I think the "hardcore" rat rodders I see in the magazines are using the car as an additional styling accessory, to go with the ducks a haircut and the polka dot skirts on the girls. On the other hand at least here in Aus, there are quite a few rods built using vintage parts such as A models and early truck bodies with flatheads, unsplit radius rods, undropped axles and sometimes channeling (above the scrub line). BUT all the street driven ones have minimal rust, floorboards and servicable steering and brakes, and those super expensive skinny whitewalls, together with the mexican blanket and big steering wheels and two foot long shifters. Unfortunately the streetable cars are classed in the same category as the undrivables.
If you look at my project album you will see I have a 34 lookalike built with what I had around (just about zip!) if I could have found a body and chassis in even close to reasonable shape I would have still wound up with a similar car, but I didn't. My newest aquisition is a real deal 35 Ford hearse! I could cut it up and hash it up with a six inch channel and get the smoky flathead going and tow it to events, but I won't. You see, I, just like most the other rodders out there actually ENJOY the labour, the smell of rust flakes after they have been cut out, the figuring out how the heck I will fit this and that without butchering the firewall; sussing out steering and the right diff to use, matching the brakes and making as much as I can, then maybe enhancing the body lines to suit my taste and perhaps doing something different with out going overboard. The final reward of driving a car with unique character is worth the months or even years of construction time. Individualism.
As far as getting new guys to the sport, I always stop to talk if a young guy asks me about the cars in the shed or if Im out on a drive. I certainly found hotrodding by asking questions as a kid and as I grew older I read every book and magazine I could lay my hands on forming ideas and laying plans for my future rod. I find the guys who will end up as Rodders are the ones who step up and make the move, to the young fellow that started this thread all I can say is it takes more than money to be a Rodder, your question perhaps should have been " How do I go about making a car like in the pictures" the answer is the same as all us have experienced, study, read, and learn. Find out where the Rodders are stand back and ask questions and for goodness sake respect the guys car (even if it isnt your ideal) and if you arent too much of a pain youll find out most of us will welcome you into the fold. You probably wont do a great job first time out but dont be put off by the nay sayers just do the best you can when you finally get a car to do up whether its an early Ford or a later model, be proud that you are an individual and have a mind of your own. Being a hotrodder is a state of mind.
Best of luck
Rob