{"id":123216,"date":"2024-11-30T07:59:07","date_gmt":"2024-11-30T15:59:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogv2prod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=123216"},"modified":"2025-03-05T09:03:53","modified_gmt":"2025-03-05T17:03:53","slug":"what-is-a-rat-rod-and-what-makes-them-so-appealing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-is-a-rat-rod-and-what-makes-them-so-appealing\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a Rat Rod and What Makes Them So Appealing?"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 5<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><style>.kadence-column123216_ecaf0d-f9 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column123216_ecaf0d-f9 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column123216_ecaf0d-f9 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column123216_ecaf0d-f9 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column123216_ecaf0d-f9 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column123216_ecaf0d-f9 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column123216_ecaf0d-f9{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column123216_ecaf0d-f9 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column123216_ecaf0d-f9 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column123216_ecaf0d-f9 inner-column-1 qk-look-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-row ultp-block-b62d58  qk-main-wrap\"><div class=\"ultp-row-wrapper\"><div class=\"ultp-row-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-column ultp-block-70f249\"><div class=\"ultp-column-wrapper\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading123216_669904-73, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading123216_669904-73[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading123216_669904-73\"]{text-align:center;font-size:20px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading123216_669904-73 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading123216_669904-73[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading123216_669904-73\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-family:Inter;font-weight:500;font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading123216_669904-73 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading123216_669904-73[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading123216_669904-73\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"kt-adv-heading123216_669904-73 summary-title wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading123216_669904-73\"><span>Summary<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Rat rods are custom cars that are specifically designed to have worn-down, &ldquo;ratty&rdquo; looks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These vehicles are appealing because of their unique aesthetic, incredible customization, and low maintenance costs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some of the drawbacks of driving a rat rod are their lack of safety features, poor reliability, and lackluster performance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Rat rods are custom cars that are specifically designed to have worn-down, &ldquo;ratty&rdquo; looks. More often than not, rat rods are not painted, have lots of exposed components, and show many signs of wear and tear. These vehicles are deliberately made of cast-off parts and perform tremendously on the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to rat rods, you can expect to see all sorts of recycled parts and materials. No effort will be made to restore these vehicles. Their unique scrapyard aesthetic is part of their charm, using repurposed parts to create powerful vehicles that look fresh off the set of a <em>Mad Max<\/em> movie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But how and when did rat rods start becoming popular?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Brief History of the First Rat Rod<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The term &ldquo;rat rod&rdquo; first came about as a spinoff of the term &ldquo;rat bike,&rdquo; which referred to custom-built motorcycles made of affordable parts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first rat rods were low-budget vehicles built in the garages of car enthusiasts all across America. A man by the name of Robert Williams is credited with designing the world&rsquo;s first rat rod, and he did so by customizing a 32 Ford Roadster and painting it with a primer finish. Just like every other proud owner of a rat rod, he wanted a ride that looked half-finished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There&rsquo;s a unique charm to vehicles that don&rsquo;t conform to the typical polished looks most people look for. Rat rods became popular for their unique unfinished aesthetic, inspiring drivers to start building and modifying their ratty-looking vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Are Rat Rods Safe to Build and Drive?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/rat-rod-interior-1024x684.jpg\" alt=\"rat rod interior\" class=\"wp-image-123217\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/rat-rod-interior-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/rat-rod-interior-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/rat-rod-interior-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/rat-rod-interior-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/rat-rod-interior-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/rat-rod-interior-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/rat-rod-interior-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/rat-rod-interior.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A mechanic who&rsquo;s familiar with which parts to use will likely make vehicles as safe as any other.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It&rsquo;s difficult to determine whether or not a rat rod is safe to make and drive. Some are, and some aren&rsquo;t. It all depends on who&rsquo;s building it and what parts they use to make their vehicle. Anyone keen on getting into the hobby needs to make sure they have all the necessary <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/safety-equipment-for-vehicle-repairs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"safety equipment\">safety equipment<\/a> first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since anyone can build a rat rod, one built by a newcomer to the hobby might wind up being a death trap if they don&rsquo;t test it well enough or have it vetted by a more experienced mechanic. On the other hand, a mechanic who&rsquo;s familiar with which parts to use will likely make vehicles as safe as any other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Can You Make Rat Rods Safe to Drive?