We label ourselves, our cars and everything else we can so that we can separate ourselves from the masses and claim our own tribes. It’s human nature and I’m a victim/proponent of it too. One of the ways that the label “system” fails us is when the definition of a label changes over time, not everyone gets the memo and then you have people not understanding each other.
The photo at the top of my friend Jack’s 29 Roadster illustrates a car that gets a lot of different labels thrown at it. The car was built in the 50’s and is a perfect example of a period correct traditional hot rod, but when it was built it was just a hot rod. At the time media used the term “hot rod” as a derogatory term. Some today would call it a rat rod because it’s not shiny, those people are working on the wrong definition.
When the term “rat rod” was first used it was used to describe cars that were rough or unrefined, driven during the build process. Over the years the term has morphed into something entirely different. First it was the folks that were fighting back against the ultra high end hot rods turned out by shops like Boyds or Foose. Then it became the “rust is tough” crowd, the more patina a car had the cooler it was thought to be. I totally admit, some of the fresh from the field bodies with good running gear rides are damn cool looking.
Then it started to get a bit weird. The whole thing started devolving into a “if a 5” chop looks good then an 8” chop is even better” type of attitude. How a modification to a car actually looked went out the window in pursuit of MORE. More rust, more chop, more out of proportion builds, it became about being shocking than looking good.
Tractor grilles started showing up on cars and some of them look fine, some… don’t exactly flow. Whatever floats your boat. I even saw a guy cut a 50 gallon drum in half with a hole cut in it and expanded metal covering the opening. This was on what looked to be an S10 frame with an old cab on it. No fenders, IFS in full view of the world, and a license plate that said “it is done, dammit” or something of the sort. While it’s that guys ride and he can do anything he wants that kind of build should not be classified as the same thing as the roadster at the top of the page.
In the past I’ve ranted about these types of builds. I’m trying not to care any more. Build what suits you, as long as it’s safe. A jockey shift outside of a car is not safe. No floors and an open drive shaft isn’t exactly safe, and I have friends that I respect that have run cars just like that. I’m not trying to say that this whole hot rodding thing is about safety, but to do something purposely unsafe just to try to be more badass than the guy next to you isn’t the best way to ensure the longevity of you or your ride.
Here are some photos to help those that don’t get it. These are hot rods. It doesn’t matter if they are finish painted, patina’d, or somewhere in between.
These are rat rods. Note the exaggerated proportions, on this one to fit the straight 8.
and on this one, well, you can see it.
and the seemingly random items thrown together. Sink knobs, license plates, wood, etc.
These are street rods. Usually noticable by the extra shiny paint, big wheels, and a high level of refinement, usually a bit lower than the style of the 40’s-60’s.
This one’s fit and finish makes me lean towards the street rod category, the current wheels and tires gives it the more traditional look, but the stance being what it is means it’s more street rod to me. Oh and it’s frickin’ beautiful.
As with any rule in life there are always exceptions, cars that blur the lines. Cars that are otherwise traditional hot rods with street rod style IFS hidden under their fenders, really well built rat rods, street rods with a rusty finish and any other combination that you can dream up. I’m not saying any of these are better than others, I have my favorites but that’s not what this was about.
After all of that is said and the examples are shown, build what you want to build. When you describe it to someone, understand that the label that you use might not be defined the same way by both parties in the conversation. Just build something safe, and drive the hell out of it.
See you at a show,
Royboy
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Great write up