Some of you will undoubtedly blow a gasket when you see this 1957 Chevy rat rod wagon in the video below. You’ll freak out because some real 1957 Chevy steel was cut up and bent and welded and made to look a certain way. You’ll freak at the exposed transmission inside the car, the ability to see the ground whizzing past your feet, and the fact that the doors do not actually operate. Other of you out there may like the really neat way that it sits, the sounds that the pissed off Jerry Yeoman built 355ci small block makes through the open pipes, and maybe even the big chrome reverse wheels and slicks on the back. I am somewhere in the middle. If this was a model I would be all about it and (ironically) demanding that someone build a real version. Now having the real version there are parts of me that wish it were a model. I love the engine, I love the sounds, I love the fact that it has a stick and it gets driven around. I don’t really dig the can open roof, the headlight placement, or the 1957 Chevy fender hood scoop. My opinions, take them as you will.
The main thing I am struggling with on this car is the fact that it doesn’t go totally into the bizarro world, cartoon style cars that most of the world seems to have turned against but it certainly dips its toe in those waters. I am not a total preservationist so the cutting and changing of the wagon doesn’t bug me much. It is what it is and what’s done is done. Once you own something as the hot rod shop that built this car did with the wagon, you can do as you so choose with it.
I’m not looking to have my own opinions validated here, I want yours. Tell me about your gut reaction to this 1957 Chevy rat rod wagon!
What are you guys trying to do?
I just can’t barf anymore without voiding my entire skeleton!
I notice nearly every barf-mobile I see on these hallowed pages is a Chevy
Enough said – Ford owners do have a modicum of taste!
I’d toss the hoodscoop, but other than that, this thing is pretty cool.
Wow, someone finally did something creative with a 57 Chevy. They are so common these days that I walk right past them at car shows (same as I do with Vetts). I actually dig the scoop, and the rest of the car; at least from the engine back. The bumper and head lamps should to be changed.
This is, by far, the coolest version of the narrowed/chopped/bobbed car-to-roadster concept yet. Exhaust note sounds like a Super Comp dragster rumbling through the pits, stance is bitchin’, and it seems to have decent street manners. For me, though, I would have made the doors operational, fixed the driver-to-steering wheel centering, built a trans tunnel, and made a Naugahyde (apologies to the Nauga rights activists) snap-on topper for it.
I had the pleasure of seeing this incredible ’57 in Joplin, MO, back in August. It was parked at the Holiday Inn during the Hamb Drags get-together. There was such a crowd around the car that you couldn’t take a picture of it, and the owner was so busy explaining details about it that I didn’t get a chance to visit with him. It’s truly a one-of-a-kind, standout machine.
My first thought was, How could you do that to a 57 Chevy wagon. But as I watched the video and looked at it some more, I really dig this car and would definitly love to drive it. I would have wanted opening doors and a top and a lil more finished interior though.
This car resides in the same town that I do…Joplin, MO…Sure there are purists that think this is a horrible thing to do to this car. I have seen pictures of this car before the rat rod treatment and it was rough. This car gets driven year round which is a lot more than I can say for some vehicles. With that said I understand that all cars aren’t meant to be driven year round. This guy has a huge smile on his face every time I see him driving it. And isn’t that the point ? To have fun with your car whenever you get the chance.
Rough is an understatement! I saw the pics as well and some video and this thing was headed to a crusher. I like the car and thought it was bada@@. I think it was built for like 3k or less. That’s questionable but still it’s rad!
I’m sorry, but the coolness is lost on me!
I would not feel comfortable getting too close to that without getting a tetanus booster shot.
Coolness is in the eyes of the beholder! His smile makes it worth while.
I like the hood scoop, lose the headlights / swap the ambers in the “bumper” with late model micro head beams and hang motorcycle signals on the axle.
As far as anything else like the trans tunnel – this may be unfinished and more to come. YES!!!!
Looks like he was cleaning up the garage and recycling . . . into something fun!!!
