Building a rat rod is a popular trend with street rodders and other customizers. The goal is to modernize a vehicle's drive train and update its suspension, brakes and other systems, but cover those elements with a "weathered" body and interior that make the car or truck look like it could have just come out of a barn or a field.
It isn't unusual for owners to spend as much time working on a rat rod's body and paint job as it would have taken to create a smooth appearance with glossy paint.
