Cyanide Jello
Well-known member
...rat rod.
And the difference between a rat rod and a hot rod...
And the difference between a rat rod and a hot rod...
Define...
- Thread starter Cyanide Jello
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59imp
Well-known member
now here's a can 'o worms, for me it's objective not subjective so it's pretty difficult to define for someone else, however I KNOW in my heart EXACTLY what a hot rod is and a rat rod is a hot rod that's just a little (or a lot) rough around the edges.
now in my little town there's a lady (60ish) that drives about an 88 honda accord that she's had since new, and out of the WHOLE Province of British Columbia, she's the one with the personalized plate that says 'HOT ROD'..... makes me cringe every time i see it, with all the bitchen cars out there how the heck does she deserve it???
now in my little town there's a lady (60ish) that drives about an 88 honda accord that she's had since new, and out of the WHOLE Province of British Columbia, she's the one with the personalized plate that says 'HOT ROD'..... makes me cringe every time i see it, with all the bitchen cars out there how the heck does she deserve it???
dmw56
Busted and Rusted on Route 66
You ask a 1000 people you'll get a 1000 different awnsers, 18 fist fights, 4 stabbings, and 2 divorces. 
Ask that question on the "HAMB" they'll have an awnser for you.
Ask that question on the "HAMB" they'll have an awnser for you.
Psycho Kustoms
Well-known member
You ask a 1000 people you'll get a 1000 different awnsers, 18 fist fights, 4 stabbings, and 2 divorces.
Ask that question on the "HAMB" they'll have an awnser for you.
HAHAHAHA Amen to that!!!!!!
earthman
Fascinated by rolling objects!
The main difference is money
hillbilly4008
Well-known member
You wanna talk money then look at Street rods, i just dont see the point in spending tons of cash on something that spends most of its life in an inclosed trailer. To me the term "hot rod" is any respectable older american car that has been modified for performance reasons. I have a jeep that i call "hot rodded" because the only thing left stock was the frame and part of the grill.
Bonehead
Skull Master
who cares? I am happy with the truck I built, you can call it what ever you want. I call it a ton of fun on wheels.
HA! I love that question! Especially on the HAMB: "How dare you call my car a rat rod - Waaaa! Waaaaa!"
It's probably easier to define a rat rod by defining it's complete opposite. A Rat Rod ain't no trailer queen. How about: Low buck, home built, and meant to be driven.
It's probably easier to define a rat rod by defining it's complete opposite. A Rat Rod ain't no trailer queen. How about: Low buck, home built, and meant to be driven.
donsrods
Well-known member
I don't think the greatest scholars in the world could answer this one definitively, so many variables and the lines get blurred sometimes. With some cars it is easy to tell the difference, and on others not so easy. I've seen cars posted on the HAMB that the members rave about and to me that car was a rat rod, and yet I've seen the same members beat up on a car that looked more like a hot rod to me.
It's like Porn, I can't define it but know it when I see it. In fact, I think I'll go do some research on that right now.
Don
It's like Porn, I can't define it but know it when I see it. In fact, I think I'll go do some research on that right now.
Don
Cyanide Jello
Well-known member
Wow... Got more responses than I expected and boy did I open a can of worms... Part of the reason I asked was b/c I seriously wanted to know if there was a difference and what the differences were... When I think hot rod, I think Camaro, Mustang, Nova, Chevelle... When I think rat rod I think, chop top, body drop, motor swap, watch the girls panties drop... And rust...
Another reason I asked was b/c in the minitruckin scene the word (cringes) "lowrider" is fighting words... I do NOT drive a lowrider... It is a minitruck... To me a lowrider is a guy who hacks up a ride... A minitruck is somethin with a little more class depending on which direction you take...
Just wanted to know... thanks guys... Keep goin if ya like... Really brought up a good discussion...
Another reason I asked was b/c in the minitruckin scene the word (cringes) "lowrider" is fighting words... I do NOT drive a lowrider... It is a minitruck... To me a lowrider is a guy who hacks up a ride... A minitruck is somethin with a little more class depending on which direction you take...
Just wanted to know... thanks guys... Keep goin if ya like... Really brought up a good discussion...
Bonehead
Skull Master
I seriously call mine "the hotrod" because I have muscle cars too. They are not hot rods, though they could outrun my truck pretty easy. So it is not a matter of speed.
