The Illustrated History of the Rat Rod. Steve Thaemert, Jr.
The truth of the matter is, you can ask ten different people, and they will all give you a different answer. There are a lot of people out there who will tell you matter-of-factly that a rat rod is (whatever they think it is), and some will even tell you exactly where the term originated … some folks have even tried to take credit for creating the term. Internet research will ultimately bring you to a couple of different common definitions. From Wikipedia: “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 recreation or period-correct restoration of a hot rod from the same era.”
Rat rods have been aptly described as “rough around the edges.”
Or how ‘bout this definition from Fat Tony at RatRodStuff.com: “A rat rod is simply a custom car that is made for driving and hanging out with friends. Rat rods aren’t ultra-glossy show cars. Instead, a rat rod is an ‘unfinished’ street rod that is intentionally left a bit rough around the edges.” Here’s one from streetrods-online.com: “A rat rod is a newly developed name for the original hot rod style of the early 1950s. A rat rod is usually a vehicle that has had many of its non-critical parts removed. They are usually finished in primer or paints that are often period-correct. They are very often a conglomeration of parts and pieces of different makes, models, and aftermarket parts. The term ‘rat rod’ was first used by the high-dollar, show-car guys to describe the low-buck, home-built drivers. Don’t forget the roots of the hobby (street rods); it was the little guy in a garage on a budget (with help from his friends) that started it all.” Then there’s the squidoo.com definition: “A rat rod is an older car or truck that’s still roadworthy but has been stripped down to basics and then rebuilt (usually) with accessories and parts that date approximately from the same period as the original car.”
Using old truck bodies for builds is popular among rat rod enthusiasts.
Rat rodders believe in displaying the artwork of time and nature.
You get the idea. There are definitely some points that just about everyone agrees on, and then we have this massive gray area full of opinions and ideas that can range from traditional thinking to overly creative conceptualism. For the record: this magazine is a product of the entire rat rod scene, from every angle, covering all personalities, ideals, and components. What it really comes down to is the fact that a rat rod can be whatever you want it to be. You might be laughed at for building something goofy or praised for stretching the boundaries. There is a fine line between ridicule and respect, at least in the world of hot rods. The rat rod scene seems to be more accepting, more free-spirited, more rebellious, and more open to individual interpretation. My observation is this—if someone says, “Hey, you can’t do that!,” someone’s gonna do it.
The rat rod culture is more than just building Frankenstein’s ride or a flat black hot rod—it is about that rebellious blue-collar attitude that counteracts the sparkly high-dollar hot rod scene. Where the term “rat rod” really came from is up for debate, but the rat rod mentality has been around since people started modifying, piecing together, and showcasing cars. Wherever there is a high-dollar hobby or movement, you can bet your butt that there will be a counterculture movement representing “the other folks.” So, let me get to the point here and try to explain what I think a rat rod is and isn’t. Flat black paint alone does not make it a rat rod. I know popular belief would say that if it’s flat black, it’s a rat rod … but I beg to differ. Sure, many rats are flat black or painted in primer. I do believe that a rat rod can also be shiny. A rat can have a nice coat of paint, clear coat, some chrome—fine. Having those things doesn’t immediately rule it out in my eyes. You have to look at the whole picture. Your rat rod doesn’t have to have a rat drawing, the words “rat rod” airbrushed on it, or a toy rat zip-tied to the dip stick to be a rat rod. I know, if you’ve got one, you want people to understand that yes, this is a rat rod. But there’s a point where it can become too much, and, in my opinion, if you have to tell people that it’s a rat, it might not be one. Now, I have seen some cool rats with toy rats on them and the words “rat rod” stuck all over, and they looked good, but I am more and more turned off by the blatant “look at me” rat decoration. Trust me, if your rat is cool, there is no need for decoration. Patina is awesome. I love rust, decay, age, and distressed steel. Patina is a beautiful, natural part of decay. A natural rusty patina is like war paint over battle scars and the remnants of a storied past. Patina is something that can’t be reproduced (or reproduced well). Time-worn parts paired with cool road-warriorish modern machinery is mixing past and present for a new level of cool. This is the essence of rat rod creativity.
Rat rods wear their rust with pride.
Mechanical creativity can be downright diabolical. A rat rod in my eyes should be a mixture of mechanical things. Different makes and models, parts from different eras, junkyard collectibles. Part of the rat rodder’s credo is the “use what you got” mentality. Rat rod creativity should never just be on the surface—it should be internal, as a whole. Show me an engine in a car that it was never meant to be in; show me a car built from scavenged parts; show me what you can do with a pile of rusty steel that’s been rotting away in a farmer’s field for fifty years; show me a car that looks like a monster but drives like a cheetah. Build it, don’t buy it. Look, I’ve got nothing against the guy who buys cool stuff for his rat, but anybody with some cash can do that. Get your hands dirty! I’m always amazed by the amount of work that can go into a car, and oftentimes I’m blown away by what people can do, especially with limited resources. I have a ton of respect for a guy who locks himself in the garage for a winter and comes out in the spring with something that’ll kick some serious butt and look cool doing it. Most importantly: drive it. Anything built (or bought) to be hauled around on a trailer isn’t a vehicle, it’s a trophy, a showpiece. I love looking at restored classics, muscle cars, race cars, antiques—I love all of that stuff, and they have their place in automotive history. However, rat rods are not meant to be hauled. I won’t even put a car in this magazine if it’s not used. Rats are really meat-and-potato machines. I need to see bugs in the radiator and burnt rubber on the quarter panels. They should be mean and gritty and have plenty of attitude. Function over flavor, baby.
So what will or won’t I feature in this magazine? After reading all of this, you pretty much know where I stand, but here’s what really turns me on: cars and trucks that represent the rat rod culture. I’m looking for daily drivers. Rats that are built to DO something. Rats that are built by hand, in the backyard, in the local shop, in a rickety old garage. Rats built from salvage-yard treasures. Rats that are made from a bunch of different sources from different generations. Rats that have meaning behind their existence. Rats and owners/builders that have a story.
Creativity, both mechanical and aesthetic. Rust. Patina. Big steel balls to go along with big steel pipes, with engines that churn out thunderous fury, flame-blasting exhausts, and the smell of burnt high-octane fuel. This is my interpretation of what is and what is not a rat rod. I challenge everyone out there to form your own opinions and find your own “cool.” Rat on!
— by Steve Thaemert
I published the following letter in the June/July 2014 issue of Rat Rod Magazine, also in response to the what-is-a-rat rod debate. It sums up “rat rod” as a term, culture, and community. Only three years apart, these two articles share the same basic message.
Ratology, an Editor’s Letter
Four years after the birth of Rat Rod Magazine, the battle of what is and what is not a rat rod still rages on. Sometimes I wonder if it’s just because people like to stir the pot … or maybe need something to argue about. Other times, they might genuinely want to know. Either way, someone is always