Page 13 - The Magazine of AAA Ohio Auto Club – September 2020

conversation with traditional customizing, one might trace
it back to when hot rodding
began. Rat Rods seem to
have gotten an established
identity in the late 1980s
early 1990s, but their numbers have grown exponentially since the 2000s.
Rat Rodders do it all with the primary element of decay. Chops and
welds are intentionally rough and gritty, but fully functional and roadworthy. Designs can be called raw, edgy, post-apocalyptic. The Rat Rodder revels in the unfinished, achieved through intentional design and general tinkering. The types of bodywork, amount of customization and pop-culture inspiration can vary wildly and feature truly astonishing creativity.
Odes to play and good-natured fun also are a hallmark of the culture. Mischievous elements particular to the owner are added with a flourish. Skulls and spider webs are frequent themes, but other idiosyncratic touches cannot be categorized. One Rat Rodder used vintage beer cans for the tops of carburetors. Creatively repurposing parts from different vehicles is high- lighted in the rats. You could use a ‘38 Buick Special headlight bucket for
an intake or a ‘20s era fire extinguisher for an overflow tank for the radiator. There are no limits. It’s automotive art.
Drivability is key for the Rat Rod. Rat Rodders build their cars to be driven daily. While some enjoy derisively referring to Rat Rods as “slapped together” and dangerous to drive, that is not what I have seen. I have encountered creative and precise fabricators who love the rusty, crusty vibe of the Rat.
It relished the patina and harkened back to a time when customizers used what they had and valued speed over aesthetics. Where you use barn doors as truck beds and tractor fronts for grills or barbed wire as accessories. One Dodge Rat Rod sported hand-rolled and embossed copper inlaid seats, while another steel-fabricated a skull clawing through the grille, with glowing red eyes and a backlit glass skull with green antifreeze as overflow. Rat Rods are animated and engaging additions to automotive fabrication.
Images are from A Museum Perspective of the Rat Rod movement from a 2018 exhibit at the San Diego Automotive Museum.
The museum is at 2080 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, California, sdautomuseum.org
Fall Car Care Checklist
October is Car Care Month –
a reminder to drivers to perform checks and needed maintenance to prepare their vehicles for the winter. AAA offers this checklist of items that drivers can easily perform themselves if they want:
Tires. Make sure tires are inflated to the proper pressure listed on the car’s door jamb, have at least 3/32 of tread depth, and are wearing evenly.
Lights. Check the operation of all lights and replace any burnt-out bulbs.
Wiper blades. Replace any blade that leaves streaks or misses spots.
Fluids. Check transmission, brake and power steering fluid levels and top off as necessary. Fill the windshield washer fluid reservoir with a cleaning solution formulated for winter.
Hoses and belts. Check drive belts for cracking and fraying and look for leaks, cracks and loose clamps on hoses.
Air filter. If you hold the air filter in front of a 60-watt light and most of the light is blocked, it’s time for a replacement.
Battery. Make sure your battery terminals and cable ends are free from corrosion and the connections are tight.
If you prefer, an Approved Auto Repair or AAA Car Care Plus facility can complete this checklist as well as test your battery, check your brakes and perform other needed maintenance. Go to AAA.com/AAR to find a location near you.
Odes to play and good-natured fun also are a hallmark of the culture.
Pandora Paúl Sordon is the Curator and Education Director at the San Diego Automotive Museum