About Rat Rod Roadsters

Stemming from the 1950s hot rod, the rat rod racer is a revamped twist on the classic cult vehicle, but should not be mistaken for its predecessor--the rat rod has a culture all of its own.

History

There is a contemporary rat rod trend, but it is mistakenly the result of the hot rod culture of the 1950s where people would take the body of a ford model "T" and enhance it by installing the engine of a 1950's car. During the 1950s, the hot rod was designed mostly for the sole purpose of drag racing. Through the years, this trend evolved and the rat rod trend developed.

Misconceptions

Rat rods are not hot rods, and they are not super rods, which are both known more for cosmetic features. Rat rods are designed specifically for the purpose of drag racing, and while they are known to use classic parts of vintage vehicles, they just as easily can be constructed from more contemporary pieces and still be defined as a rat rod. The goal is speed, and that goal is the first priority.

Identification

The typical rat rod is designed as a throwback vehicle, and it's usually a coupe or a roadster from anytime between 1920 to 1950. What define it as a rat rod is the fact that a diverse array of parts are mixed and matched from scratch.

Significance

A core part of the rat rod significance in American culture is that it represents individual know-how in innovation. Most rat rods are constructed and engineered by their owners, and this understanding adds a certain pride and admiration to the displaying and racing of these vehicles. This is also the source of the trend's cult following.

Features

Rat rods often have unfinished paint jobs. The tops are often chopped, and their hoods, running boards, bumpers and fenders removed. The purpose of this unfinished look is to imply that the car is simply meant to be driven and is not for show.