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The key to making a rat rod that&rsquo;s safe to drive is proper maintenance, structural integrity, and proper safety standards. This means that rat rods that use reliable components, get routine maintenance at least once a year, and meet basic road safety standards like seat belts, brakes, and turn signals are safe to drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&rsquo;s important to note that some rat rods are made using scrap parts &mdash; many of which are rusted, worn-down, or secondhand. This means they&rsquo;re more likely to malfunction or become inoperative while driving. These rat rods aren&rsquo;t as safe to drive because there&rsquo;s a good chance the mechanics who made them care more about the aesthetic than serious performance. In other words, they&rsquo;re meant for show and not for long-term use on the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Pros of Driving a Rat Rod<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"699\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/rat-rod-1024x699.jpg\" alt=\"rat rod\" class=\"wp-image-123218\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/rat-rod-1024x699.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/rat-rod-300x205.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/rat-rod-768x524.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/rat-rod-1536x1048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/rat-rod-150x102.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/rat-rod.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Their unique aesthetic and high customizability make them popular with car enthusiasts. Image credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Rat_Rod_(4666581393).jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" aria-label=\"Wikimedia\">Wikimedia<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Many benefits come with driving a rat rod. For example, their unique aesthetic and high customizability make them popular with car enthusiasts. They&rsquo;re also cheap to make and maintain and feel rewarding to build.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Unique Aesthetic<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One characteristic that distinguishes rat rods from other vehicles is their messy scrap aesthetic. Rat rods look like they&rsquo;ve been cobbled together on a whim using rusty, ill-fitting parts. Their raw and incomplete look makes them incredibly attractive to car enthusiasts. Despite their rugged and dirty aesthetic, a lot of thought and legwork goes into putting rat rods together since many components aren&rsquo;t compatible with the base vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Incredible Customization<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Rat rods are the perfect way for builders to showcase their expertise. Because they&rsquo;re cobbling together vehicles with spare parts, many mash components from other models together. It&rsquo;s a fun and creative way to customize a vehicle and builders are free to incorporate design elements they normally wouldn&rsquo;t be able to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cheap to Make and Maintain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Because rat rods prioritize creativity over perfection, many builders source used parts. This makes these vehicles cheaper to assemble since a trip to the scrap yard can get a rat rod builder all or most of the parts they need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rewarding to Build<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Most hobbyists build rat rods because they enjoy doing so. They&rsquo;re not exactly practical, but they make the people who make them happy. After all, completing a rat rod is a rewarding experience for a builder who puts in a lot of time and effort putting a completely custom design together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Cons of Driving a Rat Rod<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite the many benefits that come with driving a rat rod, they&rsquo;re not perfect. There are many safety concerns to keep in mind when driving them. They&rsquo;re also generally unreliable and in some cases illegal to drive. Rat rods often have poorer performance compared to conventional vehicles as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Occasionally Unsafe<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Not all rat rods are made with safety in mind. Since they&rsquo;re seldom used for everyday driving, some rat rods don&rsquo;t come with turn signals, horns, or seat belts. Instead, they&rsquo;re designed to be shown off in exhibits and the like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Unreliable<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Rat rods are typically made using scrap parts. Whether these parts are designed to work with the vehicle or not is irrelevant. Builders of such cars typically find ways to make the parts work. Mismatched components are common when it comes to building rat rods, which unfortunately makes their performance poorer. They&rsquo;re generally less reliable than most conventional vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Illegal to Drive<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Depending on how a rat rod is made, the vehicle might not comply with local safety standards. It can be difficult to get a rat rod registered and insured. They&rsquo;re vehicles for hobbyists that are designed to be shown off in exhibitions. Rat rods aren&rsquo;t meant for everyday use and you might get in legal trouble for attempting to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Poor Performance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Rat rods aren&rsquo;t designed with performance in mind. Because these vehicles are typically made to showcase a builder&rsquo;s mechanical expertise, make a statement, or garner attention from a crowd, rat rods don&rsquo;t have the best performance. Instead of being optimized for engine power, speed, and fuel efficiency, most of the attention goes into a rat rod&rsquo;s looks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Restoring a Rat Rod? Get the Right Tools For the Job<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&rsquo;re fixing up an old, rusty rat rod, then you need the right tools. Not all tools are created equal. Here at CarParts.com, we not only prioritize your safety but also care about your experience when it comes to conducting your repairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At <a href=\"http:\/\/carparts.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" aria-label=\"CarParts.com\">CarParts.com<\/a>, we understand the needs of DIY mechanics and hot rod enthusiasts. That&rsquo;s why we offer a comprehensive selection of high-quality tools and garage accessories to help you bring your rat rod to life. We have basic tools like wrenches and sockets to heavy-duty jacks and lifts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We only source parts from aftermarket brands that are known to make quality products. This ensures they&rsquo;ll perform well and will last for a long time. Our selection is also competitively priced, so you can build your tool collection for less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Check out our excellent selection of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/tools-and-garage\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"tools and garage accessories\">tools and garage accessories<\/a> and build your rat rod today!