18 replies to this topic

[blue redtop]

whats a rat look mini, really sorry probly a stupid question?

The idea of a 'Rat' rod/car is the bares minimum of bits to get a car on the road. So things like interior comforts, heater, covering on seats, carpets. The minimum of lights etc. I think the idea sprang from young kids scavenging the scrap yards for bits to make a car out of.... cheap way to get mobile.

http://www.hotrodhap...dRatRod-001.JPG

that wouldnt last 2 months in the uk it rains to much.

shame really,thats why we dont see any rat looking cars on the road in the uk they will just fall apart when it gets wet.

u do see the odd car trying to be rat with a coat of mat lacquer on it to stop it rusting away to fast but leave it to the states not in the uk.

[NE-Matt]

The point I was trying to make was simple, that in my opinion the whole "rat" look thing is shat and overplayed. People should maybe think about trying something new, taking there influences and make a car that is entirely what they want and maybe a bit different instead of just jumping on this bandwagon that seems to have become popular over the last couple of years. I just wonder how many of these people queing up at the church of rat are gonna have a moment of clarity in a few years and think "man, I used to have a nice car", trends come and go, take influence but don't mimick. Fake patinas, encouraged rust and roofracks full of rubbish is in my opinion a poor immitation of the traditional rods from back in the day. These dudes didn't strip the paint off there cars, stick tacky skulls to the front and cover them in iron crosses, there cars were rough and ready as thats just what they had. It was about taking what you could find and turning it into a car, preferably one with a crazy power to weight ratio, at minimal cost, not taking a working vehicle and making it look C**p and pretending to be badasses. There are people who still do it like this, they are insulted if your refer to there car as rat, they maybe rough on the outside but they will be spot on mechanically.

I like to see this whole rat explosion like the whole punk rock thing. It starts pure with people doing it for what it is then it becomes exploited and marketted to the mainstream, immitators inevitably emerge with more and more waterd down versions of the initial object and before you know it's the next big thing. It'll be gone in a few years replaced by the next trend.

Do what the hell you like to your own car, I really couldn't give a poo, all I'm trying to do is get people to think about it and stop building cars by numbers....

[666junky]

The thing is, the old styleeeee rat cars.. the owners did take care of them, just didnt have the money to keep them in concourse condition.. of course we sort the rust.. just cant afford all the sandpaper and paints and polish to make it shiney.. so it stays red-oxided.. it does the job, keep it that way..

Welding a patch? grab some sheet metal and bang it into shape.. dont grind the welds back unless you have to.. saves on grinding disks...

Get the jist?

Its not about the "look" of a rat car.. its keeping it on the road at minimal cost.. some of these new so called "rat" cars have been purpose made to look like that and in all honesty, arnt rat at all..

I just say be happy with what car you have.. and make it your own


Edit: Some people would call voo rat.. but i dont like to label her.. anyway, yeah i agree with what Matts just said about the car may look bum (her door handles come off.. shes been graffiti'd ) but her tuning is spot on, and like the dyno man said, couldnt of been better

Edited by 666junky, 11 May 2008 - 07:15 PM.

[Down&Out]

im not trying to create a rant i do like the look of ratty veedubs some people may not like me for saying this but its all down to personal tastes. my mini will not be rat, im just asking to see what ratty mini look like, just curious thats all