What's a Rat Rod?

Way to go Ace!  I agree.  The thing that makes hot rods cool is diversity.  I enjoy seeing everything at shows and cruise-ins, and if some people don't like my rat rod, tuff!  Other people do.  Its all in what you like and I like it all!  

1. Get what you want/ can afford
2. Build it to suit you (as safely as you can)
3. Call it whatever you want
4. Drive it like you stole it
and
5. Go out and have some darn fun with it...

Keep this in mind:

* Some will like it, some won't.

* You like it (I hope, since you built it ;-)

* Who gives a "rat".

* Your opinion is really the only one that matters until you get a ticket...

Mike
www.Customikes.com  
It's only metal, It does not know if it is on a 50 Merc, or on a Lambo. Make it do what you want.

TfeverFred doesn't get it. At one time Don Garlits was called Don Garbage because of the looks of his cars. Everyone has to start somewhere and Rat Rodding has caused an explosion of interest in automobiles. People doing their own cars and trucks to ensure a new generation of rodders. Most I've witnessed are vechicles saved from the wrecking yards. Vechicles that would never been worth restoring. Now rodders are saving these cars and learning to build on vehicles they aren't likly to destroy. Having fun for cheap is just a bonus. This is the best thing to happen for the car lovers in years. Don't knock it because you don't understand it. Besides, doesn't matter how it started. Important thing is it's HERE!  

I have to agree with you spaceman, whatever you call your car, its all about putting your personal touch into the finished product. And why spend all the money if you don't drive it. To me its all about the "creation" of what makes the builder happy, half the fun is scrounging up all the parts to see what you can accomplish
with what most of us have,"a small amount of cash". thanks for your comments  

I read Fred's rant again, and I'm just as floored as the first time I read it.  What's so funny, is this guy is talking about tradition, and what constitutes a "REAL" rod, and he's sporting a Fiberglass T bucket!  No offense to T Bucket owners intended, my point is simply that most of the rat rods are real steel, original frames, tons of actual real parts as opposed to his car wich is basicly a Kit Car.   And he's got the nerve to call someone else a Poser?  Gimme a Break.

Ace  

In my opinion, rat rod is more a way of life just like owning a ferrari or hot rod or whatever. To me a person who owns a rat rod usually does more work himself rather than alot of people that own trailer queens ususally have a shop do most of the work.... In every rat rod there is a peice of the owner in that car cause it was something they created and not some expensive shop. So to all the people that is hating on rat rods, are mostly just mad cause they arent creative enough or skilled enough to make something of their own instead that have to fork over thousands of dollars to pay someone else to!!!!  

Rat Rods have been around for a long time we just didn't call them Rats.

My wife drove in the opening of the beaches parade in Jacksonville, FL a couple of weeks ago driving our 1922 Dodge Rat Rod. She had the Queen of the local Red Hat Society with her. When this 78 year old saw the car she said "I used to date a guy that had a Jalopy just like this..This brings back some wounderful memories.





The problem is there are Rat Rods and there is JUNK. I see lots of unsafe junk for sale on Ebay...

Cadman  
56 GMC
89 Allante
88 DeVille
22 Dodge

At CCC we build rat rods to extreme customs to pretty much anything you can think of. check us out at www.charliescustomcreations.com