During the '70s, '80s and '90s, hot rods followed very definite trends. It seems every hot rod built in the '70s reflected the somewhat garish tastes of that decade, and everyone had a small-block Chevy powering it. In the '80s and '90s, many rods were built to seamless perfection in a modern high-tech style, laden with billet, smooth seams, no rough edges, and a huge price tag.
You had to know there would be a backlash, and rat rods are the backlash to the extreme. As a response to the high-dollar billet-based street rod trend, budget-limited home-based rod builders looked to the past for inspiration and style, and rat rods were the result. These 'imperfectly fine' rods rarely sport paint jobs of any kind, and their owners aren't scared to drive them. They represent a rebellious attitude, but never take anything too seriously either.
Rat rods are high on style but low on budget, and that's why so many love them. Rat Rods: Rodding's Imperfect Stepchildren is a celebration of this trend, and almost as importantly, the lifestyle that accompanies it. Never has rodding been so cosmetically indifferent, so socially oriented, so affordable, and most importantly, so much fun! Author Scotty Gosson watched the Rat Rod trend start, grow, and blossom into what it is today. He shares the story with sharp wit, honesty, and a smile on every page. Cars from all over America and around the world are featured, and no two are the same.