Ratrod definition
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,674
Likes: 1,251
From: Jefferson City, MO
If you do a google image search on rat rod you get a lot of this:
That was done just to be extreme, and not at all in the definition by James.
How many terms get their focal point changed. I call my diagonal pliers "dikes". Now if I say that to someone, most will think I'm talking something completely different.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 851
Likes: 1
From: NE Washington
LOL! You have a point there, Ross.
We wouldn't think of it as a RR because the definition has been hijacked to describe some of the fine (
) examples that have already been depicted in the thread. When shows get stacked with cars/trucks with five digit paint jobs and enough chrome and accessories to command a six digit price, a guy like this doesn't stand a chance. So the term RR was coined to define the guy who does a budget rod job. If this truck had several thousand dollars thrown into it we'd be calling it a show quality Street Rod. And it is indeed a nice truck, I'd be proud to park next to it or park it in my garage anytime.
) examples that have already been depicted in the thread. When shows get stacked with cars/trucks with five digit paint jobs and enough chrome and accessories to command a six digit price, a guy like this doesn't stand a chance. So the term RR was coined to define the guy who does a budget rod job. If this truck had several thousand dollars thrown into it we'd be calling it a show quality Street Rod. And it is indeed a nice truck, I'd be proud to park next to it or park it in my garage anytime.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 851
Likes: 1
From: NE Washington
I agree, I would never call that truck a rat rod. Based on the definition James have located, a majority of our trucks are rat rods.
If you do a google image search on rat rod you get a lot of this:
That was done just to be extreme, and not at all in the definition by James.
How many terms get their focal point changed. I call my diagonal pliers "dikes". Now if I say that to someone, most will think I'm talking something completely different.
If you do a google image search on rat rod you get a lot of this:
That was done just to be extreme, and not at all in the definition by James.
How many terms get their focal point changed. I call my diagonal pliers "dikes". Now if I say that to someone, most will think I'm talking something completely different.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 487
Likes: 0
From: Jackson
Not what my father intended to happen. My father and I restored 2 great looking Trucks(1960 F-100 & 1968 F-100) we also have 2 F-1s(50&52) complete and running. He has a project gathering in the back yard that is parts found cheap.
The frame is a 56 F-100 I-6 2wd . The cab was from a 48-50 truck. the hood is a spare that came with my 50 F-1.
Here are the engine options a 59AB Flathead 8 or an F-5 8BA Flat 8. 59AB was in my 50 F-1 when we picked it up and the F-5 was a cheap local find.
He want to put all this together as it is. No chopping or lowering just moving the rear axle forward due to a shorter drive shaft. Everything will be assembled with safety in mind. He was seeing how you all would take it if he posted build pics. but he won't be do to how this thread has gone. He apologizes and never intended for this to happen.
The frame is a 56 F-100 I-6 2wd . The cab was from a 48-50 truck. the hood is a spare that came with my 50 F-1.
Here are the engine options a 59AB Flathead 8 or an F-5 8BA Flat 8. 59AB was in my 50 F-1 when we picked it up and the F-5 was a cheap local find.
He want to put all this together as it is. No chopping or lowering just moving the rear axle forward due to a shorter drive shaft. Everything will be assembled with safety in mind. He was seeing how you all would take it if he posted build pics. but he won't be do to how this thread has gone. He apologizes and never intended for this to happen.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 7,493
Likes: 7
From: Erie, pa
Well I wasn't going to weigh in on this, but sometimes I tread where I should best leave alone. My dad has subscribed to Hot Rod magazine forever, and the February 2012 issue has the cover 'No Boring Cars'. The cover photo has a '36 International PU/'58 Dodge car with a 427 that is alcohol fueled, and NHRA legal. The other is a '28 Model A with a 2000hp 820 Ford Hemi that is street legal. Both definitely have a 'rat rod' look, and I doubt Hot Rod would feature two vehicles that are "unsafe" or "junk".
[I]So I Googled around for a definition of 'rat rod'. From Wikipedia (yeah, I know) it says, "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 & early 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.....Originally a counter-reaction to the high priced "customs" and typical hot rods, many of which seldom were driven, the rat rod's beginning was a throwback to the hot rods of the earlier days of hot-rodding, built to the best of the owner's abilities and meant to be driven. Rat rods are meant to loosely imitate in form and function the "traditional" hot rods of the era."
From RAT RODS it says, "Rat Rod definition: A Rat Rod is a newly developed name for the original hot rod style of the early 1950's. A Rat Rod is usually a vehicle that has had many of it't (sic) non-critical parts removed. They are usually finished in primer or paints that are often period correct. They are very often a conglomeration of parts and pieces of different makes, models and after market parts. The term "rat rod" was first used by the high dollar, show cars guys to describe the low-buck, home built drivers. Don't forget the roots of the hobby (streetrods), it was the little guy in a garage on a budget (with help from his friends) that started it all."[/I]Frankly I'm fine with both of those definitions. If the term has been hijacked to apply to an unsafe contraption made from junk, then that isn't the fault of the original intent. Funny, I find the reaction here reminiscent of how the original hot rods were viewed by the established culture of the time. Anyway, I hope I haven't offended anyone, just trying to offer some perspective.So although rat rods exist and have their following they aren't a topic for a Ford truck forum. Well, for the most part. I've attached a pic from the 'Rat Rods' site, I think this guy would be welcomed.
