Just on the road, Our 40'
Now I know all the purests will whine, but guess what its my car.... I like it, and my wife and I built it...
Its chopped 6 1/2 frenched 39 ford tail lights, 57 chevy rear leafs with a lincoln rear end (4.11 gears), skirted, 327 chevy, th350, m16 bayonet shifter,
hummer front seats, quad headlights, late 50's belair gille, we smoothed the dash, custom made the engine turned insert, pinstriped by me, painted by me, summit radiator with zorg 3200 cfm fan, new booster and master cylinder (not shown), cadillac batwing aircleaner (not shown), black fur headliner, red lexan all the way around minus the front windshield (dumb vegas law), hand made radiator support and baffles, 59 merc steering wheel (chopped and capped by me) pro comp jeep tj front coils up front with 3 loops cut out (cuase they fit), rebuilt original steering.
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Comments
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wrong post.0
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I like it! "Dare to be Different!"...apparently, someone doesn't like it NOT being in the Hudson Street Rod section, but I like the car!0
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My favorite part is the shifter, haven't seen that one done before.
What did the car look like to start?
Matt0 -
It's a damned nice car for what it is. It shows something different done with a Hudson that took a lot of skill and craftsmanship. I sure as heck would drive it if I had it. I wouldn't do it for myself but I sure would drive it.
Harry0 -
Well, it USED to be one!0
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Nice ride, I'll keep an eye out for it here in Vegas.0
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66patrick66 wrote:I like it! "Dare to be Different!"...apparently, someone doesn't like it NOT being in the Hudson Street Rod section, but I like the car!
Dear "66patrick66...I apparently am the "someone" you are referring to. For your information, I have no problem with the car being posted here, although technically it belongs on the hot rod side.
For the record, I was writing a completely different remark when I was called away from the computer, and hit the wrong button and my incomplete remarks were posted, so I tried to delete the whole thing but the website requires at least 10 characters, so I put "wrong post" because it was my post that was incomplete.:)0 -
Too late, I read it already, HA HA HA HA HA!!Junkcarfan - at the very top of the 'edit', you can delete the post - don't even bother to put a reason in...
I will post this, then delete it...
Harry0 -
What are the headlight assemblies from?0
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Cool,
I like your chop, power train, and old hot rod primer theme; I prefer a hood not only for appearance but for areodynamics.. Always wanted to section a '40's hood in the nose but the orginal radiator was too high. Real cool Ride, Enjoy....0 -
it's not my cup of tea, but this is a difficult car to chop and make flow. I think I would like it more, if the windows past the rear doors were maintained.
I kinda like the front end. It really has that lat 50's early 60's flair to it. The shifter is a nice touch, as well as the machine turned dash insert.
Steering wheel is beautiful, nice touch.
My only question, and forgive me, but is red lexan, actually red lexan plexiglass in the windows? is that legal, and is there a way you can get a good picture to show me how this looks? I am most curious!0 -
One of these days, I'll come across an old Hudson or TP car or truck body and go the "rat-rod" route. I've got an extra '37 TP grille and nose, including the radiator and support, that would go great on a car like that! Build a fenderless coupe, or maybe a chopped pickup? There was a '36 coupe body on ebay in western OK a while back, but it got pulled early - guess the guy got a great offer? Oh, well. One day...
Also, have a '69 440 and a '68 383 Mopar engine for such a car, if things ever transpire in that direction!:D0 -
If I would have ended up with the 46-7 P/U and 51 pace coupe that were in Lebanon here, in PA, I would have rat rodded that pickup, in a second. I would have put a dirty old 308 with twin h and dirty old oilbath aircleaners on it.0
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buick lights. Sorry I posted this in the wrong spot for all the purests, but if the registration says its a hudson..........0
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66patrick66 wrote:One of these days, I'll come across an old Hudson or TP car or truck body and go the "rat-rod" route. I've got an extra '37 TP grille and nose, including the radiator and support, that would go great on a car like that! Build a fenderless coupe, or maybe a chopped pickup? There was a '36 coupe body on ebay in western OK a while back, but it got pulled early - guess the guy got a great offer? Oh, well. One day...
Also, have a '69 440 and a '68 383 Mopar engine for such a car, if things ever transpire in that direction!:D
Please guys... Watch the "rat rod" crap. there is a huge difference between a Rat Rod and what Im building. Mine is a Full on Custom. A rat rod is a car that has house hold parts fashioned into automotive parts and rusted out everything. I took this car from mild to wild custom. I know that the buzz word now-a-days has been ratrod, but I dont build "rat rods". its in satin black because I havent decided on the paint yet and I may do some more body mods to it. I recently frenched the license plate and had to paint the decklid yet again. There is not rust in this car because I patched all the rot. There is nothin but lead in this car, cause I put it there.
So Please guys "its not a Rat Rod, Its in progress"0 -
General
Paint and Finish
Typical "rough" finish of Rat Rods.
Typical "rough" finish of Rat Rods.
