Thread: What is a Hot Rod?

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I know this question has been beat to death, but I don't remember (I'm old) if it's been asked in this way before.

I could have worded the question a little different, but I figured this would get peoples attention. Your here reading it right?

What I'm wondering is why it's termed "Hot Rod" ? I get the Hot part meaning it's been hopped up a little, but where did "rod" come from? Or did somebody just come up with the term with no real meaning behind it other than it sounded cool?

I guess the work I'm doing today is sorta' mind numbing & there's nothing to think about but useless trivia.

The best explanation I've seen is that it came from shortening "roadster" back in the 30's SOCAL lakes days. The car of choice was the roadster, because they were lighter, and when hopped up for more speed they were "hot", then "hot roadster's" and then "hot rods". May not be right, but it's a story that kind of hangs together.

I've been avidly following the hobby since '58... but don't remember hearing a real explanation. I know there was a term used in the early years that I seem to remember was similar. Instead of the word "hot"... it was something else.... "_____ job"???? Anyone know?

I do believe a "rail job" was another slang term, for a fenderless car with the frame rails exposed. Obviously thar would tie in with the term that evolved in drag racing to become a "rail"... or "rail dragster".


I'll try googling it since you made me curious.

You have probably memorized the two popular definitions for "hot rod"...

(1) For guys of my generation (63)... it is a 1948 or older car, modified for more power.

(2)For everyone else, seems it's whatever they want it to be.... and can be used for boats, bikes, planes, etc. :-)

...but most commonly it's viewed as "any car modified for some increase in power"

I'll see if I can find the source of the term.


(No luck there) I did find that Gray Baskerville was supposed to be the first to use it in print.

This is the link I got Googling "hot rod name history" - Hot rod - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Now Wikipedia is only as good as the last guy's edit, but it at least takes a stab.

Then you get into other names that came before 'hot rod' and that was 'gow job' or 'hot jobs'

Some real hot rods called Gow Jobs. | American Hot Rod Foundation

I've heard about as many different stories of the origin as they're are different types of "Hot Rods". But the one I've heard the most is the derivation from "Hot Roadsters". Also heard quite a few say it derived from stroked motors IE: "hot rods" as in connecting rods. Who really knows. "Hot Rodders" was a derogatory term used to describe the type that messed with the hopped up, cut down, cars. Kinda like "Holligans", "Punks" or "Greasers". I believe even "Rat Rod" was not a compliment when first used.......................

What is a Hot Rod? used to be a complex question once upon a time, but it's very simple nowadays

A Hotrod is a fancied up Ratrod

Oh gezzzz guys.That term come about when I was born.Doctor looked down and said OMG a "hot rod"!!!.

Now-now,before anyone get twisted out of shape,I couldn't resist and am just horsing/kidding around.

Now this is a hot rod!