I think it’s cool, and the owner seems to enjoy it. The cut down rods arn’t really my style, but this one nails the look without being absolutely hideious. If I changed anything, beyond the floorpan, I think it would look cooler with a stovebolt six up front or on the other side of the spectrum a 409. I even think a GMC 305 V6 or if it fit 305 based V12 would be cool. Even a 2 stroke Detroit. Everybody loves SBCs, but if your going through that much dare to be different effort, you might as well go all out. Atleast change the valve covers over to the “chevrolet script” ones. Just my 2 cents. As long as he’s having fun, I support him.
Hey, at least they didn’t pick an LS for power, but I agree with you. A hopped up Stovebolt would’ve been cool too.
Excellent point. It’s only a matter of time until there are LS swapped lawnmowers
For me it’s one of those cars that needs work here and there. I like the concept it just need refinement, and I don’t mean shinny paint or a clean up. A little tweaking of proportions, make the doors functional and varies little details and this would be beyond bitchin.
Looks like a Big Daddy Roth creation. I think it would be cool to build one with great fit and finish. I have my dad’s 57′ wagon and a 454/TH400 in my garage right now…HMM…!
I’d prefer it to have been wearing some sort of tri-5 sheet metal up front. Not particularly upset about it as it definitely looks like it was thrown together from something about to be crushed.
Other than the doors and floors I love it
The engine is nice. The rest is going to look even stupider 5 yrs from now than it does today.
I don’t even look at rat rods as walk by them. I can’t stand rat rods. They look like fugitives from the junk yard. And this one ain’t any different. The engine sounds good though.
Nope.
It sounds good, and I actually like the concept of the hood scoop I can appreciate the work that goes into making something unique, but generally speaking, it’s not my thing.
I like it, a lot. Doesn’t mater if it’s something I would do or not, dude did a good job of making it his own.
This rat was built in a certain amount of time with a dollar limit. It won first place in the 2013 Rat Rod Build off. Maybe ya’ll should do some reading behind it and what it went through.
It’s definitely a work of art and a lot went into it. On another level your comment made me think… aren’t rat rod car shows and builders trophy’s ect. slightly against the rat rod ethos? I kinda pictured rat rods as a reaction to the ultra smooth, Codington style, billet filled, polished chassis show cars. How long is it before purpose built, show only, trailer queen, false patina rat rods are the norm? On the upside maybe I could make a killing on greaser style crying kid dolls. Not hating, just food for thought.
I like it. I would do the headlights differently. Build headlight pods somewhat like the air scoop but shorter in length.
That is one cool 57 Chevy wagon and totally different to all the others. I have to agree with Cole though – so many classic customs/muscle cars (particularly Chevys for some reason) look the same, I even skip through the pictures of them on Bangshift!
Here in the UK though we get VW and Japanese custom clones.
This car was designed and built from a pile of junk, for just under $3000. Start to finish was 30 days, at which point it had to be road worthy to drive across the country. This rat is a work of art by Chris Walker of ITW Hot Rods in Stacy, MN.
OK, now I like it even more.
This is cool. I can’t get my underwear in a bunch over cutting up a Nomad. Yeah, Nomads are cool, but there are plenty of them around in very good shape. If it were something rare, that would be different. The car is well proportioned and the hood scoop is pure genius. The thing I like the most is that this is rough looking but without all of the skulls, chains, tools, rats, and other dopey things that some people glue on their rat rods.
it’s a disgrace
I’ve been a car guy all my life, had the privilege of owning a handful of neat cars and admire the people who build things with serious reverence. But I’m so sick of the lowered trucks/dogs/no hood/cowling/crawled out a dump site builds I have to comment on this. The only people who will laud this are the ones who have built the same cookie cutter rods/dogs that seem to frequent the streets and magazines we all read. Barfh, baby, barfh.
I would have made a lift up / removable T-top to get in
the more you look at it…( it grows on ya ) love the scoop
and yes put a full floor in it
I also Dig the hidden radiator
Me see.
Me no like.
stupidest thing I ever seen done to a 57 Chevy if you’re going to spend that much time and money on a 57 Chevy do it right you’re a disgrace to even put it on the Internet no to even take a picture of this makes me sick you think this is cool You aint talked to enough people people are lying to you because its so stupid they don’t want to make you feel bad because they know you spend a lot of time and money on this so they’re just being nice to you trust me they’re laughing at you