Many of these cars appear unfinished with primer paint jobs being common. Other common rat rod finishes include “patina†(the original paint with rust and blemishes intact), a patchwork of original paint and primer, and bare metal with no finish at all in rusty or oiled varieties. While the worse enemy of most car builders, rust is often acceptable and appreciated by a Rat Rodder.
Interior
Interiors of rat rods will vary from fully finished to a spartan, bare bones form. Mexican blankets and bomber seats form the basis of many rat rod interiors. Most are designed to be functional without many creature comforts although this will vary with the owner’s taste.
Drive Train
While most Rat Rods are equipped with Flathead V8's, early Chrysler Hemi engines, or more modern Small Block V8's of any manufacturer (Although Chevy is the most common), of varying displacements and modifications, there is quite a variety in the types of engines used. It is not uncommon to see straight sixs, four cylinders (Most commonly, those originally offered in Ford Pintos), V6's, Straight 8, or even diesel engines.
Most Rat Rods are built rear wheel drive, with an open driveline. Rearends are typically passenger vehicle (Usually S-10 or Maverick pieces), as are transmissions. The Ford Banjo rear-end is popular, as is the "Quickchange" type as used in many early hot rods.
Suspension
A "solid", "straight", or "beam" axle, which was commonplace under most cars until the late 40s and under most trucks until the late 60s, but now only commonly found under modern medium and heavy duty trucks is commonly accepted as the only type of front suspension that will look right when exposed without fenders on any vehicle running with an open front suspension. Independent front suspension is discouraged, simply because it appears too "bulky" when exposed.
Most Rat Rods use a 1928-1948 Ford I-beam axle with a transverse leaf spring. Although any solid axle is acceptable, parts are easy to find with the amount of after market products available for the Ford I Beam axle.
Springs vary from coil, parallel, and transverse setups in the front and rear. Parallel is not as often seen as the more common single-spring transverse setup, although both are used commonly. Coil springs are often deemed unsightly without fenders, but are still occasionally seen.
Criticism
Several aspects of the "Rat Rod" style are often criticized by fellow hot-rodders. Most notably is the amount of effort put into some cars to make them appear and/or perform "unsafe and scary". The methods involved are sometimes cosmetic such as radically chopped, sectioned, or lowered vehicles. Other methods involve the engineering and construction of the vehicle with bad welds, inadequate construction/materials, or unsafe braking, steering, and structural engineering. This is a matter of concern to the general public as well because they could represent a threat to public safety. However most of these "unsafe" vehicles are never inspected, registered, insured, or street driven.
The most severe criticism, however, is leveled by preservationists against those who alter any rare surviving original or historical vehicle, thereby destroying their historical value as a pristine specimen. In addition, "traditional" Hot Rodders will often criticize the "exaggeration" of some of the cars constructed following the "Rat Rod" style. Some vehicles or body styles would quite simply not have been used as a Hot Rod in the early days of hot rodding. Maltese crosses, skulls, and other accessories are often tacked on regardless of their absence in real hot rods. Biker, greaser, rock-a-billy, and "Punk" culture is often credited as influence that shapes of Rat Rodding.
further....
http://www.myspace.com/hardlucksailor
you guys sorta fit the rockabilly/greaser culture, IMHO, hopefully no offense taken. I think your car would be a good feature in Old Skool Rods...
I think what has happened, for a better way, is you got grouped into something, mainly because of a real understanding of what you made. While you could argue this one till you're blue in the face, I would venture that a large percentage of the folks on this board would argue "rat rod". Personally, I'm not sure where your car fits in. If we rationalize it with the above paragraphs, definitely, an argument can be made for it being a rat rod, and one against. If you are trying to argue the semantics of "well, it doesn't have mexican blankets for seat covers" or "I haven't decided what color to paint it yet" or "It has no rust" well, that's all fine, but the end of the day, you really can't choose what the mainstay group classifies your car as. It would be the same as if you were trying to say that you have a restored 40 hudson, or a mild custom.
Personally, I would call this a rat rod, not because it is a typical rat rod, but with the pinstripe, unconventional car to customize, flat black primer, shifter, the chop, etc... Not all rat rods have to have rust and street signs as floor patch panels.
Quite frankly, you started out the post stating...
"Now I know all the purests will whine, but guess what its my car.... I like it, and my wife and I built it..."
go with that, be proud of the thought an effort you put into it, be proud that you got a wife that helped work on it. Heck, my wife gets mad when I store a front bench of my Hudson in the house for a few days, or hone the occasional engine in the kitchen sink (okay, long time ago....)
Take Care!
Hudsonkid0 -
I second that!
Regardless of what YOU call your car, around these parts, it would be a rat. There are some rats, like yours, that are well-done and look to be a ball to drive. Others, well, not so much. Feel free to call it what you want, and by all means, be proud of your accomplishments!0 -
I think we should all just be impressed by the fact that he got his wife to work on the car with him!