51Cards
Well-known member
"Old School Terminology" JUNK not Street worthy.
"New Terminology" these two quotes combined pretty much cover it. I removed (or a lot) because that reverts to the Old School Term.
"Low buck, home built, and meant to be driven."
"A rat rod is a hot rod that's just a little *** rough around the edges."
Rust Rod
Well-known member
when i think about a rat rod i think about a car that is Home built with what you have available to you on a budget, made to drive and be used.
Now this is just my opinion but i think the term Rat rod gets thrown arrownd too much, For instance really dislike the fact that people paint there S10 (or whatever) flat black and there rims red, and suddenly it is a rat rod. And they really truely think in there head that its a Rat rod. IMHO
so how i would define the term rat rod is a Hot rod built to drive on a budget with what ever OLD tin and parts you have available to you....
But who really cares what me or anyone else thinks if u like what u build call it what ever the hell you want to.
Now this is just my opinion but i think the term Rat rod gets thrown arrownd too much, For instance really dislike the fact that people paint there S10 (or whatever) flat black and there rims red, and suddenly it is a rat rod. And they really truely think in there head that its a Rat rod. IMHO
so how i would define the term rat rod is a Hot rod built to drive on a budget with what ever OLD tin and parts you have available to you....
But who really cares what me or anyone else thinks if u like what u build call it what ever the hell you want to.
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Tripper
Older and more rusted every day!
The best definition!
The best definition I've ever heard was by a members' wife. She was tryin' to explain to her co-worker what a rat rod was... A car her husband put together out of junk parts he had layin' around the garage! I thought that about summed it up!!!
BoB
The best definition I've ever heard was by a members' wife. She was tryin' to explain to her co-worker what a rat rod was... A car her husband put together out of junk parts he had layin' around the garage! I thought that about summed it up!!!
BoB
32chris
Banned
building a ratrod is like preparing a meal with leftovers - theres nothing to say it wont turn out good
sadly im not creative enough to have thought of that, i read it in a book someplace but to me it sums them up perfectly
sadly im not creative enough to have thought of that, i read it in a book someplace but to me it sums them up perfectly
Cyanide Jello
Well-known member
Cyanide Jello
Well-known member
Not at just you, but your entire S-10 kind.
Errr... I just wanted to define it... I have reasons for what I do... I never said my truck was a rod... I'm just interested in the scene... Sure, I'd looooove to build a rat rod one of these days BUT I gotta finish my first love first...
Psycho Kustoms
Well-known member
"define" rat rod........Hmmmmmm.......To me,i dont define what i build,they are HotRods to me.Its a Culture,a world all our own,with no rules.we build our rods any way we see fit,they are all different in there own way,its like a freedom we have as builders,a low buck kool lifestyle....now "street rod",thats a term i stay away from,whole different world,too many rules and too many yuppies with more money than brains.im a HotRodder,through n through.
Psycho
Psycho
Gearhead10
Well-known member
To me a "rat rod" is something home built with what you can afford and parts that are avalible.It should be steel,no billet,rusty to painted,crazy engine (you define),Interior basic or none,driven alot,and rough araoud the edges.
A "hotrod" is a little more finished,paint,interior,engine etc.Some I would classify my 29 as a hotrod cuz it will be more complete and finishing touches done
Now a "street rod" to me is a fancy very well done car that you hate to drive cuz it might get a little dirty.Show car so to speak.
"Traditional" is another word that can stir up the pot.And yea how do you define that?Really a "hot rod" is what it is and a "rat rod" is the "look" that you give it.Rough lookin,mean and fast.To me a "traditional" rod is a car built back in the day or made to look like a rod built back in the day."nostalgic or newstalgic" you pick. I say just build it,drive it and have as much darn fun with it that you can and ta heck with what people say.
A "hotrod" is a little more finished,paint,interior,engine etc.Some I would classify my 29 as a hotrod cuz it will be more complete and finishing touches done
Now a "street rod" to me is a fancy very well done car that you hate to drive cuz it might get a little dirty.Show car so to speak.
"Traditional" is another word that can stir up the pot.And yea how do you define that?Really a "hot rod" is what it is and a "rat rod" is the "look" that you give it.Rough lookin,mean and fast.To me a "traditional" rod is a car built back in the day or made to look like a rod built back in the day."nostalgic or newstalgic" you pick. I say just build it,drive it and have as much darn fun with it that you can and ta heck with what people say.
