How to Identify Hot Rods

Hot rods, street rods, classic cars and muscle cars are all likely to make an appearance in a car show, but the average person usually can't tell them apart. Hot rods are easy to identify because of their specific dates of manufacture and the modifications that owners have made. Dating back to the 1930s, hot rods have a rich history and continue to be popular among car enthusiasts.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Identify the year of manufacture of the car. The term "hot rod" specifically refers to cars made up to the year 1965, when muscle cars became more popular. While the hot rod era began in 1930, at that time car enthusiasts were using older cars as well, so hot rods may date back even farther than the 1930s.

2. Determine if parts are new or original. One of the main differences between hot rods and street rods is that most hot rod owners use mostly original parts and maintain their cards in the style of the Hot Rod Era (1930-1965), while street rod builders tend to use new parts.

3. Look for modifications. Most hot-rodders like to make modifications that are in the style of the original hot rod era, which includes leaving the engine open and some or all of the modifications exposed to view.

4. Look for classic cars that have been refurbished, especially with flashy paint jobs. Most hot rods that owners use for car shows will have either a refurbished classic paint job or a very showy design. Many cars have accessories to match, like a small trailer with the same paint job, making these cars easy to spot on the road.

5. Take note of lesser-known types of hot rods. While show rods are probably the most commonly sighted in the United States, other types of hot rods, like "rat rods," are less obvious. Rat rods are designed to look like old jalopies, so they may appear rusty or unkempt, but if you look closely the engine will still be modified.