Rat rods are custom classic cars intentionally designed to look imperfect or unfinished, in contrast to hot rods. They feature primer paint jobs, untreated rust spots, exposed wheels and engines, and rudimentary interiors. Rat rods have gained a following and are celebrated for their functionality and affordability. The internet has played a significant role in their growing popularity.
A rat rod is the nickname given to a type of custom classic car that is intentionally designed to appear imperfect or unfinished. This is in contrast to the related styling of cars known as hot rods, where great attention is paid to detail to ensure as complete and flawless an appearance as possible. Both rat rods and hot rods are typically based on or modeled on American coupes from the 1930s to the 1950s.
Although initially used derogatorily, the term rat rod has grown in stature since it originated in the 1960s. While early rat rods were typically rough looking simply due to a lack of money for repairs or upgrades , the new rat bars are meant to be this way, in celebration of the originals. The fundamental features of a rat bar, including primer paint jobs, untreated rust spots, and exposed wheels and engines, remain essential and celebrated in the rat bar community.
Another common feature of a rat bar is a sloping roof, which means that a considerable part of the A, B and C pillars that hold the body to the roof are removed, thus lowering the roofline and giving a more aggressive stance. Purposefully rudimentary interiors are also the norm, with leather seats and plush carpeting gone in favor of plain bench seats and quilted or beaded padding. Working electronics, such as radios, are left out or disguised to be as inconspicuous as possible.
Since the 1960s, Rat Rods have garnered a community following of nearly the same size as Hot Rods and have moved out of the shadow of their generally more expensive and less motivated brethren. A common point of humorous contention between rat enthusiasts and hot rodders is that the latter spend far more money putting together cars that end up never being driven on the road. Instead, rat catchers pride themselves on having functional cars whose pristine shape is a lower priority.
The advent of the Internet has played a significant role in the growing popularity of rat sticks. Where once the hobby was supported by only a relatively small number of trade publications, the ease of web-based communication has spurred a multitude of blogs, forums, and sites devoted to rat deception. In addition to bringing enthusiasts together, these hubs have also served as a way to link global consumers of rat rod parts and accessories with suppliers who might not otherwise have the reach or resources to connect.
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