I have had this wacky idea flouting around in my A.D.D head for the last year of building a rat rod for a daily driver. Now I live in NH and it snows, sleets, ices and is cold in the winter. But my thought was with all of the stainless suspension, brake line and exhaust stuff out there that you could put together a fibreglass bodied car that would not have alot of stuff to rust. heat and a/c units are readily available as is sound deadening and insulation. Drop a modren 5.3 and 4l60E into it and it drives like a new car. why be stuck with the 99 buick regal daily beater that is already rusting away and far from cool for 6 months out of the year? I'm sure some of the purists would try and run me off the road but I like it. Thoughts? Am I just crazy?
anyone daily drive a rat/street rod? in cold climates?
- Thread starter jfg455
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pistolpete
Well-known member
I have a buddy that has daily drove a 84 CJ7, soft top and soft doors year round (he says) since 1992. Then again he always has seemed a few bricks shy of a wall.
It's one of those things I think that if you are willing to put up a couple not so perfect characteristics or not. Personally I think its a great idea.
It's one of those things I think that if you are willing to put up a couple not so perfect characteristics or not. Personally I think its a great idea.
CB_Chief
Active member
58 Chevy pickup
I drive a '58 Apache SWB year round and park it outside even in winter weather. I adopted a friends philosophy years ago. He was a muzzleloader re-enactor and black powder competition shooter and he had this beautiful North Carolina flintlock (an original circa 1800) that he had used in matches and hunted deer with. Not many folks would use a 200 year old firearm to shoot with at all let alone regularly but he always said if you can't enjoy using it why have it. He was right, he died a few years later and the kids sold off everything, preferring folding green stuff to shooting old firearms.
I drive every car we build/buy. I let my boys drive a '52 MG TD to high school! The girls flocked to it like ants to a picnic basket. Talk about happy teenage boys!
PS. I met a guy here locally who inherited his families 1912 Ford touring that was purchased new by his great grandfather. He drives it pretty regularly and stores it in the same barn it has been parked in since it they picked it up from the dealer. I would give my left one to have a one owner 1912 anything, but the only thing left laying around from my dads family was the old pieces of granpas still after he died.
I drive a '58 Apache SWB year round and park it outside even in winter weather. I adopted a friends philosophy years ago. He was a muzzleloader re-enactor and black powder competition shooter and he had this beautiful North Carolina flintlock (an original circa 1800) that he had used in matches and hunted deer with. Not many folks would use a 200 year old firearm to shoot with at all let alone regularly but he always said if you can't enjoy using it why have it. He was right, he died a few years later and the kids sold off everything, preferring folding green stuff to shooting old firearms.
I drive every car we build/buy. I let my boys drive a '52 MG TD to high school! The girls flocked to it like ants to a picnic basket. Talk about happy teenage boys!
PS. I met a guy here locally who inherited his families 1912 Ford touring that was purchased new by his great grandfather. He drives it pretty regularly and stores it in the same barn it has been parked in since it they picked it up from the dealer. I would give my left one to have a one owner 1912 anything, but the only thing left laying around from my dads family was the old pieces of granpas still after he died.
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2muchtorque
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2009
- Messages
- 203
I've been in Florida too long, when its like 70 degrees outside, I have the heat on in the house. {No, my wife doesn't like it
]
]the reverend muddy grimes
Brother Binder
Best friend does it in his 59 Apache, and when I finish the IHC, she will be my dd year round.
hflhfl
Well-known member
I live in canada ! Everything rusts here.cuz of the salt they use on the roads up here ! But if you don t mind fixing up the body and oil spraying every year why not ?
Willowbilly3
A *real* tin magnet
I never batted an eye to spend all day riding a snowmobile in 10 below weather. What would be different about a roadster with no heater?
When I was in Alaska there used be a dude that drove an old army jeep with no top or doors, all winter and another guy who had a 37 Slantback ratrod that he drove it year round, slush, salt and all.
I always thought it would be cool to get a chassis from an early Scout and put a T bucket tub on it. They are a step down frame and would set pretty decent, not be too wide.
When I was in Alaska there used be a dude that drove an old army jeep with no top or doors, all winter and another guy who had a 37 Slantback ratrod that he drove it year round, slush, salt and all.
I always thought it would be cool to get a chassis from an early Scout and put a T bucket tub on it. They are a step down frame and would set pretty decent, not be too wide.
Krooser
Well-known member
My daily for three years was a '49 F1 with a Buick Nailhead... summer and winter.
When I say 'daily' I mean my daily parts runner.
When I say 'daily' I mean my daily parts runner.
Mr.Gussett
Yep... he can do it!
Well I DiD
Well last winter (when there was NO snow on the roads) I drove my 29 sedan several 60 mile round trip drives to work and to pick up my oldest son ! It was between 25 and 35 deg.Only have a windsheild !Was dressed in my carhartsand was a blast! People were looking at me like "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU " ??? Didn't care it was fun!
Well last winter (when there was NO snow on the roads) I drove my 29 sedan several 60 mile round trip drives to work and to pick up my oldest son ! It was between 25 and 35 deg.
Only have a windsheild !Was dressed in my carhartsand was a blast! People were looking at me like "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU " ??? Didn't care it was fun!
Mr.Gussett
Yep... he can do it!
Well I DiD
Well last winter (when there was NO snow on the roads) I drove my 29 sedan several 60 mile round trip drives to work and to pick up my oldest son ! It was between 25 and 35 deg.Only have a windsheild !Was dressed in my carharts and was a blast! People were looking at me like "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU " ??? Didn't care it was fun!
Well last winter (when there was NO snow on the roads) I drove my 29 sedan several 60 mile round trip drives to work and to pick up my oldest son ! It was between 25 and 35 deg.
