My whole problem with "rat" mentality is that a lot of pure absolute trash is passed off as authentic or quality...
To me the hotrod mentality has meant doing more with craft and what you have around than with cubic dollars. Its a journey, not a destination.
Not to say cubic dollars cant build cool cars, because its what i do for a living turning cubic dollars into cool cars...
Its also unfortunate that so many "rat rods" are basically formulaic poorly-build dangerous junk.
Not to go off topic too much, but for my personal money and time, (after my 911, and alfa that is) this is what we like building, think channeled hotrod meets oldtime lightweight BMW:
We took 80mm out of the middle of the body, thusly lowering the roof and upper body that amount over the floorpan without changing ground clearance at all. Also took some of the visual tuck out of the sides of the car bulkifying it a bit...as well as building the requisite Alpina type fender flares
To us it is a way to coalesce our random ideas that customers either wont approve or basically dont "get" into one cool project....it will at some point be painted, more than likely silver even though its played out and too common on modern cars it will look killer on this ...but , it will be labeled a rat rod in the meantime.. until its done I guess.