I am a huge AMX fan too. Can you tell me what AMC Club you belong to, and does it have a website?
Thanks.

 

Sure xfire2005, no problem. It's called North Coast AMC, and when you log on, http://clubs.hemmings.com/northcoastamc you can pull up some old news letters.

To MI1XFIRE, I don't have any photos of my friends "Rat Rod", but I'll try to get some from him to post.

 

Another one on the pulse today. And a little something extra in some of the photos - :

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-...mZ230129329901

 

When those customizer shows first came on TLC there was a big fat guy named Mike that had a real high pitched voice....anyway they build a shop truck, I think it was a mid 50's Chevy pick up. They completely customized it then they just left it flat black, ala "rat rod". I remember discussing it with my brother the rat rod fanatic and he said that's what's in style out here now. (California). I told him I thought it would be a beautiful truck with a nice Candy paint job. He disagreed. A few shows later they did a show on the Riddler Award and there was Mike, the truck had been painted.
I don't understand the rat phenomenon. It looks so unfinished to me. And for those who call it old school? I remember back in the 60's people would have been embarrassed to drive some of those cars. I just don't get it but to each his own.

Pat

 

Most Rat Rods here are build from scratch using part that we have sitting in the shed.

The loose rules are no paint no money but must be road legal.

There are very few " Historic cars" unless you count things like early Bugattis Desenberg etc, most of the cars that Rodders use are mass produced Fords and Chevs with the VAST majority now being either GRP copies or in the case of Brookville and other reproduction steel components.

As a rodder I like the bumper sticker.

"Saved from a restorer"

However I do have a few untouched cars, here are a couple.

The one under restoration has this week been painted in its original silver livery but I have removed the Fuelie motor put it in the corner of the shed and aml installing a mighty mouse 700 hp small block.

This car is a TOTAL nut and bolt NOS rebuild that has taken nearly four years to get to this stage, I have even put the stencils and chalk marks on the chassis.

The others are one owner low mileage unrestored cars.

 

To me a rat rod is the basics to all automobiles and what they have become today. A Lambo is my idea of a perfect car, but there's a side of me that loves the old rusty/primered shanty ratrods as well... they are barebone and basic and that's cool in its own sense.

My father as a teenager bought a '33 Ford and due to money issues had it in primer and his slicks - were just that slicks... When I see a rat rod today I think of my pops and the stories he told me of his days owning one. if i get the chance to buy one, I will... besides my odds of owning a rat rod are a lot better than owning a lambo - and I might be a tight fit for a Lambo anyway...

 

As usual, there were more rat rods on the 'Pulse' today.
This one is especially crude.
Tell me - how would one drive this vehicle (and fit in it for that matter)?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Other...mZ290130734914

 

Amazing! And only 1,200 miles, too. The front and rear tires really make for an interesting contrast. A daily driver, though? I don't think so...

 

This thing is low enough to be a lawn mower.

 

- You're right!
That would be one heck of a lawn mower though.

 

I'm with you.
I'm still trying to figure out what size you would have to be to fit in it - let alone drive it for any distance.

 

Bringing this thread back from the dead. I kinda like this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-...mZ120217519655

 

I'm a huge fan of rat rods.......great way for people to get into hot rodding without having to spend a ton of cash. It's also helping to save a few cars that would otherwise be crushed for scrap!


A co-worker has a '29 ford 2d hardtop that's been chopped and slammed to the ground, with a blown 460 running through open headers......a pretty serious rat rod.



I'm also a member of this forum......basically a hot rod builders forum much like this one! Membership is free!

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/

 

speaking of rat rods and crossfires......anyone else see a resemblance with this car to our crossfires?

55StudeCustom5.jpg


here's a hint as to what it is........

the manufacturer of this car is no longer around!

 

I don't think our crossfire is a rusting piece of junk

 

apkano - is that some sort of TVR?

 

RPM, that's the only car I could come up with too. But Apkano said the company is out of business, and TVR is still building cars.

 

Maybe I'm just stupid.. I thought the term "rat" meant big block, usually in big block Chevy (427, 454, etc.) while mouse meant small block (most common 327).

Am I wrong, or just two of the same words, but different meanings.

 

Now if one of these was at Woodward this year that would be cool !!

 

You're right, a Rat Motor is a big block Chevy, and has nothing to do with why a Rat Rod is called a Rat Rod.

A Rat Rod is essentially:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rat_rod