Sheeeeeesh!! In my (unsolicited, to be sure) opinion, anything with gobs of power, provided by a big engine in a smallish car is a "Hot Rod". I built a three-wheeled vehicle (trike) with a pretty stout HO 2.8L V6 with lots of mods. It was definitely a Hot Rod in my book. 0-65 mph in one block in my small hometown. Year made doesn't matter to me. The "street rod" terminology for pre-'49 cars is okay with me, and I can even live with the "street machine" tag for my '56. But who says a car can't be a hot rod AND a street rod or street machine? I don't feel the terms are mutually exclusive. But then, I always was a problem child.