Rat Rods Today
Recently, the term “Rat Rod” has been used to describe any vehicle that appears to be unfinished or has been built simply to be driven, whether or not the vehicle would have been customized or even existed during the 1950s.
Many of today’s Rat Rods have the appearance of being unfinished, with a primer paint job being the norm. Other finishes may include “natural patina” (the original paint with rust and blemishes intact), bare metal with no finish at all, in rusty or oiled varieties, or a patchwork of original paint and primer. Contrary to the tastes of many car buffs and builders, rust is often both appreciated and accepted by the Rat Rod crowd.
Ford Truck Rat Rod
Rat Rod Drive Train
Today, the most common engines found in a Rat Rod are Flathead V8, the Chrysler Hemi, or a more modern Small Block V8, especially Chevy. It is not uncommon to see straight 8s, straight 6s, straight 4s, V6s or even Cummins diesel engines. The engines may be stock, or be highly modified.
Most Rat Rods you will see are rear wheel drive. The rear-ends are typically from passenger cars, as are the transmissions. The Ford Banjo rear-end is popular, as is the “Quickchange” type as used in early hot rods.
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1937 1938 Chevy Chevrolet Coupe rat hot rod project US $3,500.00 End Date: Thursday Jul-29-2010 19:41:12 PDT |
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1942 Hudson Traveler Coupe Rare Rat Hot Rod project US $4,200.00 End Date: Friday Jul-30-2010 8:10:52 PDT |
A beam axle is commonly accepted as the only type of front suspension that will look right when exposed without fenders on a vehicle with open front suspension. Your typical Rat Rod uses a 1928 to 1948 Ford I beam axle with a transverse leaf spring. Any solid axle will work, the Ford axle is most common due to the ease of spare parts.
Springs vary from transverse, parallel and coil setups in the front and rear. Parallel is not seen as frequently as the more common single-spring transverse setup, though both are used commonly. Coil springs are often deemed unsightly without fenders, but are still occasionally seen.
Rat Rod Interior
Rat Rod interiors will vary from custom finished to bare bones. Bomber seats, blankets, etc. are the basis of many rat rod interiors. Most are designed to be functional without many comforts although this will vary and match the owner’s taste.
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1942 Hudson Traveler Coupe Rare Rat Hot Rod project US $4,200.00 End Date: Friday Jul-30-2010 8:10:52 PDT |
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1940 Buick Special convertible Rat Hot Rod Project US $15,000.00 End Date: Friday Jul-30-2010 8:35:21 PDT |
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Chevrolet : Monte Carlo 1978 monte carlo hot rod street rod rat rod project US $3,500.00 (1 Bid) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 15:59:35 PDT |
The December issue of Rod & Custom Magazine in 1972 was dedicated to the beater car, a low-budget alternative to the over-polished, slickly-painted, customized car. This beater could easily be considered a beginning of the Rat Rod. However, the owners of these beaters often had a high priced machine sitting in their garage.
As with many cultural terms, there are disputes over the origin of the term “rat rod”. Some say it first appeared in an article written in Hot Rod Magazine by Gray Baskerville about cars that still sported a coat of primer. Some claim that the first rat rod was owned by artist Robert Williams who had a 1932 Ford Roadster that was painted in primer. The term likely started out as pejorative or derogatory or, but the members of the subcultures that build and enjoy these cars have adopted the term in a positive light.
Sweet Roadster Rat Rod
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