The 'Rat Look'

[over_head_cam]

Opinion is deffo different to definition

[Gareth]

And so it begins again

[Stu_B]

I got bored reading that! I haven't gone out of my way to make my car look this way - it's 35 years of use!! I was actually tidying it up a bit when i sprayed it satin black!

I wouldn't call my car 'Rat' look but thats what most people would say. Its jsut a culmination of styles I'm into. Big wheels on the back, lower profiles on the front from the 70's & I guess the rest is a mad max influence!

 

King' labels, getting in the way of life - again!!!

[over_head_cam]

King' labels, getting in the way of life - again!!!

 

I hear that!

[Nettles]

I don’t like the term “Rat Look” but I deffo love the style. When I eventually finish my 53 Anglia I’m gonna buy another sit up and beg ford and go for this look.

My aim would be to build something like the one below and use it as my daily driver.

 

[over_head_cam]

I like it

[Jarrodm]

Is mine rat look?

 

Nope, fookin cool though ! that'll be rat in 10 years for sure !

 

Jarrod

[Arched Escy]

that karmann ghia that was posted is lovely.i really like it but its not the same as having a car thats been used and abused into the "look"

[Josh_gsy]

i am a fan of ra look but on british cars its more risky then german for example as the grade of metal used in osf and minis werent nearly as good as that of a vw bug or bus. i am continplating rat look on my cortina specially as i was just told its very rusty by a garage but i also like mint cars with a deep polished look but then dull and faded with shiny bumpers, wheels and exhaust looks cool!

[Noodles]

I would rather have a hot eninge than worry about a bit of rust

[Messenjah]

well my car gets used and abused but it is a rolling resto i am doing it up as and when i can afford to ive got some welding to have done then ill be saving up for a while and hopefully geting some of the bodywork stuff sorted out

then ittl stay satin black while i do the interior

and then ill save for a proper respray but untill then ittl probabbly just get rattier and rattier lol

 

 

i wouldnt call it rat looks its just a 100k mile daily drie tht happens to be satin black and have some rusty holes

[X-pack-Glyn]

Next car i get it staying with all the original patina as long as its structurally sound and no holes i wont paint it .

 

Money on go faster stuff

 

like mine then

[Retromotorsport]

so if its a bit grubby ... and has some rusty patches ... but decent wheels and a good engine.. its a "ratlook" ..

 

Hmm should never have sold my Mondeo ... had a good engine, alloys some rust and dent and faded red paint ...

[FlashCadillac]

wikipedia says...

 

...Rat rod is a newly developed name for the original hot rod style of the early 1950s. A rat rod is usually a vehicle that has had many of its non-critical parts removed. They are usually finished in primer-like paints and are often period correct. They are very often the conglomeration of parts and pieces of different makes and models.

 

 

 

so no... your mondeo wasnt a rat rod... they dont have to be rusty to be rat.... but metal with holes in it doesnt weigh as much

[Wessie]

so if its a bit grubby ... and has some rusty patches ... but decent wheels and a good engine.. its a "ratlook" ..

 

Hmm should never have sold my Mondeo ... had a good engine, alloys some rust and dent and faded red paint ...

[bomber1]

so if its a bit grubby ... and has some rusty patches ... but decent wheels and a good engine.. its a "ratlook" ..

 

Hmm should never have sold my Mondeo ... had a good engine, alloys some rust and dent and faded red paint ...

 

strip it ur there #

 

just to add my car probaly isnt rat look its just old tired and pushed into daily service till the mk1 is done done a thousnd miles in the old girl while on holiday last week not a cough sniff or wisper just got on with it 1300 4doors rock nuff said

 

[w p e]

my old box as always been called the rat even all the mags its been in over the years call it the rat look. foot down arse out .pretty dont make my rat any faster the more bits that fall of the quicker it goes

[Super Sh1te Box]

Rat look to me is a very solid base car, waring its original paint faded an that could tell a thousand stories (were posible), sleeper look to untrained eye BUT is full of detail and period/nice touches.

 

Would say the Rod influence is in undercoat / flat matt blacks or greys, with period style and performance.

 

VW rats seem to be far out in sun bleached paint, rareish and massive surprise REAL engineering underneath, full on modern brakes and suspension with enough power to kill most modern supercars.

 

Hood Rides to me are almost plain dangerous and seem to have real structure issues and made to look ugly on purpose.

 

I love them all for what they achieve. I respect the concept but see to many that dont hit the mark or have been thrown together.

 

LOVE A FULL ON SHOW CAR TOO....

 

Mines the yellow anglia in Retro Ford, used...

[Tiz]

 

my old rat, i weirdly think it only works on dubs and old hot rods, not sure why i think that but i just do. I loved it, got so much attention and everyone loved it. Shame i had to sell it but it was just tooo low for the roads around here and no i coudl raise it as i had worn the bottom adjuster nut away on the roads and i used to hook cats eyes out. I actually got a caution for damaging road surfaces lol. It had hydraulics but only on the back. Maybe i should have kept it and put hydraulics on the front as well but then i wouldnt have bought an OSF.

[Doc]

Have a look at www.hoodride.com

 

some dirty rats on there ! and very cool

[Doc]

that last ones wicked!

Owned (along with loads of other rods & kustoms) by Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top

 

The 37 Ford coupe & Pop you posted pics of aren't Rat Rods

 

Rat Look can suit Old Skool Fords too, here's Rebel MC from this sites Cortina:

 

 

i love this car