Only have a windsheild !Was dressed in my carharts and was a blast! People were looking at me like "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU " ??? Didn't care it was fun!
donsrods
Well-known member
Actually Bob, you aren't too far off the mark. I did drive my 27 almost every day for 7 years. I got rained on a whole lot, and it took a beating sitting outside while I was at work, but it sure made the daily commute a lot of fun.
As soon as I get finished freshening up the 27 my next project is my 46 Ford Tudor. That WILL be my daily driver. I plan on pulling the frame out and cleaning everything up and painting it, then installing a 355 sbc I have, along with a/c. The interior will get redone, and some nice wheels and tires installed. But the body is going to stay exactly as it is. I love the original paint and patina and want it to look somewhat ratty.
Living up north would only be a problem because of rusting from Winter driving. I don't know if they salt in your part of the country, but when I lived in Pennsylvania even the frames of cars would fall apart from rust.
Don
As soon as I get finished freshening up the 27 my next project is my 46 Ford Tudor. That WILL be my daily driver. I plan on pulling the frame out and cleaning everything up and painting it, then installing a 355 sbc I have, along with a/c. The interior will get redone, and some nice wheels and tires installed. But the body is going to stay exactly as it is. I love the original paint and patina and want it to look somewhat ratty.
Living up north would only be a problem because of rusting from Winter driving. I don't know if they salt in your part of the country, but when I lived in Pennsylvania even the frames of cars would fall apart from rust.
Don
2muchtorque
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2009
- Messages
- 203
First I'm seeing your 46 Don, VERY NICE, I have always liked those styles.
shakey56
Well-known member
Yep, i do!
Living close to the Smokey Mountains, we get some cold and snow......not as much as you guys up north. I've got a GOOD heater. and almost weekly, I spend a couple bucks at the car wash rinsing of the undercarraige. I drive mine every day.
Living close to the Smokey Mountains, we get some cold and snow......not as much as you guys up north. I've got a GOOD heater. and almost weekly, I spend a couple bucks at the car wash rinsing of the undercarraige. I drive mine every day.
Willowbilly3
A *real* tin magnet
Actually Bob, you aren't too far off the mark. I did drive my 27 almost every day for 7 years. I got rained on a whole lot, and it took a beating sitting outside while I was at work, but it sure made the daily commute a lot of fun.
As soon as I get finished freshening up the 27 my next project is my 46 Ford Tudor. That WILL be my daily driver. I plan on pulling the frame out and cleaning everything up and painting it, then installing a 355 sbc I have, along with a/c. The interior will get redone, and some nice wheels and tires installed. But the body is going to stay exactly as it is. I love the original paint and patina and want it to look somewhat ratty.
Living up north would only be a problem because of rusting from Winter driving. I don't know if they salt in your part of the country, but when I lived in Pennsylvania even the frames of cars would fall apart from rust.
Don
I just pitched a bunch of good parts from a 47 long door, all the guts from the doors and a decent set of stainless windshield trim, rust free cowl, frame. I still have a set of aluminum headlight buckets floating around somewhere.
Shea Laking
Well-known member
The girls and I went with "wifey" to one of her ball tournaments about a month ago in Uxbridge, ON. I saw a really nice looking 30-31 A-bone tudor rat rod being driven-in the pouring rain with no glass but a windshield. That takes a little more cajones than I've got.
Nonetheless, if you're thinking of building fiberglass, modern drivetrain and minimal tin to rot out, well, why the heck not?! Like you said, beats driving some ten year old, rusty tank that's got no soul....
Regards,
Shea
P.S. edit- Oh yeah, Don, about your Ford-That thing's HOT, I can't wait to see a build on it!
That takes a little more cajones than I've got.Nonetheless, if you're thinking of building fiberglass, modern drivetrain and minimal tin to rot out, well, why the heck not?! Like you said, beats driving some ten year old, rusty tank that's got no soul....
Regards,
Shea
P.S. edit- Oh yeah, Don, about your Ford-That thing's HOT, I can't wait to see a build on it!
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lowbuckrats
Well-known member
All three of my rods are my dailys. I don't have anything else or newer other than my Harleys. And yea, it's cold up here in Rochester NY a lot. I make sure all the heaters work. I don't drive the 57 when its slippery, it's plain too squirrely with the 4-speed. I try and keep the salt washed off as much as possible.
We get plenty-o-salt up here which is why we usually don't see anything older than a 95 anything on the road in the winter. when I worked in one of the other city 2 years ago I would pass a guy driving a 31 A pick up with full fenders and a SBC. At first I was like "idiot!" then the more I saw it and the more I realized he was driving what he liked, when he liked, and be damned with the rest of us! That was when the Idea started nagging at me all the time. I now have come to the conclusion that if I am staying up here for at least another 12 years then why should I limit myself to 6 months of hot rod time a year.
donsrods
Well-known member
I know what you mean about a short rodding season. Florida has it's drawbacks, but being able to use even an open roadster 12 months a year makes up for most of them. I could NEVER go back to snow and ice. If it gets down to 60 now I freeze my tail off.
Don
If it gets down to 60 now I freeze my tail off.Don
Outlawracer
Well-known member
Well I live in Indiana so it is hit and miss in the winter. I do have a heater but I also have BF Goodrich drag radials on it so it doesnt see snow. Like I am afraid it is going to rust. Lol. It does get a little drafty when it is cold so I dress warm and have the heater on high!!
Lived in Florida for 5 years and man do I ever miss it. Nothing like sitting under the car port on Christmas day in a t-shirt and shorts doing 12 oz curls!!!
Lived in Florida for 5 years and man do I ever miss it. Nothing like sitting under the car port on Christmas day in a t-shirt and shorts doing 12 oz curls!!!
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