<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 5<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>Rat rods are custom cars that are specifically designed to have worn-down, &ldquo;ratty&rdquo; looks. More often than not, rat rods&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-is-a-rat-rod-and-what-makes-them-so-appealing\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":123219,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3769,53,3950],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[2607,3269],"class_list":{"0":"post-123216","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-automotive-world","8":"category-features","9":"category-for-the-car-owner","10":"entry"},"acf":{"adrotate_specific_mobile_ad":"","adrotate_specific_desktop_ad":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What is a Rat Rod and What Makes Them So Appealing? - In The Garage with CarParts.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Read this article to learn about the history of rat rods, what makes rat rods appealing, and the pros and cons of owning one.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-is-a-rat-rod-and-what-makes-them-so-appealing\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What is a Rat Rod and What Makes Them So Appealing? - In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Read this article to learn about the history of rat rods, what makes rat rods appealing, and the pros and cons of owning one.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-is-a-rat-rod-and-what-makes-them-so-appealing\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-11-30T15:59:07+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-03-05T17:03:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/rat-rod-vehicle.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1333\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/what-is-a-rat-rod-and-what-makes-them-so-appealing\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/what-is-a-rat-rod-and-what-makes-them-so-appealing\\\/\"},\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"$id\":\"4\",\"name\":\"CarParts.com Research Team\",\"jobTitle\":\"Expert Automotive Writer\",\"description\":\"The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. Guided by CarParts.com&#039;s thorough editorial process, our team strives to produce guides and resources DIYers and casual car owners can trust.\",\"knowsAbout\":\"Auto Repair, Car Maintenance, Auto Parts, Car Reviews\",\"publishingPrinciples\":\"\\\/blog\\\/our-team\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/thecpteam\\\/\",\"sameAs\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/carpartscom, https:\\\/\\\/twitter.com\\\/CarPartscom, https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/@CarPartscomOfficial\\\/, https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/carpartscom\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"$id\":\"4\",\"name\":\"Lisa Conant\",\"jobTitle\":\"ASE Master Automobile Technician\",\"description\":\"Lisa Conant grew up in Canada around a solid contingency of gear heads and DIY motor enthusiasts and isn\u2019t afraid to get some grime under her own fingernails. She is an eclectic writer with a varied repertoire in the automotive industry, writing numerous product round-ups and reviews, how-to-guides, and research pieces with a focus on daily drivers and recreational vehicles. When she\u2019s not writing about lift kits and paint chip solutions, you can find her hanging out in New Hampshire with her family and her car-hating cats.\",\"knowsAbout\":\"Auto Repair, Car Maintenance, Auto Parts, Car Reviews\",\"publishingPrinciples\":\"\\\/blog\\\/our-team\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/lisaconant\\\/\",\"sameAs\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/in\\\/lisa-conant-b7317b163\\\/\"}],\"headline\":\"What is a Rat Rod and What Makes Them So Appealing?\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-11-30T15:59:07+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-03-05T17:03:53+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/what-is-a-rat-rod-and-what-makes-them-so-appealing\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1351,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/what-is-a-rat-rod-and-what-makes-them-so-appealing\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/11\\\/rat-rod-vehicle.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Automotive World\",\"Features\",\"For the Car Owner\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/what-is-a-rat-rod-and-what-makes-them-so-appealing\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/what-is-a-rat-rod-and-what-makes-them-so-appealing\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/what-is-a-rat-rod-and-what-makes-them-so-appealing\\\/\",\"name\":\"What is a Rat Rod and What Makes Them So Appealing? - In The Garage with CarParts.com\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/what-is-a-rat-rod-and-what-makes-them-so-appealing\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/what-is-a-rat-rod-and-what-makes-them-so-appealing\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/11\\\/rat-rod-vehicle.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-11-30T15:59:07+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-03-05T17:03:53+00:00\",\"description\":\"Read this article to learn about the history of rat rods, what makes rat rods appealing, and the pros and cons of owning one.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/what-is-a-rat-rod-and-what-makes-them-so-appealing\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/what-is-a-rat-rod-and-what-makes-them-so-appealing\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/11\\\/rat-rod-vehicle.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/11\\\/rat-rod-vehicle.jpg\",\"width\":2000,\"height\":1333,\"caption\":\"rat rod vehicle\"},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"In The Garage with CarParts.com\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"CarParts.com\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/cp-itg-logo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/cp-itg-logo.png\",\"width\":2048,\"height\":398,\"caption\":\"CarParts.com\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/carpartscom\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/carpartscom\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/carpartscom\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/@CarPartscomOfficial\\\/\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/what-is-a-rat-rod-and-what-makes-them-so-appealing\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"What is a Rat Rod and What Makes Them So Appealing? - In The Garage with CarParts.com","description":"Read this article to learn about the history of rat rods, what makes rat rods appealing, and the pros and cons of owning one.