A rat rod is a style of hot rod or custom car that, in most cases, imitates (or exaggerates) the early hot rods of the 40s, 50s, and 60s. It is not to be confused with the somewhat closely related “traditional” hot rod, which is an accurate re-creation or period-correct restoration of a hot rod from the same era.

Most rat rods appear “unfinished” (whether they actually are or not), with just the bare essentials to be driven.

The rat rod is the visualization of the idea of function over form.

I hadn’t heard the term “Rat Rod” until recently, and didn’t know that it was a genuine classification of custom vehicle. We called ’em “beaters” but they were nowhere near the awesome extremes pictured here.

Chopped and channeled and lowered and loud fits right in with
The Overnight Open Thread.