What is rat rod ?

A Rat Rod is a newly developed name for the original hot rod style of the early 1950's. A rat rod is a style of hot rod or custom car that, in most cases, imitates the early hot rods of the 40s, 50s, and 60s. A Rat Rod is usually a vehicle that has had many of it't non-critical parts removed. Body paint is usually absent, or at most, primer or flat black finish. There is little or no chrome and the interior is left unfinished.

The rat rod is the visualization of the idea of function over form. Rat rods are meant to be driven, not shown off. Sometimes the customization will include using spare parts, or parts from another car altogether.