From what I am seeing on TV now, I think the flat black paint it the qualifier. (confused)

That makes no sense to me. The "rat rods" I used to see were welded together from pieces and parts of different vehicles and whatever they could find. The two black trucks I see posted above are really done well and highly custom. How are they rat rods?

The one nova posted looks more like a rat rod (to me), minus the black primer.

I am a novice asking, so don't get upset.