Like 'em rough!

[BenzBoy]

I don't know what it is about rough looking cars - I just love 'em! I don't mean Barry-boy Novas with bits of plastic hanging off them and mismatched panels, but give me a '70's retro motor, a few honest dents, a workman-like oily engine bay (with bruital engine of course) all topped off with a matt-black paint job and I have a stupid big grin on me face!
I've got some pics of a cool Vauxhall lowrider complete with rust and torn vinyl roof - I'll upload soon
Anyone else share this strange compulsion?

[BenzBoy]

Just me then... I'll start taking my medication again....

[Davenger]

It certainly looks that way old chap.


"Nurse! the large syringe"

[HoTWire]

In VW circles they tend to get called Rat Look

[soultron]

I'll bite, I'm the new guy,I got nothing to loose heh. I love old hot rods done up that way. but I drive a chevette, which doesn't really fit "hot rod". It's still half primer. I like this board. it's fun.

[DerbyDan]

Its alright BenzBoy, I like the ratty look too Old cars should have at least a certain amount of patina which they have picked up over the years to give them atmosphere.

The works Mini '33 EJB' just oozes atmosphere as it still wears all of its battle scars - I wouldn't like it any other way. Some cars loose their personality when they get restored as they are too fresh, too immaculate.

I love the current 'rat-look' trend with VWs, This Split panel van I think looks hard as nails.

www.geocities.com/thevwbusbarn/DCAM0045.JPG
.........even cooler when a ratty car has a strong engine ;D

Personally though, I don't think I could own a really ratty vehicle - I've got to be able to polish something.

[HoTWire]

Hey welcome new guy ,.. We need pictures of your car hehe,..

[rainking]

;D

[rainking]

not so much 'Rat Look' in it's purest form.... more HARD AS NAILS RACER look ;D

[HoTWire]

Your just trying to find reasons to post piccies of the new Bus

Check out :
www.volksrods.com

[rainking]

Me.... SURELY NOT!

;D

[DerbyDan]

Opps - my link didn't work

Check out www.geocities.com/thevwbusbarn/

and you get the (rat-look) idea.

Yes welcome aboard Soultron - lets seem some piccys of your Chevette - pls!

I wouldn't say the akcidento Samba is Rat-look, but it certainly has got character, personally i'm not too keen on the Porsche Cup wheels, but I guess they clear a set of big brakes?

[wagoneer]

Hi Soultron,
Chevette, cool. hatch or saloon? or even, estate? I fancy an estate with a late model powertrain looking mostly stock. As for ratty rides, kinda cool when they're done right. My volvo has trim missing (I took it off) with that in progress look all over it. Bit's of 'flake on the roof, marks where the badges used to be, scratched paint. It all adds up to the 'it'll look good when finished' look!

[Davenger]

HoTWire said:

Your just trying to find reasons to post piccies of the new Bus

Does he need a reason?

[Deleted]

i do like the rat look but i can't keep them that way i end up either selling them or doing em up i'm afraid the caddy whet that way as i have now got another mk3 corty , a 4 door GT 2000 which at the moment definatly has the rat look i'll post a few piccys once i've welded the roof up (yes i did say the roof it had a very knackered vinal roof that held water nicely and now it has a rather big hole in the c pillar)

[Revolution 9]

Cool! So my Imp's rat-look, not a horrible 'Sh*tty Brown' coloured old banger? ;D

[HytestA]

I love 'Ratlooks' although I prefer to call them rekka's (rmad will understand ). I must also give full 'repect' to rmad who actually thought up the 'Rust 'n' Prime' contests that took place at Bug Jam roughly 10 years ago for cars that would never be able to enter the 'Show 'n' Shine'.
I'm currently trying to find a decent VW split screen, my criteria for it is - must be as sound structurally as possible, runs, body work I'm not worried about - a few dents and rust patches are not a problem, Paint must not have a shine to it. I find shiny paint on VW's almost off putting now
A mate of mine has pointed me in the direction of a '59 Swiss army bus which fits that description albeit with a small bit of work... see it here www.vw-online.co.uk/acatalog/Karmann_Konnection_Cars_for_Sale__18.html scroll down till you see the campers appear and its the second one. The first one though is awesome but the money is a bit rediculous.
I had a wicked Ratlook Imp a few years back, the bodywork was suffering quite badly with metal moth, it had holes althrough the bonnet, door and rear deck lid. It was a great car until the wiring loom caught light followed a few days later by the engine going pop.

[RetroMat]

i have always found dishevelled scruffy motors far more apealing than those with mint paint jobs and tidy interiors, a few dents here and there and may be some different coloured repacement panels all add caracter to a car, it also means you can spend more time driving them than worry about scratching it!

[mattblack]

Yeah, give me primer or matt/satin black any day. One of my all time favorite cars is the '55 Chevy in "Two Lane Blacktop" ;D. The beauty of a beater is if you get bored you just break out the rattle cans....... ;D

[SkoCan]

RetroMicra said:

i have always found dishevelled scruffy motors far more apealing than those with mint paint jobs and tidy interiors, a few dents here and there and may be some different coloured repacement panels all add caracter to a car, it also means you can spend more time driving them than worry about scratching it!

You mean like this?

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D