Rats on Rat Rods

I’ve always thought it’s a bit rebellious (and definitely unique) to have pet rats. Dogs and cats are so “acceptable”, so normal. Many people think rats are “dirty” (even though they groom themselves just like cats). Add to that, most people can’t stand their tails. It’s true, rat tails are lacking fur, but their tails sure are handy. And yes, rats aren’t the most typical pet, but they’re incredibly intelligent, affectionate, and just plain fun to be around.

Same thing with rat rods: They’re much more unique than hot rods (or any other type of car). They’ve got a scrappy, creative element…just like rats. The rat rod subculture is very similar to the subculture of choosing rats as pets. They’re both unconventional and they both embrace individuality.

Even though I’ve had rats since 1990, I wasn’t aware rat rods existed until around 2014. Rat rods have been around since the 1980s. According to Wikipedia, rat rods are “…artistic, fun, and sensational reinterpretations of late-’40s/early-’50s hot rodding as a culture that includes music, clothing, hairstyles, and tattoos.” As soon as I learned there’s a car that has “rat” in its name, I just had to check it out.

In my opinion, rat rods are superbly creative assemblages of parts as diverse as tractor grilles, barbed wire and bicycle frames. Both rust and rustic, they’re not jalopies and not hot rods. They’re rat rods.

My rats, Vera and Nora, had the privilege and pleasure of testing out a few rat rods built by Resurrected Rust Garage in Hood River, Oregon: