Rat rods are deliberately designed to look unfinished, stripped-down, and raw compared to the high-dollar, glossy show cars of mainstream hot-rodding. Sometimes, rat rods are do-it-yourself engineered, with mismatched or repurposed parts, natural patina, and exposed engines.
The rat-rodding community is a tight-knit family. I recently happened across a local “Customs & Coffee” gathering where a unique pickup caught my eye.
The owner, Scott, told me that he bought the truck as-is, but it had clearly been built with a high degree of creative vision. And the closer I looked, the more interesting it got.
The foundation was a 1939 GMC that was powered by an inline-six engine. Scott said he was told the donor engine came out of an early base-model Camaro. The customization continued from there.
Exterior features include a chopped top, shortened bed, and purple-finished wire wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich Radial T/A tires.
The interior of the cab saw its share of updates too — most notably, the fact that the truck was converted to a right-hand-drive configuration. Check out the dash-mounted fan, which served as a form of air conditioning. Features included bucket seats, lap belts, and fabricated center console.
Scott told me the meet-up was held by an Arizona chapter of the “5150 Rat Rods” club. There are other chapters around the country, including a Southern California group that was established in 2017 and has over 7,400 followers. The page says, “For purveyors of old rusty cars with big horsepower.”
If you’re into similar types of vehicles, get connected! The Arizona group typically gets together on the final Sunday of the month at Provision Coffee at 7th Street and Missouri in central Phoenix, and it’s open to any 1975 or older custom/classic car. One word of advice, though: With toasty summer weather already upon us, be sure to check the Facebook page for the latest announcements before heading over, as the dates and times are subject to change.