[I]So I Googled around for a definition of 'rat rod'. From Wikipedia (yeah, I know) it says, "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 & early 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.....Originally a counter-reaction to the high priced "customs" and typical hot rods, many of which seldom were driven, the rat rod's beginning was a throwback to the hot rods of the earlier days of hot-rodding, built to the best of the owner's abilities and meant to be driven. Rat rods are meant to loosely imitate in form and function the "traditional" hot rods of the era."
From RAT RODS it says, "Rat Rod definition: A Rat Rod is a newly developed name for the original hot rod style of the early 1950's. A Rat Rod is usually a vehicle that has had many of it't (sic) non-critical parts removed. They are usually finished in primer or paints that are often period correct. They are very often a conglomeration of parts and pieces of different makes, models and after market parts. The term "rat rod" was first used by the high dollar, show cars guys to describe the low-buck, home built drivers. Don't forget the roots of the hobby (streetrods), it was the little guy in a garage on a budget (with help from his friends) that started it all."[/I]Frankly I'm fine with both of those definitions. If the term has been hijacked to apply to an unsafe contraption made from junk, then that isn't the fault of the original intent. Funny, I find the reaction here reminiscent of how the original hot rods were viewed by the established culture of the time. Anyway, I hope I haven't offended anyone, just trying to offer some perspective.So although rat rods exist and have their following they aren't a topic for a Ford truck forum. Well, for the most part. I've attached a pic from the 'Rat Rods' site, I think this guy would be welcomed.
Oh - I was born in 1948 - My Dad tuned race cars and my Brother is 13 years older than me so I got drug around a whole bunch of real hotrods, customs and race vehicles of every type - Then maybe you'll understand Traditional or Back In The Day - Then there was no such thing as they were inventing it and it sure as blazes didn't look like the crap that is being turned out now.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 851
Likes: 1
From: NE Washington
John, As far as I am concerned no apologies are necessary. This is a forum for '48-'56 Ford trucks, period. That would include stock, modified, darkside, and even rat. If someone doesn't like his build, they don't have to view the thread. Please encourage him to share his project, intended or otherwise.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 16,882
Likes: 3,124
From: SE Wisc. (the Rust Belt)
John, I think your dad might have been using a broad brush the term rat rod. My idea of a rat rod, as stated fairly clearly here, is cobbled together piece of crap using anything hanging the garage, sitting on the garage floor or outside rotting away. From your statements about your previous projects you and your dad seem to know what you're doing and have enough experience to build a good safe vehicle. I just don't like the buckets of bolts that look ill conceived, slapped together and terribly unsafe to be on the road. What your dad is contemplating has been done by quite a few FTE members.
Check out bobbytnm's gallery, his truck is built with parts from many different sources but had been done with good taste and although it's not the prettiest truck on the road it is not outrageously ugly. It is not stock but it's certainly not a rat rod:
Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums - View Profile: bobbytnm
Nathan, 51dueller has another truck that is from stock but is well thought out:
Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums - View Profile: 51dueller
Vern, Greatnorthwoods, has a truck that has been diced up and rebuilt into a very nice looking truck, very far from a rat rot but still different from how it came out of the factory:
Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums - View Profile: GreatNorthWoods
Post the build. As long as it keeps some resemblance to how it came out of the factory I think there would be a lot of interest. We all like and appreciate the ingenuity of our members who can build something from parts. Now if you guys drop it into the dirt, channel the cab even further, chop the top so you have 2" high windows and spray paint skulls and cross bones on the doors and make it look something for a circus in a horror movie I think the support my wain.
Check out bobbytnm's gallery, his truck is built with parts from many different sources but had been done with good taste and although it's not the prettiest truck on the road it is not outrageously ugly. It is not stock but it's certainly not a rat rod:
Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums - View Profile: bobbytnm
Nathan, 51dueller has another truck that is from stock but is well thought out:
Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums - View Profile: 51dueller
Vern, Greatnorthwoods, has a truck that has been diced up and rebuilt into a very nice looking truck, very far from a rat rot but still different from how it came out of the factory:
Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums - View Profile: GreatNorthWoods
Post the build. As long as it keeps some resemblance to how it came out of the factory I think there would be a lot of interest. We all like and appreciate the ingenuity of our members who can build something from parts. Now if you guys drop it into the dirt, channel the cab even further, chop the top so you have 2" high windows and spray paint skulls and cross bones on the doors and make it look something for a circus in a horror movie I think the support my wain.