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-is-a-rat-rod-and-what-makes-them-so-appealing\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"What is a Rat Rod and What Makes Them So Appealing? - In The Garage with CarParts.com","og_description":"Read this article to learn about the history of rat rods, what makes rat rods appealing, and the pros and cons of owning one.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-is-a-rat-rod-and-what-makes-them-so-appealing\/","og_site_name":"In The Garage with CarParts.com","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom","article_published_time":"2024-11-30T15:59:07+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-03-05T17:03:53+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2000,"height":1333,"url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/rat-rod-vehicle.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@carpartscom","twitter_site":"@carpartscom","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-is-a-rat-rod-and-what-makes-them-so-appealing\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-is-a-rat-rod-and-what-makes-them-so-appealing\/"},"author":[{"@type":"Person","$id":"4","name":"CarParts.com Research Team","jobTitle":"Expert Automotive Writer","description":"The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. Guided by CarParts.com&#039;s thorough editorial process, our team strives to produce guides and resources DIYers and casual car owners can trust.","knowsAbout":"Auto Repair, Car Maintenance, Auto Parts, Car Reviews","publishingPrinciples":"\/blog\/our-team\/","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/thecpteam\/","sameAs":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom, https:\/\/twitter.com\/CarPartscom, https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@CarPartscomOfficial\/, https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/carpartscom\/"},{"@type":"Person","$id":"4","name":"Lisa Conant","jobTitle":"ASE Master Automobile Technician","description":"Lisa Conant grew up in Canada around a solid contingency of gear heads and DIY motor enthusiasts and isn\u2019t afraid to get some grime under her own fingernails. She is an eclectic writer with a varied repertoire in the automotive industry, writing numerous product round-ups and reviews, how-to-guides, and research pieces with a focus on daily drivers and recreational vehicles. When she\u2019s not writing about lift kits and paint chip solutions, you can find her hanging out in New Hampshire with her family and her car-hating cats.","knowsAbout":"Auto Repair, Car Maintenance, Auto Parts, Car Reviews","publishingPrinciples":"\/blog\/our-team\/","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/lisaconant\/","sameAs":"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/lisa-conant-b7317b163\/"}],"headline":"What is a Rat Rod and What Makes Them So Appealing?","datePublished":"2024-11-30T15:59:07+00:00","dateModified":"2025-03-05T17:03:53+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-is-a-rat-rod-and-what-makes-them-so-appealing\/"},"wordCount":1351,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-is-a-rat-rod-and-what-makes-them-so-appealing\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/rat-rod-vehicle.jpg","articleSection":["Automotive World","Features","For the Car Owner"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-is-a-rat-rod-and-what-makes-them-so-appealing\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-is-a-rat-rod-and-what-makes-them-so-appealing\/","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-is-a-rat-rod-and-what-makes-them-so-appealing\/","name":"What is a Rat Rod and What Makes Them So Appealing? - In The Garage with CarParts.com","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-is-a-rat-rod-and-what-makes-them-so-appealing\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-is-a-rat-rod-and-what-makes-them-so-appealing\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/rat-rod-vehicle.jpg","datePublished":"2024-11-30T15:59:07+00:00","dateModified":"2025-03-05T17:03:53+00:00","description":"Read this article to learn about the history of rat rods, what makes rat rods appealing, and the pros and cons of owning one.","inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-is-a-rat-rod-and-what-makes-them-so-appealing\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-is-a-rat-rod-and-what-makes-them-so-appealing\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/rat-rod-vehicle.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/rat-rod-vehicle.jpg","width":2000,"height":1333,"caption":"rat rod vehicle"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/","name":"In The Garage with CarParts.com","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"CarParts.com","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cp-itg-logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cp-itg-logo.png","width":2048,"height":398,"caption":"CarParts.com"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom","https:\/\/x.com\/carpartscom","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/carpartscom","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@CarPartscomOfficial\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-is-a-rat-rod-and-what-makes-them-so-appealing\/"}]}},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/rat-rod-vehicle.jpg","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/rat-rod-vehicle.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"","author_link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-is-a-rat-rod-and-what-makes-them-so-appealing\/"},"authors":[{"term_id":2607,"user_id":1651,"is_guest":0,"slug":"thecpteam","display_name":"CarParts.com Research Team","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/thecpteam.jpg","url2x":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/thecpteam.jpg"},"0":null,"1":"","2":"","3":"","4":"","5":"","6":"","7":"","8":""},{"term_id":3269,"user_id":1642,"is_guest":0,"slug":"lisaconant","display_name":"Lisa Conant, Automotive Content Specialist","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/lisaconant.jpeg","url2x":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/lisaconant.jpeg"},"0":null,"1":"","2":"","3":"","4":"","5":"","6":"","7":"","8":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123216","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=123216"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123216\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/123219"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=123216"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=123216"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=123216"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=123216"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}