A Rat Rod is a newly developed name for the original hot rod style of the early 1950’s. A Rat Rod is usually a vehicle that has had many of the non-critical parts removed. They are usually finished in primer or paints that are often period correct. They are very often a conglomeration of parts and pieces of different makes, models and after-market parts. The term “Rat Rod” was first used by the high dollar, show cars guys to describe the low-buck, home built drivers. You can call them HOT RODS, TRADITIONAL RODS, STREETRODS, or RAT RODS they are here to stay and they are making a showing at auto related events across the country. These cars are a form or art and expression of their owners and builders.

Over the last ten to twelve years Rat Rods have become more and more accepted at Car Shows and in the custom car culture in general, with many car shows either including sections for Rat Rods, or beginning events directly devoted to them and aimed at wider audiences than ever before

Recently, the term “rat rod” has been used to describe almost any vehicle that appears unfinished or is built simply to be driven. Chopped tops, shaved trim, grills, tail lights, and other miscellaneous body parts continue to be swapped between makes and models.

The traditional Rat Rods. These are cars built the way rods were built in the ’30s, ’40s, and early ’50s, with a primary emphasis on low-buck and home-built, using period-correct components ranging from flathead to nailhead engines, wide whitewall tires to skinny blackwall bias-plies, and black primer to hand-rubbed paint.

The more modern Rat Rods. They’re artistic, fun, and sensational reinterpretations of late-’40s/early-’50s hot rodding as a culture that includes music, clothing, hairstyles, and tattoos. The cars are low, loud, chopped…with giant rear tires, lots of carburetors, open pipes, and tall gearshifts.

*Taken from the Maggie Valley Rally's website

The term R.A.T. (Radically Alternative Thinking) reflects the high level of unconventional problem-solving, innovation, and critical thinking required to build a Rat Rod.

For example, students may need to determine how to integrate a Ford transmission with a Chrysler engine and a Chevrolet rear axle—designing and fabricating the components necessary for these systems to function together safely and effectively.

This challenge tasks high school students with designing and building a traditionally styled Rat Rod or Hot Rod using STEAM principles. The vehicle must incorporate parts from at least ten different makes and classifications of vehicles. It must also be safe and capable of passing a DOT inspection for the home-built vehicle category. The final build should only resemble the original base vehicle—not appear as a stock vehicle with a few added components.

For instance, if a 1933 Ford business coupe is used as the foundational vehicle, the completed project should not look like a standard 1933 Ford with miscellaneous parts attached. The body may come from one vehicle, the frame from another, the engine from a third, and so on.

Our vision for this challenge is to provide students with an authentic, engaging learning experience that incorporates STEAM principles in an environment intentionally designed to teach essential hard skills, soft skills, and advanced critical-thinking abilities. We aim to demonstrate that regardless of a student’s background or prior knowledge, they can achieve ambitious goals through perseverance and innovative thinking.

Participants will leave this experience not only with new technical and interpersonal skills, but also with a tangible end product—one they can see, touch, reference, and even drive. Most importantly, they will gain increased confidence, pride in their work, and lasting memories of the process and accomplishments.