How much work until its not a rat rod?

Hey folks,
I've been building a 46 chevy truck into what everyone else has started calling a "Rat Truck." This is my first build, so it doesn't really bother me, and I actually like some of the rat rods that I have seen. But what I don't understand is that most rat rods that I have seen look unfinished. With my truck, I plan on chopping it, sectioning it, giving it a nice paint job, pin striping it, actually finishing the interior(Covering the seat with more than a blanket) and putting wood back in the bed. What I am wondering is will it still be called a "Rat Rod" even when I get all of this work done to it? I mean, I am going fender less, hood less, and I have already cut the bed down to 4 feet. I will post pics of it when I get it closer to finishing it.
Cheers,

 

Once you paint it, nobody will call it a rat rod.

 

It might be the fact that you are running fenderless on a 46. There are a lot of naysayers who believe in the unwritten rule that nothing over a 39 or earlier should run without fenders. I on the other hand have seen many fenderless trucks that although might not be traditional per se, are still fun to look at and get the job done nicely.
But, it sounds like with all the work and attention to detail you're putting in, a lot of people don't know what the hell they're talking about and just label anything in that period a "rat rod".
I practically got in a shouting match the other day with an old racer who insisted that the cars I was referring to that he saw at the Rockabilly Rod Reunion were all rat rods. I tried explaining the differences as I understand them and he just rolled his eyes. He didn't understand that most of those cats in Connecticut would probably have taken high offense to his assumption and categorization of their cars, but he just rolled his eyes at me (stupid kid, what does he know?) and we dropped the subject.
Be proud of your ride and build it safely. That's a good first step to losing the rat rod handle IMO.

 

Once you're in deep enough that somebody calling it a rat rod makes you want to punch em in the face, it's time to consider shiny paint. Rustoleum and tractor enamel are excellent choices that'll last a couple years til it's buttoned up and ready for final paint. It don't have to be show quality, a little bit of shine goes a long way.

Gigantor's on the right track....fenderless on that truck is textbook rat

 

My feelings about the "R" word is that it is all about the craftsmanship of the build. Rat rods have crappy components, poor welds, technique that is sometimes weird. A hot rod is well built, with love and pride, ever if it does't have a new coat of paint. Did you ever see a rat rod that all it needs is a paint job to make it a nice vehicle. Most of the time, if a rat rod is purchased to be fixed up, the cab or body is the only part used in the finished vehicle.

 

I don't think my old modified is a Rta Rod, but a lot of others do. I just don't care what they nthink ,I like my $2000 Hot rod.
Don't let others opinion guide your life ,Besides their wife is probably not a Slut like you think she is either.

 

Put a drive-in tray on the window and a crybaby doll leaning on the bumper and it won't be a rat rod.

 

The whole rat rod thing is is such BS. Anything could be a rat rod.
Even that maroon colored truck with the Roush engine that Posie built a couple years ago got labeled a rat rod by a couple magazines. I think the tittle said "Posie builds himself a rat rod".
Build a safe hot rod and drive the heck out of it. People have different perceptions of the same thing. So it's difficult to get a true answer for your question to me.
How many scratchs does take before somebody calls it patina?
Have fun,Smokey
PS Rusty48, That there's funny I don't care who ya are...

 

Whats in a name...?

 

If you have to ask if its a ratrod.....then it probably is.

Build it your way. Odds are no matter how you build it, theres allways going to be someone that doesnt like it.

 

Once ya get all the lug nuts on there and paint it ...ALLLLL over, add that nasty nice bag of rags some folks call interior and some billet goo gahs to win trophys at the local 23 car, car show and

Oh yeah, don't forget to attend every single GG show in your area and cover the windshield with their entry stickers.....THEN....you're safe....

 

Hi.. In the past 8 years I have attended many a car show and some of the things I found out is this....There are so many so called experts at these shows and thay make many negative comments about the cars thay see...but you don't see their car there, I wonder if thay even have one....One expert told me that I could not put a sbc v8 into a 1951 chevy?!!??....I said come over here and I will show you one in a 51!....His face was red and his mouth shut some expert he was!...From my dealings with these experts I learned that these people talk so much about something that thay don't know anything about!... As for me I go to the shows to see what others have done along with how, and I have not seen any car, truck etc that I did not like...Build you car the way you like and the h--- with what these so called experts think....Like the chairman of the board said ''I DID IT MY WAY''!....Thanks Miller

 

Rat rod, traditional hot rot, street rod, there all just names when someone else is looking at it. What YOU call it is what you want it to be. Put a after market heater in it and most everyone on this forum will call it a street rod. (yes mine is a S***** rod). And I'm not ashamed of it. My next one is going to be a traditional hot rod.

