"rat Rod" ??????
 

Guess I'm gettin' old or not paying attention, but I have been seeing this "rat rod" term put to use lately. I had no ideal what it meant. Then I found this on that "all things are evil" bay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1963-...QQcmdZViewItem

Notice that "IT HAS A FEW PITTS"

So I decided to figure out what a "rat rod" is. From my extensive research (about 2 minutes) I found out it is a ride that looks like s*** but runs like he!!. My trucks kinda in between there, so I guess I have a "mid rat rod":metal:

But then I see they have special tools for "rat rods"

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-R...QQcmdZViewItem

I gotta get me one of those !!!!!! Or should I wait for the "mid rat rod" version to come out ???? :lol:

Re: "rat Rod" ??????
 

I was kinda wondering the same thing. Guess that makes two of us that know now. Thanks. Mine is ugly and slow. Wonder what thats called?

Re: "rat Rod" ??????
 

Mole Rod!

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:haha: :lol:

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heres some rats I found

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Little bit of advice ... don't call them "Rat Rods" to the guys that drive them ...

Re: "rat Rod" ??????
 

what do they call them?

Re: "rat Rod" ??????
 

Hot Rod. These are cars that are driven versus trailer queens.

Look for these kustoms in the suede section of your next car show.

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To me a rat rod is a cobbled up pos. Its also an older car, pre 48. Calling a truck a rod just doesn't sound right to me. I like thinking trucks are in a category all their own. But like we always say, its your ride, do with it and call it whatever you want. Even if you're wrong :lol:

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Here's what I call a rat rod.

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Wrong wheels and tires for a "rat rod" style truck...must be wide whites and painted wheels...LOL!

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rat rods are real, driven, untrailered machines, call them what you want but i personally love them:metal:

i could say more but i dont want to "affend" or "upset" anyone and i personally think the rat rod term is being way over used for things that arent even rat rods

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Agree 100%, Like most fashionable "catch phrases", way overused.

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RatRodz are the new Harley Davidsons, if you ask me. IMHO, The look is supposed to represent the "rebel" element of car builders. And it does very well! But like Harley's this will be corrupted by all the builders out there that will sell them the any doctor, lawyer, or accountant with a checkbook. Then these weekend rebels will show up at all the runs, and shows, and act like the rebels they always wished they could have been. They'll dress in period clothes, and listen to period music, all the while they'll be worried that their cell phone will ring, giving them away as the posers they really are.

I personally like them alot. The "driver" ratrodz, that is. But the Posers will ruin it, just like the poser bikers have ruined the Harley.

Mark my words, it has already begun, just buy an issue of "Old Skool Rodz" and see for yourself. Ray Evernham had one built, now he's a real rebel huh?

Re: "rat Rod" ??????
 

I call non-show, non shiny, no bling, everyday drivers "beaters"...

The "rat rod" term doesnt make me mad either but I think they actually call them "traditional hot rods", which I dont think is correct either. Its sort of like with motorcycles, "chopper" & "bobber" are a little tricky anymore too...:crazy:

Re: "rat Rod" ??????
 

Traditional hot rods is correct


http://www.so-calspeedshop.com/Billy...-Rat-4_jpg.jpg

Re: "rat Rod" ??????
 

Hot Rods or Traditional Rods ...

Some of those cars may look "beat" and "ratty" but a lot of time and effort goes into finding "era correct" parts to make them look like they did back in the day.

Re: "rat Rod" ??????
 

I have a 68 thats a nice driver that my family thinks is pretty and I really like, but I'm building another with leftover parts that will be in primer, dependable and very workable that I will probably enjoy just as much and won't mind what anyone calls it. Sometimes it's just does'nt matter.

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At this point, you can call mine anything... with the tranny she's got, she won't come anyway!:lol: :lol:

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Doctors, lawyers, accountants aren't supposed to be able to enjoy cars/bikes and to relive an era that they enjoy or maybe even lived through? If people get together and they enjoy the same things does it matter what they do for a living? How exactly do these "posers" ruin it? :crazy:

And no, I am not any of the above.

Re: "rat Rod" ??????
 

Ask any true "Biker". They'll tell you all about it. But I do know this. There was a day, not so long ago, when riding a Harley individualized a person. Now it's just a status symbol for the vast majority.

Jay

Re: "rat Rod" ??????
 

I always considered rat rods to be any vehicle around or before World War II that has a primer paint job, or flat black, with red steelies and white wall tires. The motor can be nice and pretty, but no glossy paint job or chromed out rims.

My truck is untrailered, and close to an everyday driver (but sometimes can't afford the gas for an entire week). I consider it a hot rod because I'm a kid, trying to work with what he's got to go fast, even if it means junkyard parts. That's always been my perspective on a hotrod. Kids working with what they've got on old muscle. So don't think that because a kid buys used parts for his Honda, makes that a hot rod. Hotrods are only old, American made vehicles.

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I have been to the Sturgis Motorcycle Classic many times and seen thousands and thousands of Harley riders. How do I know which ones are the "true" bikers? If you can tell me how to identify one, then next time that I go I will ask him/her to explain your position to me.

Anyway, if you want to continue to discuss this then we should start a different thread in the appropriate place. I would be interested in your definition though.

Re: "rat Rod" ??????
 

