Here to stay. Just like drifting. LOL

"rat rods" have been around as long as Hot Rods have... theres always that 1 guy who couldnt afford to make his car/truck all nice and pretty..

i think there is a fine line. rat rods can look REALLY unique and cool, and they can also look like shit. there is a distinct difference between trashy and something with years of use and character. i dont think a person should try to make his car look beat down, but to incorporate true symptoms of years of use and abuse into a design takes a talent. that being said, there is a fine line between a nice rat rod with character and a pile of trash

I think that TDWPgtp makes a good point, but is still wrong, I’ve seen a few cars and bikes that were "worn down" to look used and abused and they still came out looking perfect, and were frankly breathtaking, but I do agree with “There is a distinct difference between trashy and something with years of use and character.”

I hate rat rods that cost more than corvettes. lol, the point of a rat rod is to be awesome for little or no money.

I think the shocker rat rods will fade away, but driven beaters are proudly here to stay. I wouldn't call that truck a rat rod. I'd call it a patined driven hot rod. The fad rat rods full of skulls, spider webs, and open floor boards were cool for about 10 seconds when only one car was like that. Now every rat rod sedan looks like that. Air bagged to the ground, funky seats, open headers, open roof with web insert, skulls painted everywhere and an ill-fitted tractor grille. These are the fad rat rods that will fade away. Hopefully they'll take all the bobber cab trucks on S-10 chassis with them.

I think the rat rod movement is actually gaining momentum at this point.

Everything is sort of a rat rod (please don't jump down my throat let me explain). From what I understand the rat rod phenomenon has been going on for years, and the un-finished look is because a car will never be truly finished; there is always something to do. As things change so does your opinion; thus reflecting upon your car. So in that regard rat rods will never die, and the term will live on and probably morph to different meanings

i totally agree with cknarf rats are supposed to cost as less as possible...I'm not sayin CHEAP....... BUT less as possible lol

I appreciate everyones' comments. I understand where each of you are coming from; even cknarf. I have always loved Rat Rods. I don't neccessarily mean the ones sitting on bags, but the rods that have been weathered, but can still be driveable.

to answer the question... no.

I think a vechile built with talent instead of money is a beautiful thing and will always be appreachated. Some of them are and then there are ones that are just _ _ _ _ as MrAMC1 has noted. Beside the fact that most of those ones wouldn't make it through a saftey check they are just another reason for the law makers to attack us. I hope the talent shows through and the "ugly because i can" ones die.

Rat rods are here to stay. Personally, I like them (most at least). As long as there's nothing structurally wrong with the vehicle, I don't see any reason why it can't show some wear. In the old days, a guy would pour so much money into the engine that he didn't have any left over for bodywork and paint. So, he either left the body the way it was, or went down to the local farm supply store and bought the cheapest matte black paint available.

i have to agree with 2digits. I personally think however, that everything starts as a rat rod and progresses to something more.