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,222
Likes: 6
From: Houston
Well, I am what most would call a darksider here. My truck had a SBC in it when I bought it and it still will when I finally get it done. But I bought a Ford because I love the old Fords. I really do not like the same year Chevy trucks. A 350 is a decent motor, but that is all it is - a motor. I still consider mine a Ford. My truck had a really lousy bed and a lot of bondo on the cab where the front of the bed was. I have decided that I am going to do something that many might think is crazy here. I am going to cut the cab above the windshield (about 8" back) and make mine into a woodie. It will take a while, being that my business is starting to get busy. In the past I made a 40 Chevy 4 door sedan into a woodie wagon for a client, so now I am going to do it for myself. It certainly won't be a "rat rod", but it will be far from stock. I don't think that Ford made a '52 F1 woodie, but Marmon-Herrington did. It had a metal roof, and it looked like they made it out of a panel truck. Mine will be all wood from the windshield back, the floor from behind the seat back. It will have a fabric top the same as woodie wagons. I am not sure about the back doors yet but leaning toward a wood tailgate and flip up window like a wagon. So who knows what my build will be called, but I hope not "rat rod". Maybe just crazy...
Here is my bad drawing of what I plan on doing.
Here is my bad drawing of what I plan on doing.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 487
Likes: 0
From: Jackson
Well, I am what most would call a darksider here. My truck had a SBC in it when I bought it and it still will when I finally get it done. But I bought a Ford because I love the old Fords. I really do not like the same year Chevy trucks. A 350 is a decent motor, but that is all it is - a motor. I still consider mine a Ford. My truck had a really lousy bed and a lot of bondo on the cab where the front of the bed was. I have decided that I am going to do something that many might think is crazy here. I am going to cut the cab above the windshield (about 8" back) and make mine into a woodie. It will take a while, being that my business is starting to get busy. In the past I made a 40 Chevy 4 door sedan into a woodie wagon for a client, so now I am going to do it for myself. It certainly won't be a "rat rod", but it will be far from stock. I don't think that Ford made a '52 F1 woodie, but Marmon-Herrington did. It had a metal roof, and it looked like they made it out of a panel truck. Mine will be all wood from the windshield back, the floor from behind the seat back. It will have a fabric top the same as woodie wagons. I am not sure about the back doors yet but leaning toward a wood tailgate and flip up window like a wagon. So who knows what my build will be called, but I hope not "rat rod". Maybe just crazy...
Here is my bad drawing of what I plan on doing.
Here is my bad drawing of what I plan on doing.
FTE Legend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 283,614
Likes: 8,248
From: northwestern Ontario
Well, I am what most would call a darksider here. My truck had a SBC in it when I bought it and it still will when I finally get it done. But I bought a Ford because I love the old Fords. I really do not like the same year Chevy trucks. A 350 is a decent motor, but that is all it is - a motor. I still consider mine a Ford. My truck had a really lousy bed and a lot of bondo on the cab where the front of the bed was. I have decided that I am going to do something that many might think is crazy here. I am going to cut the cab above the windshield (about 8" back) and make mine into a woodie. It will take a while, being that my business is starting to get busy. In the past I made a 40 Chevy 4 door sedan into a woodie wagon for a client, so now I am going to do it for myself. It certainly won't be a "rat rod", but it will be far from stock. I don't think that Ford made a '52 F1 woodie, but Marmon-Herrington did. It had a metal roof, and it looked like they made it out of a panel truck. Mine will be all wood from the windshield back, the floor from behind the seat back. It will have a fabric top the same as woodie wagons. I am not sure about the back doors yet but leaning toward a wood tailgate and flip up window like a wagon. So who knows what my build will be called, but I hope not "rat rod". Maybe just crazy...
Here is my bad drawing of what I plan on doing.
Here is my bad drawing of what I plan on doing.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,222
Likes: 6
From: Houston
Thanks, I will post pics as I progress. Right now I am finishing the mechanics. Waiting on an overdrive (700r4) to be built, get it and the ready engine in, and get it running and stopping. All the brakes are done, steering, suspension, gas, and wiring. Next comes the cut and the woodwork. As soon as that starts there will be pictures. If anyone needs a bed (less fenders) that is lightly beat up and live near Houston let me know. I need the room. It comes with a brand new metal front wall from Dennis Carpenter. I ordered it long ago before I decided to do what I am now planning. PM me, I will let it go have a new home if you are willing to pick it up. One of the PO's fabricated and welded bumper and braces to the back of the bed - it is still there.
I'll have the Roast Duck
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 9,622
Likes: 110
From: Northshore, MN
WTF are you all talking about? There is no such thing as a rat rod on this forum. We call these trucks strictly by what they really are, or most closely represent:
1948 F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7, F8
1949 F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7, F8
1950 F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7, F8
1951 F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7, F8
1952 F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7, F8
1953 F100, F250, F350, F400, F500, F600, F700, F800, F900, F950, ...
Oh, Hell, you get the idea...... I hope.
It can only be titled as one thing, according to the DMV.
1948 F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7, F8
1949 F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7, F8
1950 F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7, F8
1951 F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7, F8
1952 F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7, F8
1953 F100, F250, F350, F400, F500, F600, F700, F800, F900, F950, ...
Oh, Hell, you get the idea...... I hope.
It can only be titled as one thing, according to the DMV.