Is this trying too hard?

I'll admit, I'm not a rat rod kinda guy. But I think it's cars like this that made me that way.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Diesel-rat-rod-cummins-rat-rod-hudson-diesel-/200688068981?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item2eb9f0e975 A rat rod that came about out of grassroots necessity/taste is one thing. But this looks like some builder is trying very hard to be cool.

The wheels are too Foose.

rat-rod inspired, maybe. but thats no rat-rod

Trying too hard at what? Is the question that pops to mind. It has no use.

I have to say that I do not get the aesthetics-only car thing at all. It is as nice or stupid as all the other cars you can only drive slowly down a bump-free street so people can gawk at it. I often admire the craftsmanship and attention to detail - but the pointless application of it leaves me "meh".

I can oogle over an ugly, used up race car that has been purposefully constructed to try to win at all costs though for hours.

To each his own I guess.

It looks like the grille is taller than the windshield. I guess seeing takes second place to aesthetics.

Other than the wheels and that it sits too high in the front, I like it. BTW, there are a couple incredible Rat Rods in this months Hot Rod. Although I have to admit, the ones I like are usually not the high buck cars that look low buck, but the ones that are actually low buck.
I'm not so much into the rat rod thing as I am the minimalist, light as a feather, fast as a bullet thing.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Trying too hard at what? Is the question that pops to mind. It has no use. I have to say that I do not get the aesthetics-only car thing at all. It is as nice or stupid as all the other cars you can only drive slowly down a bump-free street so people can gawk at it. I often admire the craftsmanship and attention to detail - but the pointless application of it leaves me "meh". I can oogle over an ugly, used up race car that has been purposefully constructed to try to win at all costs though for hours. To each his own I guess.

Are you my long-lost twin, or something?

Put some 14"steelies with wide whites and baby moons, and it would look a lot better. Those hula-hoops on it now are ugly.

I like it.

Yeah, the wheels are all wrong, but I like the rest of it.

I like it, but a glass container for the coolant overflow? Strikes me as a bad idea.

More steampunk than rat rod I think.

The supposed rat rod craze has gone over the top. Aesthetics over functionality just doesn't do much for me. Put a normal set of wheels on it and add a foot or two to the roof and I'd tow my Spitfire with it.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Trying too hard at what? Is the question that pops to mind. It has no use. I have to say that I do not get the aesthetics-only car thing at all. It is as nice or stupid as all the other cars you can only drive slowly down a bump-free street so people can gawk at it. I often admire the craftsmanship and attention to detail - but the pointless application of it leaves me "meh". I can oogle over an ugly, used up race car that has been purposefully constructed to try to win at all costs though for hours. To each his own I guess.

You too? I much value function over form which puts me in the minority.

I have come to the conclusion that most people are like crows, they save shiny objects that don't have any real use. Somewhere I read a quote 'if you chrome a bag of cow crap it'll sell quick'.

'Chrome don't get ya home!'

Too low a roof and those wheels look horrible.

Raise the frame a few inches, put 6" back in the roofline, lose the wheels and we'll talk. Right now it's rolling 'art' that does nothing for me. I've been seeing that basic shape at every rod show for 7+ years now. It's time to move on.

alex wrote: Raise the frame a few inches, put 6" back in the roofline, lose the wheels and we'll talk. Right now it's rolling 'art' that does nothing for me. I've been seeing that basic shape at every rod show for 7+ years now. It's time to move on.

The cliche JD bottle thing is played out further than Lambo doors.

Magic Marker labeling and $5000 wheel and tire package comes off as giant poser hipster.

ThePhranc wrote: More steampunk than rat rod I think.

Call me old, but define steampunk and then hipster.

Thanx.

This is someones interpretation of a Hudson, I have no problem with that, beats a donk hands down, but I would rather have enthusiasts of all types out there building things, it makes our hobby so much stronger.

Would I buy or build it...no, but I appreciate the work.

Screw that, i love it!

I, too, would put different wheels. Some Volks or Works, likely, wrapped in obnoxiously wide ~200tw street rubber.

In reply to aussiesmg:

Nicely stated.

914Driver wrote:

ThePhranc wrote: More steampunk than rat rod I think.

Call me old, but define steampunk and then hipster. Thanx.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steampunk

[i.e what happened when the goth kids decided to accessorize with browns, reds, brass, and copper.]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hipster_(contemporary_subculture)

Sell the wheels for 3 grand. Then its an $8,000 rod. I could do a lot with that car and 3 more inches of ground clearance.

What I like about rat rods is how they are often built from repurposed automobile "found objects". Such as using the front end of a vintage tractor for a front grill.

This one is an impostor. It is a copy without understanding or cleverness. It is a paint-by-numbers black velvet Elvis trying to be the Mona Lisa.