Thread: Rat Rod Rules

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Like I said before these cars werent built to ride in trailers they were built to drive. If they would have been meant to ride in trailers they would have sold the trailers with the car when they were new.

That's baloney. I could just as easily say that if cars were meant to rust, they woudn't have painted them at the factory. The real truth is that these "hobby" cars are built for whatever purpose the owner wants to build them for.

Nobody here cares how much you drive your car. Why do you have so much of a problem with people who don't drive theirs as much? Nobody cares that you paint your car with barn paint. Why do you care if they lay on a 3-part candy paint? I suggest that you get beyond the idea that everyone has to do what YOU want them to do.

Since the first rat rod thread appeared, rat rodders have been complaining that their rides get no respect. You know why? It's because the standard opening line has been something to the effect of: "Shiny cars are stupid." or "Why don't you drive that trailer queen?"

The bottom line is that I don't know anyone who's been on this board for a while who gives a rat's fuzzy backside (pun intended) what you do with your car. But you're not going to get respect for your ride by bagging on theirs.

Hey Dave I was just wanting to let you know that we are buying a 1953 Dodge pickup to build a ratrod. We will be getting it here soon and will be starting on it later this spring. I will keep you posted on how it is coming along with some pictures.

"....to Chip fooses million dollar cars....."

the only thing that makes them million dollar cars is that name.

The only thing that makes them million dollar cars is that name.

Yeah . . . right. It has nothing to do with craftsmanship, fit and finish, top-notch parts, planning, vision, design skills or fabrication ability. All he has to do is sign his name. Yep, that's the ticket.

It's hard for some backyard builders to understand that there are people who build cars, and then there are people WHO BUILD CARS. The Chip Fooses of this world are not in the same league as someone like me who puts a car together. They are super stars in this industry because they have more talent and a vision that most of us only hope to attain. No one gets that famous because they are not exceptional in design and excecution.

Of all the guys out there I respect Chip the most. He not only can envision a car in his head, but he can reduce it to a drawing, then do all the work needed to make it a reality. He is not like a Coddington, who maybe did actual work at one time but no more, he rolls up his sleeves and isn't afraid to get his hands dirty. How many times have you seen him on Overhaulin' sanding away on some project? And I don't think that is just done for the camera's either, he appears to me to not be above doing whatever is needed to make a car right.

It is just a fact of life, some people are destined to become great athletes, or musicians, or whatever. Something in their genes propels them to that level of greatness, and we should not be jealous of their God given talents.

Don

What gets me is ,for a group of people that want to rebel and build rat rods and preach the no conformity anarchy ,.................there sure seems to be alot of rules......
No paint
No billit
No trailers
No radial tires
No crate engines
No new shiney parts
I am sure there are a few I missed,but why when you build a rat ,does every other car have to be no good,its the ,,,,,,,,,,,your with us or against us ,,,,,,,,,,mentality that sux ,not your rat.
Just keep in mind that 75 percent of a build is body work,meaning it took 75 percent less effort to build the rat ,than a shiney ride,meaning that if you had that much more time and money in on the rat ,you would start to understand where some of these guys are coming from when you call all shiney cars garbage or billit dressed cars posers,you are offending almost everyone without a rat ,which brings us full circle to the your with us or against us attitude that puts everyone off ,just like Henry said,no one cares what you do or dont paint your car with,its the A T T I T U D E .

I'm not trying to say that the craftsmanship, etc is not what makes them million dollar cars. I'm just saying the name puts alot into the cost.
If his name weren't on it, but it had the same level of craftsmanship, it would probably cost considerably less.

I know I'm just another kid getting into the hot rod scene, a "backyard builder" as such, but i DO appreciate craftsmanship, i DO know a well built car when i see one, and i do appreciate good looking cars with tons of planning behind them.

Originally Posted by 71fordkid

I'm not trying to say that the craftsmanship, etc is not what makes them million dollar cars. I'm just saying the name puts alot into the cost.
If his name weren't on it, but it had the same level of craftsmanship, it would probably cost considerably less.

I know I'm just another kid getting into the hot rod scene, a "backyard builder" as such, but i DO appreciate craftsmanship, i DO know a well built car when i see one, and i do appreciate good looking cars with tons of planning behind them.

How do you think builders like Foose get the name that makes a car they build worth big bucks???? They get it because of the quality of their builds. I don't think many appreciate or would believe the amount of hours and parts money that go into a build like Foose does. Doing a paint job with a rattle can in the back yard is far different from the hundreds of hours that goes into prep and paint on one of Foose's cars--no, not one of the "Overhualin" cars, but one of the builds that take place in Foose's own shop...