The phrase is a spin-off of "rat bike," which was in reference to custom motorcycles built on the cheap. The late Gray Baskerville, venerated hot rod writer, is said to have been the first to apply ...

If so, your opinion on rat rods—and by extension, diesel rat rods—may be informed by whether you are already invested in traditional hot rod building (pre-1949 hot rods) and the long history of ...

Rat rods have come a long way since the time when critics were dismissive of the low-budget rides assembled from spare parts that highlighted a builder’s lack of concern for paint or chrome. While ...