Lets see your rat rod porsche!

[lateapex911]

Nice try guys, but most fall well short of being real rat rods. Some rods, some scruff, some works in progress, but that's about it.

That BMW with the oxidized body is, to my eye, certainly a poor excuse. Bling wheels, obviously fake rusting, =FALE.

The 356 on the other hand, is hitting the mark, or at least getting there.

[lateapex911]

Originally Posted by mattmcginn

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.

Cool project, and I get what you're up to. If I were the design boss on it though, I'd give serious thought, (OK, you'd have to really convince me NOT to....) ro chopping the pillars and lowering the roof. I think the graphics (that is, the ratio of the greenhouse to the body) need to be balanced better.

Maybe it's just me, LOL. In any case, I hope to see future updates!

[Reaper930]

Originally Posted by lateapex911

Nice try guys, but most fall well short of being real rat rods. Some rods, some scruff, some works in progress, but that's about it.

That BMW with the oxidized body is, to my eye, certainly a poor excuse. Bling wheels, obviously fake rusting, =FALE.

The 356 on the other hand, is hitting the mark, or at least getting there.

So what would you consider to be a true Porsche (or just non-american) rat rod? Any pics to steer this thread in the right direction?

[lateapex911]

Oh, I saw one at Watkins Glen the other day. Old 356, faded and oxidized maroon paint, old worn but clean interior. Some missing stuff, some tears in the seats. No top. (long gone, it appeared). I don't know about the running gear, but a true rat rod would have either the hop up bits that were available for the 4 cyl motors back in the 60s and 70s, or maybe a 6 cylinder 2.0 with hot rod parts on it stuffed in there. And the brakes and springs and such would be likewise upgraded with period performance parts. All well worn, of course, each having a time worn patina.

Anything new would be well hidden.

I think a rat rod Porsche style is a bit of R-Gruppe (longhoods with period correct upgrades) and a bit of nonchalant indifference to the appearance. Even some of the cars shown here as "non shiny paint") looked shiny. The flat black ones shown are cool, but they are obviously well detailed builds that just happen to be flat. They don't look time worn.

I think that's the key, looking original and time worn put's you much of the way there.

[jonbot]

Check out this rat I saw the other night on Polk St.!

[Phil Blacklock]

Lateapex911-I think you said it well.

[Reaper930]

Thanks for the clarification Jake its appreciated

[juicersr]

Originally Posted by EarlySport

Are those centre-lock RSR wheels ?!

Thanks for the complement. I wish. They are acutally a centerlock wheel set-up that i had widened to 15x10F/15x14R and powdercoated with machined wheels nuts to give the period look. A set of real RSR centerlocks and hubs would prolly have cost as much as my entire project, (if i even could have found a set)!

[onboost]

lateapex911.. dude I am digging the 02! The Alpina flares in steel are waaaay cool. Makes me miss my E21 C1 Baur. Guess the E32 5spd is my Bimmer dfix for now!

Ok so here's my rat.. to be restored sometime in the future.. "outlaw" baby!

[PcarPhil]

Originally Posted by Reaper930

Scott that car is awesome

Thanks man! Yours is...uh....mighty nice (understatement) as well. I love the bat in the front grille!

[juicersr]

Originally Posted by onboost

lateapex911.. dude I am digging the 02! The Alpina flares in steel are waaaay cool. Makes me miss my E21 C1 Baur. Guess the E32 5spd is my Bimmer dfix for now!

Ok so here's my rat.. to be restored sometime in the future.. "outlaw" baby!

Paul, that is a seriously cool 'blank slate'. I love those custom wide steelies in the rear... give it that '906' look. Any side shots of those rear flares? What was the original car?

BTW, you need to finish the 930 and make the next T'pooza before you start on that project

[lateapex911]

Originally Posted by onboost

lateapex911.. dude I am digging the 02! The Alpina flares in steel are waaaay cool. Makes me miss my E21 C1 Baur. Guess the E32 5spd is my Bimmer dfix for now!

Ok so here's my rat.. to be restored sometime in the future.. "outlaw" baby!

That is very interesting! 911 rear lower section,(bumpers, talilights, etc) and something 911-like under the front bumper. more pics please! What's the history?

(Nice oriental carpet on the driveway, BTW!)

[onboost]

Originally Posted by juicersr

Paul, that is a seriously cool 'blank slate'. I love those custom wide steelies in the rear... give it that '906' look. Any side shots of those rear flares? What was the original car?

BTW, you need to finish the 930 and make the next T'pooza before you start on that project

Ha! Justin, point well taken.. I will not touch it prior to the 930 being finished as I don't plan to miss the next "T'pooza!"

Rat ride is a 58A with a lot of interesting custom bits. It's pretty original minus the mods which are all done in steel. I've got a number of other tricks to add during the Restoration but it won't happen anytime soon. I've been creeping around for years pic'n-up neat little tidbits for here and there.. (later style disc brakes, speedster seats, Carrera engine-lid etc.. back when the stuff was cheap)

Hell, I've owned it 20 + years already and it keeps getting pushed back on the list as I others fall into the que ahead of him, & come and go!

P-

[nameisbauer]

Originally Posted by lateapex911

That BMW with the oxidized body is, to my eye, certainly a poor excuse. Bling wheels, obviously fake rusting, =FALE.

