Thread: Attempt to explain

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OK folks here`s my attempt to explain this contraversal subject of rat rods ,it`s gonna be a long story so bear with me .I don`t think anybody really knows when this subculter started,lots will take claim for it,but nobody has a definite timeline,i think the mentality has been there in some form since the beginings of rodding.Most of the people in the rat rod or kustom kulture scene were into the punk rock thing in the 80`s & early 90`s alot of us were skinheads and punkers of one sort or another,you had bands like the stray cats that combined a mix of punk and roots rockabilly like carl perkins and such,then you had bands like the cramps & the misfits that took modern versions of rockabilly and added a darker style which started the phycobilly scene. Then you had movies like the outsiders & grease that romanticised the good old days of greasers (can`t forget american graffitti) that gave us the idea that all kids in the fifties were hoodlems,which we liked since most of us already were hoodlems.As we started getting older all the bands we listened to started getting into this new greaser/rockabilly scene which appealed to us cause iit was`nt to far off from the way we allready thought,we already had tattoos from head to toe, so we cut our mohawks off or grew our hair out slicked it back and you got instant modern greaser.We all liked the cutom carsof the fifties but also liked a more outlaw style .we did not like the billet rods that are popular today so alot of people tried to resurect the cars we saw in the old mags,some stuck with that , some did`nt.The whole hot rod scene started changing every where,the cars started getting lower and more chopped up,the kustom kulture started growing into all the different kinds of genres ,you still have the guys building era correct cars, then you have guys building down & dirty just outright mean looking bikes & cars, then you alot of people that wanna be cool so they get in and make an ass of every body in the scene. Some of us aren`t out to affend some, of us are, So i guess it all started with misconseptions of the early days, i know alot of people won`t ever understand this subculture, but it`s just like when you some of you guys were young , when rock & roll started nobody understood you guys with your loud cars & reckless lifestyles,as with every new thing it will die down , the posures will go home , and the rest will carry on to bigger and better. I know some of you guys were just like us in yhe 50`s raising hell & aggravating folks , some were`nt, just remember were all here fore the love of speed. iI hope this helps a little ,it would take a whole book to really explain modern youth but here`s my small attempt

Here`s a little add on that will most likely piss some off.some of us like talking to you older guys, you have wonderfull stories & loads of cool knowledge that you can`t learn anywhere else,but you also gotta realize we really don`t give a f@$# what anybody thinks about us either were young and obnoxious and gonna build things the way we like , just as you guys do

Originally posted by hotroddaddy
I know some of you guys were just like us in yhe 50`s raising hell & aggravating folks ,..........

Say it isn't so!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Since you brought music to the discussion, I'll borrow a line from one of the tunes in "Bye Bye Birdie" that pretty much sums up how one generation looks at another.

"Why can't they be like we were.......perfect in every way. Oh.....what's the matter with kids today?"

Thanks hotroddaddy. I'll also throw in my 2 cents worth.

If I were to build a rat rod, it would be because I'm frugal. My wife calls me cheap, but I don't think I'd use that term to describe myself. Being around the drag strip for so many years, I've had more than a few opportunities to observe fellows screwing together fun cars. The latest is my buddy R.J., who just completed a deuce roadster with a 502/TH400 drivetrain. He confided to me that it took $75,000 to get the car on the road.

WHOA!!!!!!!

If I ever had a reason to build a rat rod, that would be enough of a reason. 75K in a roadster is just nuts in my opinion.

I agree there tech that`t alot of money,i don`t get this crap people say they build them that way cause it`s cheap, there`s nothing cheap about building a hot rod or rat rod these days. I here stories that these guys build a car for 1500$ ,I`d like to know how

Hey Tech I too am building a 502/400 '32 roadster. I am up to $45 in receipts, and will likely hit $50k using a less expensive glass body. And I am doing all the body work and paint in-house .............

About the Rat Rod thing. Whatever floats your boat. Live (within your means) and let live. Just don't cut the wrong corners and kill yourself, or worse, somebody else!


Kitz

Building a rat rod does not mean you have to cut corners....it means you build a car for yourself, in your own style without reguards to the "must haves" of the day. If that means using the rusty airfilter that's been hanging from the rafters....all the better.

Hey guys i`m talking style not safety,i`m not at all supporting crappy work, keep it safe 100%

$14,000. to date in this one.
It's a roller needing a few small things, plumbing, wiring, rear drum brakes, drivetrain rebuild and exhaust system.

American Stamping frame rails & re-pro Model A crossmember.
Brookville body & grille shell.
Rootlieb custom length hood top.
Owner built hood side panels and crossmembers..

SuperBell beam axle, steering arms & perches.
Used Posie's Super Slide front spring.

Owner made drag link, tie rod, radius rods and front & rear panhard bars.

Deuce Factory stainless batwings and rear sway bar.

New powder coated steel wheels.

Middle of the line new radial tires.

Camaro front disc brakes.

Junkyard 455 Buick engine, T-400 and Ford 9" (narrowed at home) with Dutchman axles.

32 windshield posts and home-made - but not complete yet - windshield frame.

All S-W instruments.

Home-made aluminum ball bearing steering column.
Home-Made aluminum, Teflon bushed throttle pedal.
A bunch of other semi-tricky stuff made by owner.

Car is about four years old and today it would probably run another $3000. approx.

I keep saying, "you can do it", but nobody seems to believe me.

That's ok, next year they'll be whining about high prices and I'll be driving mine....

hang in there man , it`s gonna be a sweet ride when your done

keep at it c9x itll look good in the long run heck it looks good now!!!
heres my packrat rod (just thought of that) i am up to just a little under 4,000.00 for what i have here, not the classiest but fun to drive.

Sounds more like a different perception of the cars. I've always seen them as a combination of speed, beauty and creativity. It was really about the machine. Still is. I never saw them as a way to demonstrate my rejection of societies values. "FTW" on four wheels, so to speak. Interesting.

Hey CX9....very cool. As my friends say...:"it's done when you are."

Hey, thats America for you Hotroddaddy. There is alot going on in the hi-perf, custom, etc.,etc., world that I just don't agree with or like but its like Kitz said, 'live and let live'. I both, laugh and get nausiated when these kids fly down the street in 4bangers with spoilers and colored lights underneath but then I remember how I was growing up in the 60's and that cars to me means musclecar era ONLY, but I am getting more accepting cause I see whats going on with our culture. Can't beleive you didn't mention musclecars or Steppinwolf, cause thats all lifes about, anyway, " its allright heylaudymama ".

Everybody should do what they wanna do!!!!