Tom0 -
I think part of the problem is some not wanting to see restorable cars rodded. I know with my 29 Dodge Bros pickup it would be easier to rod it than restore it but there aren't too many left so I'll restore. It seems there are a lot of 40's around and that takes away the urgency to only restore. Besides that some people see the street rod in anything they work on, they don't want to drive the original, they want the custom, that's why so many people spend so much money making rice burners into hotrods, they don't want to drive what everyone else is. Street rod or Rat Rod, it doesn't make any difference as it is now a custom and it was his choice to go that way with his car. Like I said before, it isn't my cup of tea but I like it anyway.
Harry0 -
Wow. What a small world, at least with the internet... I was surfing myspace a couple nights ago and had found your Mrs' site and actually made reference to it on the following link:
http://www.classiccar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11451
I just want to say that I'm inspired!0 -
I've ridden in this car and its a blast! The looks and thumbs-ups I saw when I was riding in it was all you needed to see. Rat Rod is thrown around here mostly due to ignorance. If its not painted a color, they call it a rat rod. If its chopped, its a rat rod. I would have thought most of you ol' timers would have already known that all this kind of customizing was going on way before "rat rod" every became a recent buzz word. This is a nice CUSTOM job and a work in progress, not a thrown together POS, which is what a real rat rod is. It can cruise with me anyday!0
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I disagree on your definition, jsrail. It fits more of the "old school rod" line of work. I've never called it a POS, and I would hardly call my take on the car something drawn from "ignorance". Problem is, there really is NO clear-cut defintion of "rat-rod", as I know several people that have similar cars that proudly call them "rats" and have LOTS of time, love, and work poured into their cars. And if you saw them YOU'D agree!
Granted, nearly everything that isn't one color, or has a non-stock engine anymore seems to be defined as a "rat rod". Blame THAT on ebay, craigslist, and the sellers who use that term (along with custom, restored, original, and all that!!!) in their car/truck descriptions, and buyers who don't know better.
Basically, it, and all of the terms above, have been misused, bastardized, and just plain misrepresented over time. They're pretty meaningless, when all is said and done.0 -
This is 1 bad boy car, it looks cool and looks like it has the punch to go with it
I wish my wife would be heavily involved in my project
Its going to be a coooool car once finished0 -
The term "rat rod" was first used in California a few years ago as part of a backlash against 'hot rods' purchased by guys with big bucks from fabricators who used all new parts. The center of that action was originally Bakersfield, and it was and still is a growing contingent at the NHRA Bakersfield Hot Rod Reunion which I ran for several years. It is generally connected with a 'Rockabilly' sensibility, with many participants adopting a look, if not a lifestyle in that genre. Retro pinstriping and graphics on the cars are common.
The idea was to build a car a cheaply as possible using no new parts. The result is safe and driveable but probably not 'pretty,' comfortable, practical or innovative. The genre includes cars from all collectible eras. :cool:0 -
Rat Rods from a couple of years ago??? Kustom Cars???0 -
First and formost... I love it... In looking at the bottom edge of the dash, the location of the ashtray, the shape of the bottom of the doors, and the body shape between the rear window and the decklid, the car appears to be a 42, 46, or 47... Secondly... I love it...0
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too many people take the name Rat Rod as such a slam, when it really isn't. I think that so many people out ther have seen a few examples of cars, that are called "rat rods" that are so extreme in their custom approach, and maybe lack of safety, or finish, that those that have a car that fall into this catergory, regardless of the level of which the car is constructed, even a nice example, such as our exhibit A here, those few outliers, give the terminology a bad name.
This is stoopid, because 49hudson is having the last laugh anyway, he's prolly out there with his wife working on hudsons, while we debate this whole issue of a term on line.0 -
I like it! Not your run of the mill custom. I don't have the skills to pull off something like this, but if I did I would do it. I have all kinds of ideas for my coupe but Health problems and skill levels keep them in the idea stage. Sooooooooooo What can I say.......I like it...
Bob0 -
I think if I had put that much work into a car I might be a little sensitive to it being called a rat rod but then again maybe not when I think of Big Daddy Roths Rat Rods. It sure don't look like your daddy's Hudson, thats for sure. Did any of us ever ask how it drives?
Harry0 -
Tom Drew wrote:I think we should all just be impressed by the fact that he got his wife to work on the car with him!
Tom
Wait a minute! I gotta put a stop to this right now! Before my wife hears about this and wants to get in MY garage! It's the only hiding place I got left. haha Just kidding
I like the car too, and I agree with the feeling ya get when someone calls your car a rat rod. So many of them you see out there are just plain unsafe and crappy welding that is almost laughable ( if it wasn't so dangerous). So, I understand that someone might be offended to have there hard work called a rat rod. That been said, it is what looks to be, a nicely built rat rod! As far as the plexiglass! If something ever hits that it's going to be sharp pieces all over the place. Not safe, IMHO. I'd change to glass. Now I have a rat rod myself. Proud of my little piece of junk that has made up of everything 'not new'. Also, all done by me. Which I believe is a short definition of rat rod. "Built by owner, with no over the counter new parts." Like Sam said. Guess what I'm trying to say is don't worry what folks call it, ...WE LIKE IT!:)
That been said, I think it's a 46' or 47 dash too. Is the car a 40' or 46/47?0
This discussion has been closed.
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