For clarification, the rust is 100% real. May have been helped with running water, but is real rust, not paint or anything. Stripped paint to bare metal. I thought while those rims are Bling(anything chrome is bling to me) they are legit "period correct" (for lack of a better term) BBS wheels. Chrome Fuchs are just as bling.

Real rust for sure!

There is a fine line between rat rod and just plain beat.

[nameisbauer]

Not mine, and I apologize if the owners are offended by the rat rod term. I mean it with respect and I love your cars!

[onboost]

Originally Posted by lateapex911

That is very interesting! 911 rear lower section,(bumpers, talilights, etc) and something 911-like under the front bumper. more pics please! What's the history?

(Nice oriental carpet on the driveway, BTW!)

Yes, the rear lower section is 911. Center panel is stock 911, bumpers are cut down SWB units. Tailight housing is custom.. yet all steel, even the dividers that separate each bulb. No mig welders when this was done, all fabricated and done by hand. Front bumber is also steel w/layer of fiberglass over it.. modeled to look like S front bumper.

I'll see if I have a few more pics.. these were taken when I moved it to new storage. Oh and it has quite a story behind it!

I first saw the car in the early 80's we came-up on it at night while rolling around the beltway in an early S... thinking it was another 911. We all pulled over and talked.. the then owner (some older State Dept guy) said he bought it in Italy from some old guy who had worked at the Porsche Factory, retired and returned to Italy and opened a restoration shop.. this was his personal car. We thought it was a cool story, had no reason to think he was BS'n.. we all shook has an went away.

Fast forward a few years.. I get a call from childhood friend saying that his uncle just bought a car "like the one you had", (356 SC Cab) only it's not a convertible and it's wider in the back.. doesn't run, needs you to call for some advice. Well we never connected.. couple months go by.. I stop by a local Porsche specialist to pic-up some parts and guess what's sitting sad in the parking lot!! quick talk with the tech reveals that the engine's busted you can only turn it about 3/4 of a revolution and it stops.. either direction.

Turns out the new owner is about to move to California and doesn't want to have to drag the car with him. Quick call to him offer made,deal done, flat bed home and she's been with me ever since!

[juicersr]

Originally Posted by onboost

Yes, the rear lower section is 911. Center panel is stock 911, bumpers are cut down SWB units. Tailight housing is custom.. yet all steel, even the dividers that separate each bulb. No mig welders when this was done, all fabricated and done by hand. Front bumber is also steel w/layer of fiberglass over it.. modeled to look like S front bumper.

I'll see if I have a few more pics.. these were taken when I moved it to new storage. Oh and it has quite a story behind it!

I first saw the car in the early 80's we came-up on it at night while rolling around the beltway in an early S... thinking it was another 911. We all pulled over and talked.. the then owner (some older State Dept guy) said he bought it in Italy from some old guy who had worked at the Porsche Factory, retired and returned to Italy and opened a restoration shop.. this was his personal car. We thought it was a cool story, had no reason to think he was BS'n.. we all shook has an went away.

Fast forward a few years.. I get a call from childhood friend saying that his uncle just bought a car "like the one you had", (356 SC Cab) only it's not a convertible and it's wider in the back.. doesn't run, needs you to call for some advice. Well we never connected.. couple months go by.. I stop by a local Porsche specialist to pic-up some parts and guess what's sitting sad in the parking lot!! quick talk with the tech reveals that the engine's busted you can only turn it about 3/4 of a revolution and it stops.. either direction.

Turns out the new owner is about to move to California and doesn't want to have to drag the car with him. Quick call to him offer made,deal done, flat bed home and she's been with me ever since!

Very cool story. The guy that built this car knew what he liked and what he was doing. Damn, that could almost be considered an orginal 'factory' outlaw if the story about the Italian is true. On second thought, this car is too cool to let languish. Screw the 930 and get this thing done ASAP!

[carnutzzz]

Rat Rods are built. They aren't the result of neglect. Sorry- most of the cars here aren't it.

You would need to rebuild a 911 with a $1,000 budget and some cool garage ingenuity.

[dsharp911]

Originally Posted by Kaefer

My '77 in it's early stages has been called a rat rod a few times!

Finally someone gets it, although still a little to pretty for the term but exactly how i want mine, For clarification imagine a smoking hot girl thats all dirty from rebuilding an engine... ya she has a little grease on her but under it is 100% woman and pure fun.

[wdfifteen]

In the early '50s they were called hot rods - cars modified in back yards with only the intent of making them faster - looks were an afterthought. Then someone decided to start putting paint on them and visual appeal became popular. In the age of the custom car, looks became even more important than performance. After muscle cars came out and the performance aftermarket got big, having the right brand of aftermarket go fasters on your car was paramount. It didn't matter if you ever raced your car as long as you had the right racer stuff on it. Sigh ... car fads have suffered many spasms over the decades (remember jacked-up rear ends?). Now we're back to hot rods with no paint - kind of. Rat rods seem kind of schizophrenic - caught between performance and narcissism. They purport not to care what the cars look like, yet they have experts looking at photos and judging what is and what is not a proper "rat rod" - no track credentials required. Fads in the car hobby come and go ... and come and go. And so it goes...