Just because it falls under the category of Rat Rod, does not mean it has to be poorly executed.

This Christmas wish might be a little controversial, but Santa please bring an end to the poorly built Rat Rods. I am referring to the ones that appear to have been built by Helen Keller and require anyone who comes within a twenty-foot radius to have had a recent tetanus shot.

I get it, the rat rod was about freedom and creativity. Using S10 frames provided a plentiful foundation for expressing one’s welding skills and resourcefulness, but what I am referring to are the poorly built death traps. These sketchy rides built by bearded hipsters are the equivalent of Oakely wearing mullet masters cutting the crap out of coil springs back in the late 80’s and early ‘90s.

Photo from ratrodsrule.com.

Customizing cars is a form of art, there are works that belong in a museum and then there are preschool finger paintings on the refrigerator door. Hopefully, we can see more of the technical body modification skills seen in traditional hot rods and less of the bird poo welds.

There is nothing wrong with being resourceful, but beer taps are the new skinny jeans. I would love to see what might happen if Santa delivered a S10 frame and ’31 Pontiac coupe body to someone’s shop. Try something besides ’32 Ford, seek inspiration, and build something different.

Just because it falls under the category of Rat Rod, does not mean it has to be poorly executed. Rat Rods can be beautiful with edgy styling and a little rust, but enough with the beer tap shifters already.