Thread: Hot Rod defined

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I ran across this on Wilkipedia and thought it was cute. Their official definition for a Hot Rod:
"Hot rods are typically American cars with large engines modified for linear speed."

Then I guess my car is not a hot rod:
Foreign,
Chevy 302 powered
4 wheel ind suspension
big 4 wheel discs,
goes straight, turns and stops better than most modern cars
Oh well, guess I should call it something else.
Gotta love Wikipedia, always entertaining.
Mark

I believe that would be an exception; very cool car.

I don't care what Wiki says--- Thats a HOT ROD!!!!!!!

RS

A person can call their car whatever makes them happy, but in the truest sense of the word that isn't a hot rod, no more than an original Shelby Cobra is a hot rod. Hopped up sports car, yes, for sure. The term is overused. I've even heard little old ladies refer to their 6 cylinder Mustang as "My little hot rod."

Bottom line, it doesn't hurt anyone to call it whatever you like.

Don

It is a question of perception--like term "obscenity." I can't define it, but I know it when I see it. And what is obscene to me may not be obscene to you.

Perception, you're absolutely correct IMO rumrmm... It's all about perception. John Force can call his funny car a Hot Rod, Rusty Wallace calls his stuff Hot Rods, I consider everything in my garage a Hot Rod...

BTW, I betcha that 914 does just fine in linear acceleration!!!!! I for one have never liked all this specific catagory stuff, if it's modified to go fast, it's a Hot Rod!!!!!

No kidding, Dave. I'd love to take that baby for a ride. I wonder if he has any problems with cooling that beast in such a small car?

How do you get that transaxle to stand up to all that American muscle.
Kurt

I Think by Looking back at some of the First Hot Rod's . And Hot Rod Magazines the car's that were being built were Stock type body's that had many budget at home mod's done to them . As Time's have changed so have Hot Rod's . And you could say a Muscle Car is a Factory type Hot Rod with it's Performance Mod's . A Sport's car is such as that . But yes when it take's on an American V8 I would call it a Hot Rod then . Full on Race car is just that a Race Car . That's just How I see it . But any Mod's done to an owners car or Truck that Make's them more Happy is a Great thing indeed .

Hi all, I agree any car modified for power is a hot rod....heck even my 95 dodge cummins with a set of 430 injectors, modified injection pump and a 64/14/71 turbo is a hot rod. (13.2 second 7000 pound truck).
My latest hot rod project is a 82 el camino I am in the process of of building a 383 for.

Before you all get your panties in a bunch....

If you read the definition closely, it says "typically". It does not say "only". Generally it is used more often for American cars, so that would make it correct.

marks914- wouldnt that be a sports car?

It's now a Pandora thread!
I'd call that 914 a hotrod! Yeah it's a highly modified foreign sports car, but if it was a Fiero with a 454 you'd be more inclined to use hot rod, or a mustang with a 460, but I'm with Dave I hate making a tight definition here. Just look at all the builds that cross the board on this site. IMHO.
I think the Austrailian's might think a Holton modified with a big block constitutes Hot Rod, just as much as a zooped up 57 chevy!

I consider anything from the 60's and up a muscle car.

Street rods are 49 and older. Hot rods are what ever you want them to be. I use the term more when I'm talking to a non-car person. I don't know that many. But then I'm quite old and.... what were we talking about?