33 replies to this topic

[Em.ma]

I'm rather curious about this one, firstly because I don't think I've seen many "ratted" Mini's. Maybe I'm blind to them or they are a minority thing in the "scene" but I just haven't seen many at all. Is my perception of this accurate or have I been missing a lot of things?

 

I come from a VW background where I've seen a lot of "rat" cars but the perception of "rat" in those circles seems to largely consist of deliberately rusting a wing/bonnet, tinting headlights, sticker-bombing, adding a roof rack etc... (and this is even done to what I deem to be newer cars, like 1995 onwards which were otherwise fine/in good condition before) so I wondered what it meant to you Mini guys/girls? If anything at all...

 

Just to declare my position; I don't see sanding a panel, leaving it to rust and chucking a roof rack on my car as rat (I'd call that something else), I think it's a more rounded, elaborate and time consuming process. In fact I see it as less deliberate and more a natural process of physical decay which is managed and the car is maintained in a way that is can still be used despite its physical state.  

I'm not saying any view of "rat" is right or wrong, I just get curious as to what people view it to be as opinions seem to be quite varied. 

 

Be good to hear some opinions and maybe see some photos of your own cars or ones you have seen that you think look good (or bad)  

[megamini_jb]

Hate it, looks stupid, even worse on minis

[Tamworthbay]

Rat look comes under the 'trying too hard' heading to me, largely done by people with more money than sense who somehow think it makes them look cool (it doesn't). You may guess I am not much of a fan. Now a naturally ratty car is a different thing altogether and indeed a thing of beauty.

[AlexMozza]

Waste of a Good Car

[nicklouse]

A VW.

[666junky]

I hate the term rat look and anyone who writes it on their car deliberately is asking for a kick. Most people who understand my car Nelly (very popular at shows) say she is an extension of my personality and expression.. if you saw us you would understand!
Anyway, anything forced is just douchebag.. but a car that has hard work to keep it roadworthy, safe and often a bit quicker than the rest with not much attention to the body gets my attention.
My car looks the way she does due to costing (i cant afford a spray job), practicality (i move hutches and cages on its roof) and because i want her to be a bit quicker than the rest (wider wheels, lightened a tiny bit and an engine conversion done to a very tight budget!).
I cringe when people call Nelly rat look lol.. yes it looks ratty (as in untidy) but its NOT RATLOOK!!
I hate labels in general.. anyone who has to call their car a style clearly has put too much effort in and are failing badly!

[72clubman]

Hi Emma, and welcome to the mini community. :)

I think the main reason you don't see many on purpose rat look minis (there are a few though) is every mini owner lives in fear of rust, as the whole body is welded any rust is structural. They certainly don't need any help. (sorry if that sounds pedantic, but I honestly think it makes up for a large reason)

I think people chase after it on more modern cars to try to give them character, and an identity in the sea of similar cars.
Something I don't think even the most boring of minis has a problem with. But you can do what you wish with your own car!
But when people say rat look I think of purposely rusted panels (beyond me) and unused show cars.

My car fell into the well used class, not by choice, just was! A front end shunt didn't help this either! Due to time constraints I ran it with the front end half primered after a rushed repair. It happens. But people saw it was functional. And a lot of people liked the look, and where dissapointed when i painted it!
I know they where only teasing though.
It did have a certain appeal with its primer camo look though.





Mine looked crappy cause I couldn't paint! Or afford to have it painted. But it was immaculately maintained mechanically and not a spot of rust.

Oh and the mileage I did in it was borderline obscene! But that's half the fun!

Joe

Edited by 72clubman, 16 June 2015 - 02:22 PM.

[666junky]

Id prefer seeing more like yours on the road than these ones that have had bottle caps folded over seams and fake un nescessary zip tie stitching with a huge ratlook sticker on it.
I prefer them to look used and loved!!

[Kam]

I always thought the rat look was for people that just cannot be arsed. Bit like life really, some people make an effort and some don't?

 

We need Yin and we need Yang, we need the rat look and we need the people that can be arsed!

[peter-b]

I can't see the point of doing up a car to look like its been totally neglected. I'm not talking about the 'as i found it cars' that people just do the minimum to allow them to be driven on the road. I'm sure if the cars itself had feelings I doubt it would want to be dressed up like a hobo. I honestly feel sad for the cars its been done to.

[AVV IT]

Rat Look certainly doesn't seem to be very popular in the mini scene and as this thread demonstrates, many mini enthusiasts seem to have something of an issue with it. I don't really understand why this is, for me the mini scene has always been about variety & fun, which is exactly what Rat Look is all about. I wouldn't want to see every mini looking that way, in the same way that I wouldn't want every mini to be heavily modified and covered in fibre glass panels, but I certainly wouldn't want every mini to be a highly polished standard spec concourse example either. yet the concept seems to offend many here.

My daily is what I would call a "Semi-Rat", it's tatty, covered in stickers and has many areas of exposed primer, with a few bits of rusty chrome here and there. None of it's particularly deliberate, the car has just sort of evolved that way. Interestingly, despite the unpopularity of Rat Look here, every Ratted mini I've ever scene at Mini Shows seems to have hoards of people crowded round it. I've certainly noticed that my daily gets way more attention at shows than my highly polished other mini ever gets, maybe that's because my other mini just looks like a shiny 90's cooper, like everyone else's does.

[megamini_jb]

You have got this that has aged beautifully and still looks well cared for (hope you don't mind me using your photo Buddylove)


God I love that mini

Then you have this


Keep the prat looking VW as they're rubbish anyway

Edited by megamini_jb, 16 June 2015 - 06:44 AM.

[666junky]

Exactly my point. Some may say the same about mine (being like the lower image) but having had the car for 3 years, not alot of money and using it as a daily shes a little battered. The only thing i think people will pick me out on is the headlight cover... but thats staying as ive always wanted them and the other one fell off!

Edited by 666junky, 16 June 2015 - 08:54 AM.

[Ben_O]

Patina suits a Mini, especially an earlier one but in my opinion, Rat does not really suit it, especially one like the above grey thing which looking closely looks like a really decent shell underneath it all.

 

No offence to the owner of course. I believe that people should do as they please with their own car.

Edited by Ben_O, 16 June 2015 - 09:36 AM.

[Tommyboy12]

Im mixed when it comes to rat look.

 

Cars which follow the initial ratrod scene and are put together with aged/second-hand parts made to increase performance/personality on a budget are, in my opinion, a proper and 'good' rat look. Stripping your bonnet and dipping it in acid to force rust is not rat look and just looks daft. Although I do admire the thought that goes into some of the concepts. The above Mini being one.

 

Im using the approach of used/second-hand/laying around parts on my Jiffy project where appropriate (ie not mechanical components) but I personally dont see that as rat look. Its rather a 'looked after on a budget' look I suppose!