A true biker? Carries a long chain, doesn't believe in helmets, and is probably an original Hell's Angels member and not one of the "enthusiasts" you see today.

Re: "rat Rod" ??????
 

I want to add to my original answer.

When I think of rat rod, it's gotta be a Ford Model A or B - in the weeds with tall white walls.

I think newer cars and trucks (50's &60's) can be "rat-rod" inspired.

Re: "rat Rod" ??????
 

Ive always thought they called them rat rods because they had Big block Rat motors in them..shows what I know...

Re: "rat Rod" ??????
 

I'm confused. I though a rat rod was an old hot rod built at home from what you could scrounge. It would not have any or very few store or catalog bought parts on it and had an old time look. I guess that you could pay someone to build one for you but how well you fit in with the crowd will depend on your attitude and hot rod interests. Of course I used to think that real bikers rode wherever they went no matter the weather or distance and more than likely slept under the stars at night on the way like we used to when I was younger. Now it seems like a large pecentage, if not a majority of real bikers travel to Sturgis and Daytona in new Suburbans with the choppers in the enclosed traler following along behind.

Tom

Re: "rat Rod" ??????
 

What's a true biker, phycho 71? My dad and his friends have been riding Harley's since the mid-60's. He and his friends, which by the way one of them is a doctor, have been riding together ever since. There are 6 of them. Are they rebels? I have heard stories when they were in their late teens early 20s, but I wouldn't call them rebels. At least every other weekend, they get together and work on each others bike or go for a few hours ride. They dress in their t-shirts and jeans, throw on their chaps and jean or leather jacket, put on a skull protector, and they are off. I consider them true bikers.

Everybody will have there definition of a Rat Rod. My definition of a Rat Rod is a pre-WWII vehicle that is a sleeper. It doesn't look like much, but the motor/trans/suspension/brakes are built. Everything newer than pre-WWII is Rat inspired.

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72c10 - I think you are thinking of Rat Fink...:cool:

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:agree:

I don't know if it is correct or not but that is my definition too.

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I would disagree, and alot of the guys with old mercs and olds would too, everyone kind has there own definition. Most guys around that hold the "traditional" rod shows, don't alow cars after 1950. At least around here.

Very much agree.

Re: "rat Rod" ??????
 

Depending on who you talk to rat rods are American cars, some say pre '68 some say pre '65, that are customized in the styles popular in the 40's to the 60's. They're built to be driven. There are some shiney ones with lots of chrome and lots of primered and flat black ones and some that do look like cobbled together POS's. And just like us the people that own them love them and build them how they want it. And of course bein the good little greaser I am I couldn't help but add a little rat rod flavor to my '68.:cool:

Re: "rat Rod" ??????
 

for what it's worth: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rat_rod

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this is just one of those things were its basically an opinionated deal and we can kick it around all we want and its not gona matter

Re: "rat Rod" ??????
 

I believe one of the things that everyone has missed with the"real" rods and "real" bikers thing is that we all have different opinions on the subject. To me the poser bikers are the guys that trailer theier bikes from oint a to point b then ride a mile or 2 around point b then trailer the thing back. if you own a bike to be seen on a bike , then you are a poser plain and simple. if you bought your bike to ride the thing, and if you do actually do ride the damn thing, then you probably can be called a biker. hot rodders are a little different. I saw some guy a while back ago with a BEAUTIFUL 69 camaro. that being my favorite car, i wanted to find out a little about it (ok, so i just wanted drool a little closer to it) I asked the driver what size engine did it have, to which he replied its got a v-8. ok what size v-8? he honestly looked at me and replied its a 3 something. the guy had owned the car (he said) for a couple of months. if you own a hot rod for months and know less about it than i know about a honda, then you probably aint a "hot-rodder" your just a guy that bought a car cause you saw one in a magazine. A hot rodder wants to know his car inside and out, at least I do. to me thats the difference between someone who is a "real" biker, or hot-rodder, you do it because you love to do it, and not because its fashionable or trendy

Re: "rat Rod" ??????
 

It seems that nowadays any vehicle that is shot with with some suede black paint, is shod with red painted steelies and big ass white walls is labeled a "Rat Rod". on the H.A.M.B. forum (a place for traditional, NO Billet rods) anyone using the term "Rat Rods" is instantly shot down. It's just like the name Von Dutch. At one time the name was associated with hot rodding, now it's a clothing line for the trendy who have no idea who the man was.

Re: "rat Rod" ??????
 

To me, if your wife or girlfriend hasn't threatened to "pack her bags and go if you spend ONE more minute with that d@mn (bike, truck, car)" then you may be a poser. If I've heard that once, I've heard it a million times.

She's still here though...

Rg

Re: "rat Rod" ??????
 

Well the thing I don't get is the "patina" paint jobs. If you're cobbling together a rat rod out of some parts you found in a yard; that's cool with me but to actually pay somebody to patina your ride or, even worse, to patina perfectly good body parts just so it has the "look" just doesn't make sense to me.

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Amen brotha!

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what does that have to do with anything? my girlfriend has her own truck she is in the process of bagging and bodydroppin and she hasnt threatened to leave me if i spend more time working on my 67 c10 or my 68 camaro. so does that make me a poser? i dont think so. i think it means that i have a girlfriend thats cool enough to take a shot at building a truck. i would love to know how that makes me a poser. ive been doing this since i was 8 so i guess im a poser?