Now before anyone gets all Toby Keith, and starts calling us the Dixie Chicks, let me officially proclaim that BangShift.com and it’s owners fully support our troops. With that said, the dude that decided to build this crazy Army themed Rat Rod was clearly on government prescribed PTSD drugs. Wow. I don’t know what else to say. Wow.
Oh who am I kidding, I have plenty to say. I’ll keep it brief though. Machine gunner has to sit on a tractor seat hanging out the side? And how exactly does an infantry helmet clean air? And are those MilSpec Torque Thrusts?
On a positive note, at least the jerry cans are close to the barbecue grill for easy fire starting.
Okay, your turn. THE LINK TO THE ORIGINAL CRAIGSLIST AD IS BELOW
Warning:
If you are a rat rod enthusiast and easily offended, then read no further. Skip to the next item.
Anyway, to me, this example of the rat rod “art” is not all that much different from all of the other rat rods. I see something which was quickly cobbled together with whatever junk happened to be lying around while possibly under the influence of some kind of intoxicant.
Body and paint skills need not apply…ever. I am guessing that this aesthetic is the product of a lack of knowledge and ability in these skill sets, along with a simple lack of desire to put the effort and sacrifice into learning them.
The style just seems like a (shall I say) desperate attempt to be arbitrarily different, without any real consideration of the outcome. The proportions of rat rods are cartoonish and ridiculous.
Hot rodding was created by people who worked tirelessly at the skills of engineering, mechanics, metalworking etc, etc, etc, with the aim of creating a higher performance vehicle than could be bought. Sound design and quality craftsmanship were always at the forefront.
Rat rods possess none of these traits.
Thank you.
Sound design is not always at the forefront. Browse through photos of 20’s and 30’s hotrods. There’s some seriously cobbled together shit in there.
The idea behind them is correct though, bigger, better, faster, stronger. Like an automotive Daft Punk song. That’s hotrodding.
This ratrod thing has potential but it lacks refinement. There are styling tweaks that could be done to it that the builder lacked the artistic aptitude to flesh out.
Honestly I kinda like it, but I’m also someone that built two mock 50 cal machineguns for the hood of my 78 Mercury Cougar Brougham sedan so maybe I’m biased.
Mainly the gripe I have with this one is that it has the classic ratrod chotchkies problem. All the little extra crap, ammo boxes, that stupid air cleaner, whatever those crates under the frame rails are…that stuff needs to go. More is not always better. The headlights are mounted wrong being so far out in front, they should be up on the grill or at least closer back by it. The gun is cool, but it should be mounted over the cab with the seat in the back, and honestly it should be a twin or quad AA gun for better looks. The ahooga horn needs to go back on the shelf, the wheels need to be more military style, or at least have the centers blacked out.
Like I said, it has potential, but the devil is in the details for creating something that really stands out without looking tacky as hell.
And of course, some people aren’t going to like it no matter what ya do.
It’s more like trying to compare punk rock to Led Zep. Both are music. Both use guitars. But one is truly based on pissing off anyone who “doesn’t get it” vs. trying to show their craft in the greatest way possible.
Both have their fans and detractors.
But both at least are doing what then want to/love to do.
Well said Robert, and needed saying.
This is almost as bad as that abortion put together by Rocket Racing Wheels.
“Government prescribed PTSD drugs”? Is that a joke?
The government does nothing to help our veterans suffering from emotional/mental disorders like PTSD.
That being said, this isn’t my cup of tea, but to each his own. Carry on.