Thread: What is your definition of a Hot Rod?

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Since some heated discussion started over what exactly should be defined as a street rod and hot rod, I figured we all probably have many different ideas where this term is concerned so I thought I'd throw this out there out of curiosity, not to start an all out war, just to better understand where diferent people are coming from.
So I'll start by saying coming from being born in the early sixties, I grew up when people were mostly hot roding 50's and 60's cars, which were sometimes refered to as muscle cars, but we considered anything zooped up under the hood as a hot rod. I had a friend with a Vega that had a 283 under the hood, and was jacked up in the back, this too we thought of as a hot rod. The classic t's were rare as were the 32's back then, in our neighborhood, but they were the ultimate! Loved the stuff in the old surfer dude 60's movies. The car shows had mixed stuff, including a new green vette with rabbit fur interior made for Farrah Faucet. That was way cool when I was sixteen and also fell under our definition. The low riders of the time weren't included, because they were low, not jacked up in the rear, which is funny now to me, since I would throw them into the hot rod definition of modified increased performance vehicle. Anyway just my thoughts. I am currious what the generation before me and after me think, as well as any products of the sixties!

If John Force considers his fuel funny a "hot rod", who am I to argue?

Rusty Wallace calls his race cars hotrods...

Why do we have to define a hot rod, street rod, or, God forbid, a ratrod?

Originally Posted by NTFDAY

If John Force considers his fuel funny a "hot rod", who am I to argue?

As I was reading stovens post I was thinking the same thing! Then I pulled down to read the next post and you & MikeB took and wrote what I was thinking!

But then again, I'm watching the NHRA Drag racing replay from yesterday right now! Go Ashley!

Pat

I am a baby boomer, born in '48, and discovered models and car magazines by '58.

While I have always heard a wide "generalization" of the term "hot rod" to describe a car modified for performance ....I grew up with the magazines and hot rod organizations clearly defining it as a '48 or older model.

Newer cars, like '50s models and up, looked far different, and were consistantly referred to as "street machines". If it had giant rear tires, it was a "pro street", and if it was a bigblock detroit performance car, it was a "muscle car".

I would have backed this opinion up with my magazine collection of 6,000 mags, dating back to the late '40s, but I sold most of them. I am proud to say I read them all cover to cover!

These guidelines were consistant up to about the '90s, when younger guys started using some of the terms more widely, and dropping others.

I guess you could say that each person has their own perception of what the term means. However, when it evolved, and was used one way, from about 1965 to 1995, it rubs me the wrong way when young guys are telling me that they know the "truth" of it.

I guess it is up to the majority of a group how they want to define something, and they can also change it when they want, but I will probably use the old terminology that has been with me so long.

I guess I will have to be tolerant of the younger "peeps" sending "tweets" to each other, discussing the new meanings of car hobby terms. :-)

I grew up with the same idea of what was a true "Hot Rod" & street machines, But I still call them newer cars hot rods some times when just talking about them, but Not meaning for show or facts.

Pat

WOW!!!

Like everything else, the description of a Hot Rod has changed dramatically over the years.

Originally anything pre 48 eas a hot rod, after that you could call astreet machine, muscle car or whatever you wanted, BUT not a hot rod.

Over time the more accepted use of the term hot rod has become that "simplified" version, any car modified for more power and speed.

But, is that a new definition? Isn't that exactly what hot rods were originally?

Cars modified for more power and speed? Now a lot of hot rods are old cars with new engines and updated suspensions. Is that bad?? Of course not!!\\I consider my 76 Seville a hot rod, what the he--, its got 540 HP and 586 FtLbs and it accelerates "briskly".

To me (at 70 years of age) it represents a hot rod as much as any of your projects.

Everyone on this board has, or wants to have, a hot rod.

If we own a vehicle modified to suit are needs, that performs better than when it was new then damn it, it's a HOT ROD!

Whaddaya think?

I was born in 67 and grew up learning that any car you worked on with the sole purpose of going faster was a hot rod. There were no restrictions in regards to the year of car. I have been corrected many times by some clubs or individuals about how wrong I am when it comes to the year not mattering. For instance, I believe the technical term for my 80 amc spirit with a 360 would be a street machine. I think my 40 nash with a 304 will be a hot rod and my 38 chevy pickup cab with a 401 will be a rat rod. whatever technical term you want to use, they will all still be hot rods to me. No offense intended.

From Websters, " : an automobile rebuilt or modified for high speed and fast acceleration "


That sums it up for me ................

Kitz

I'm with kitz...simple and to the point.

Originally Posted by kitz

From Websters, " : an automobile rebuilt or modified for high speed and fast acceleration "


That sums it up for me ................

Kitz

Let's not complicate things, Kitz nailed it!!!!! If people make it anymore difficult then that, things just get all screwed up with the "we're kewl, you ain't" crap.... and while everybody is arguing about who's a Hot Rodder and who isn't, the do-gooders are going to sneak in and we'll be just another extinct species!!!!!

anything out of warranty

well----I can remember that we used to say that real race cars didn't have doors
and we pushstarted them from the big end
then funny cars
then rear engine cars
then I ended up as circuit director for UDRA Pro-Stock---all those guys were silly about rules, weight /cubic inch, big/small block, wheel bases---I put in 2 simple rules--had to have doors and carbs(tho I wasn't really wanting to limit it to carbs--I wanted injection)

Now---front wheel drive, sideways 4 cyl engines-----you got to be kidding -----

i think of a hot rod is pre 60s car with a bigger engine rework for going fast every thing made to fit .60s and up muscle cars like gtos ect off the show room floor hot rods that the maker built with bolt on part s . street rods are more just for the street mild build .not a hot rod were they are more strip/street. i know that is not the way many think but that is the way i see it .like my chevy it is not a street rod .it is a hot rod

It's like what they said about porn.....".I can't define it, but I know it when I see it." Over the years I have changed what I call the cars I like to build. I used to refer to them as Street Rods because I built them to drive on the street. But the more I thought about it that term wasn't strong enough to describe the cars I like. I like them hoodless, fenderless, loud, and with enough edge so that the person sitting next to you at a redlight knows they are looking at something different than they are used to. "Street rod" seemed to tame, I want to be driving a "hot rod."

I also think hot rods have to be from a certain era. I don't think for example a 49 Ford with no hood and 6 carbs peeking out from a fire breathing Olds engine is truly a hot rod. It might be a cool as heck car, and I want one, but it is not a hot rod by my definition. I have also heard someone say "yeah, I have this hot rod 68 Camaro, and......." No, you have a Street Machine or Muscle Car 1968 Camaro, but not a hot rod..........at least by MY definition.

I guess that is the point. Ask 1,000 people and you will get 1,000 different answers.

Don