggest to a degree. That is using say the 3 window to build a number of different hot rod versions. Actually they do it with all their models to a degree. It makes sense from a cost point of view. That is using a body style they know will sell and can be adapted to different versions and styles to meet the various tastes of their customers. I do like your thoughts on a hot rod model other than a Ford. I remember on the HAMB a channeled 3 window Mopar or Chev coupe (may have been something else ) with a inline six and a bunch of carbs. Black with red steelies and white walls. That coupe would make a stunning model. But hey I guess it all gets back to how many would sell. As I suggested before, GMP does world class models. The 1/6th Ardun is like a piece of Jewellery. Actually it amazes me how many models GMP produce, I have been buying their models for years. They cost us a lot more here in Australia, but they are worth every cent. However as a model builder (and hot rodder) I quite often alter them. For example on the '32s I reckon they need to be channeled slightly at the cowl to get the lines of the whole model flowing right ! I never hesitate to alter a mdoel to get it looking right. No matter what the model cost. Geoff aka whodaky
My post in response to was in response to Spike's last post. Not to a reference to the Rat Rod title. To me Rat Rod is just a term, I can take it or leave it. For me NitroFC's thread is all about another stunning model from GMP ! Geoff aka whodaky
Now tell me how Jalopy and Rat Rod sound different....Jalopy can be anything - geez, I could call a rusty piece of crap Chevette a jalopy LOL! Let's look at it this way....Check out wikipedia's definition of the following... A rat rod is a style of hot rod or custom car that, in most cases, imitates (or exaggerates) the early hot rods of the 40s, 50s, and 60s. It is not to be confused with the somewhat closely related "traditional" hot rod, which is an accurate re-creation or period-correct restoration of a hot rod from the same era. Most rat rods appear "unfinished" (whether they actually are or are not), with just the bare essentials to be driven. The rat rod is the visualization of the idea of function over form. Rat rods are meant to be driven, not shown off. Sometimes the customization will include using spare parts, or parts from another car altogether. Notice how a "traditional" hot rod is defined. I'm not saying that the people at Wikipedia are the be-all end-all of Hot Rod Experts in defining what type of Hot Rods are but they really define the differences pretty well. Now notice in RED what they say about rat rods - now how is that a negative definition? Now look at the term Jalopy... WHY THE HECK WOULD WE WANT TO CALL THEM JALOPIES????? Jalopy* (also clunker or hooptie) is an old, decrepit, unreliable and often unfunctional car which has limited mechanical abilities. A jalopy is not a well kept antique car, but a car which is mostly rundown or beaten up. As a slang term in American English, "Jalopy" was noted in 1924<SUP style="WHITE-SPACE: nowrap" class="noprint Template-Fact" title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from November 2008">[citation needed]</SUP> but is now slightly passé. When a jalopy gets to a state in which its maintenance becomes too expensive, its owner would be required to make a decision about its fate. Some owners abandon it in the street as a parked car (an action forbidden by law in most jurisdictions).<SUP style="WHITE-SPACE: nowrap" class="noprint Template-Fact" title="This claim needs references to reliable sources from October 2008">[citation needed]</SUP> If it remains parked, the local authority commonly tows it to the junk yard. Other people may then sell it (or deliver it) to be stripped for spare parts for use in other vehicles. During the 1930's, this word was used frequently when the market for used cars first started to grow. Cheap dealers could obtain the cars for very little, make aesthetic adjustments, and sell the car for much more. Just my 2 cents guys, seriously read the definitions and think about it! John
Rat Rod was originally coined for cars put together from leftover stuff or parts that others deemed not good enough to use in a build. The leftovers cobbled together to build something. A barn find would not be a Rat Rod at all. The term Rat Bike was around long before rat rod and described ratty bikes built out of leftover stuff. Rat Bikes where built for kicks or to just have something to thrash around on. It has nothing to do with traditional. Ride the trend, make a buck! I'll stick to the more traditional way, I'll stick to building models.
i don't care for the term " rat rod " either , but i have found that in my search for parts for my traditional hot rod on epay or craigslist , the term actualy produces better results in finding the parts that i am after .
If it was not for Tom and the boys in Georgia we would not have these cool diecast models so cut them some slack for marketing them as "rat " rods. They need to make money so that they can continue to sell some of the best models on the market at affordable prices and if calling it a rat rod achieves that goal then good luck to them. Some of you guys are taking this waaay to seriously. For the uninformed Tom is a true rodder who drove his 40 Ford tudor to Bowling Green last weekend and simply parked it on the grass with everyone else. He was there to enjoy the cars and the event just like the rest of us. Roo
The Jalopy Journal
