[yragat]

When I was young there were HOTRODS and CUSTOMS--so where did this STREETROD thing come from? what is a streetrod? does it have to be a "plastic car" or what?

[sonicweb]

check out the link here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_rod

Got to love Wikipedia!

[F&J]

The term Streetrod was pushed by the magazines and event promoters back then to get away from the term Hot Rod and try to lose the black leather jacket hoodlum sterotype from the 50's movies.

I am pretty sure it was money based; mainly get a better reputation so major cities might host an event, get more interest in rods, and then sell more parts & magazines.

[lanier ledford]

My understanding is that street rods have bolt on fenders and street machines do not. A custom could be an altered ( changed) form of either.

[poncho62]

Define me, Define me..........................

My understanding that Street Rods are pre 48.....................Street Machines are post 48

What matters is, they are all Hot Rods..............................

[OneMoreTime]

Back in the day when life was a bit simpler a Kustom was a full bodied car such as a 50 Merc or a 55 chev with custom paint, custom interior, lots of chrome and lowered to get a look..The hotrods were built for competition purposes. big engines, big tires on the rear, roll bars and such..The line has become blurred over time so these days a Streetrod is one that has the old time competition flavor but is primarily a street car..

At least thats how I look at it..

Sam

[Silver Shadow]

What is a street rod?

Well to be driven on the street first it needs vehicle registration and number plates. So that eliminates drag strip only competition cars, or show cars which may often not be completely street legal.

In Australia, a street rod must have a body pre 1949, and a separate fully self supporting chassis. So that eliminates all more modern cars which usually have no separate chassis. It must also comply with all the rules of construction, and have features which make it completely street legal, which are far more strict here than in America.

So basically anything pre 1949 that is street legal is a street rod.

Anything 1949 onwards will be a restored car, or a custom, and cannot be registered as a street rod. The rules for building these later cars are very different.

[F&J]

Just be careful if you say to an owner.."nice steetrod"


The term has morphed from the very early 70s to now, where it is almost an insult.


The oldtime style rodders view the billet rods and rods with modern style drivelines and graphics as "steetrods" and they mean it as an insult.


And don't forget the resto-rods

[Silver Shadow]

There are Forums dedicated to street rods, and magazines devoted to street rods, it is hardly an insult these days.

[F&J]

Originally Posted by Silver Shadow

There are Forums dedicated to street rods, and magazines devoted to street rods, it is hardly an insult these days.

Not true at a hard core "traditional meet"

[Henry Highrise]

Originally Posted by poncho62

Define me, Define me..........................

My understanding that Street Rods are pre 48.....................Street Machines are post 48

What matters is, they are all Hot Rods..............................

Don't forget...to some people...all streetrods are red and don't have fenders. To fellow member Deuce is got to be a 32 Ford. For Centerline its got to have a Hemi in it. Don't worry too much about definitions...just build a good safe car or truck and have fun with it.

[Silver Shadow]

I guess the true blue veteran and vintage car restorers would piss on your "traditional hot rod" as well.

We all have our own particular likes and dislikes in cars. While there will forever be a place for the "nostalgia rod" there is still also a place for modern performance, safety, and engineering in the street rod scene.

There are many flavors of rod, the only type I really scorn myself, are the dangerous and poorly assembled rusting piles of festering crap known as rat rods.

[F&J]

Originally Posted by Silver Shadow

I guess the true blue veteran and vintage car restorers would piss on your "traditional hot rod" as well.

We all have our own particular likes and dislikes in cars. While there will forever be a place for the "nostalgia rod" there is still also a place for modern performance, safety, and engineering in the street rod scene.

There are many flavors of rod, the only type I really scorn myself, are the dangerous and poorly assembled rusting piles of festering crap known as rat rods.

Just don't be lulled into thinking every rat is built dangerous and that every glitzy steetrod must be safe because it cost so much. ...........there are countless owners riding around in some pretty fancy streetrods, not knowing how many cracks are developing in their "pro-built" "big name" M2 (PINTO) front ends.

[Silver Shadow]

Originally Posted by F&J

Just don't be lulled into thinking every rat is built dangerous and that every glitzy steetrod must be safe because it cost so much. ...........there are countless owners riding around in some pretty fancy streetrods, not knowing how many cracks are developing in their "pro-built" "big name" M2 (PINTO) front ends.

Very true !!
No substitute for good engineering and quality workmanship, whatever it finally looks like.

[58Apache]

I don't understand the labels and trying to categorize cool cars. Everyone has their opinion, but trying to classify UNSUCCESSFULLY in my opinion, different cools cars just doesn't make sense.

To say that a certain year or type of car is the only good thing out there and the rest don't deserve to be at the same event just doesn't make sense to me.

I'd rather see a 32 Ford over a 58 Buick or 1980's Olds. But I'd also rather see a cool Tri-5 Chevy over a bone stock Model T.

You just get into "elitism", prejudice, and snobbishness which only hurts the hobby in general. Almost any carcan be cool under the right circumstances, but opinions will vary. I don't like a lot of street rods, but I can almost always find a reason to like or respect something about each one, even if I don't like it overall. Some of them I absolutely love and enjoy looking at the design, modifications, and workmanship.

Safety should be #1 no matter what the car!

Just my opinion. YMMV

Steve