 

It all boils down to the fact that you are building a HOT ROD, regardless of the way it will be built or finished, all other names are simply ways for people not in the know, to easily put a picture in someone elses head of what it may have looked like. Much like different genres of music, listed under one genre, Ie.
Heavy Metal, encompasses all metal, however they have terms like, Industrial Metal, Death Metal, etc. etc. to any real Metal fan, its all Heavy Metal, to an outside observer, its all jungle music, so we must make subgenres, for them to understand

Anyways, Im in the same boat as you, ive got a 38 ford pickup, that Im doing "rudy" style, building my frame from scratch, 2x4 tubing, all tig welded, I plan to paint it, more than likely wood in the box, the works, and it will still get the stereotype of a rat-rod, however since i know what went into it, in terms of build quality, I know its not a rat-rod, and that entitles me the option of putting the "It's not a f'ing rat rod" sticker in the window

 

When they quit calling it a rat rod they will call it a street rod. Which is worse? Neal

 

If it dosen't look ratty then it's not a rat rod.

 

I don't care what other people call mine because to me it is a HOT ROD. I don't give a crap about paint or carpet. The only heater it will have is from the exhaust under the floor board. My idea of A/C is cranking out the windshield and opening the cowl vent.

Build your ride the way you want because your the one driveing it.

 

5% of the world has the skill to build a real HOT ROD...the other 95% has the skill to build a Rat Rod.
Aim high!

 

Once its been labeled a rat rod or you had a rat rod or asociated with a rat rod YOU will never shake it. No matter how much you drive it .

 

The simple fact that you've thought long and hard about what you plan on doing with your truck means your not building a rat rod. Yours will be as traditional as you can make it.

 

I honestly don't care what you call any of my cars. I have no problem with the term Ratrod, Ricer, EuroTrash, Mullet Moble or what ever. I'd hate to ever have to spend time, effort, or cash out any peace of mind trying to defend something thats just a "subjective term." I can't control what anyone calls a car. I do listen for the context of the terms use. Some folks mean well and are just trying to relate and share their enthusiasm for your car. It's more then the words they choose to use. Don't let a message get lost in the way it was presented...People think "Ratrods and Ratted Out Rods" are cool and just want tell you they dig your ride. If they do turn out to be spreading ill will with their comments, F- them its their problem, you can never please everyone.

 

I was at this cruise-in several weeks ago in Newberg, and a guy about my age came up and congratulated me on my nice 'rat rod'. We spoke briefly about the meaning of the term, and while I was not really offended, I was curious about his understanding of how he cme to define that term.
He could not really clarify himself, so I finally asked him what he would have called my coupe if he'd seen it ten, twenty or thirty years ago? He had no answer, and was still convinced my car is a rat rod. I suppose paint might help, but then again, it might not. Oh well..

 

its always a good one when someone calls your car a ratrod and you go "whats ratty about it?" they just kinda stand there with a blank look

 

We need to ban the term "Rat Rod"

 

Best eight words to ever come across the Internet.

 

I never really thought that I would get some much input from you guys on this subject. I agree with pretty much all o fyou about it. I never really wanted my car to be called a rat rod, but if it gets labeled that then oh well. I know that I am building a hot rod, and who really cares about what kind of rod term it gets labeled with. Thanks for the input. People say that on most sites that people don't want to talk to the FNG, but I guess it's different here.
Cheers

 

yblock292 has a good point, but if we ban it, what will the people who don't know anything about the subject call our cars?

 

Who cares?

 

I think this is blown way out of proportion... The name of this website is Jalopy Journal... Often when someone thinks of a jalopy they think of something run down...

The concern is to build something safe and fun... Something that expresses you and your abilities... .02

 

Who gives a crap, My car has been labeled the term rat rod since it was put on the street.Does it piss me off sometimes but I take joy in knowing that the guy telling me this A)doesn't have his car at the show or B)if we did line the cars up all his billet, 2.73 gears, and A/C will pull his newest gm crate motor down enough and he would get spanked or best of all C)they have a trend of the week "Rat Rod" that would fall apart anything over 45mph! I like cars for what they are and labels are kinda dumb I drive a HOT ROD,it runs mid to low 12's,with the if it doesn't make it go it goes attitude and is pretty traditional but all mine and at my age alot of people are glad to see me in it than some honda!