Runnin’ with the Rat Pack

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/08/2008 (6300 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

What colour are you going to paint it when it’s finished?

It’s the one question that really irks the members of the River City Rat Rodz car club, a relatively new crew of local auto aficionados who prefer to coat their rides in black primer instead of shiny paint.

Founded by Tony Costa in the summer of 2006, the club has fast become a mainstay at local cruising events, as was evident last Wednesday at the downtown Pony Corral when the River City Rat Rodz were the feature car club at the weekly Fabulous ’50s Ford Club of Manitoba’s City Lights cruise night.

A total of 13 members’ rides were on display, but many more club members showed up to support and represent their club. The reason there are more members than cars really lends credence to just how quickly this element of the hobby has developed.

“We have quite a few members who don’t have their cars on the road yet,” Costa offered. “They are all working hard, and by this time next year we should have at least 20 cars to display.”

Over the years, there have been a number of names kicked around for these nostalgic-looking machines, including old-school rod and traditional hotrod, but the term rat rod seems to have become the most widely accepted moniker for this element of the hobby.

So what the heck is a rat rod?

The rat movement has gained so much momentum that even Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia, has a description. Here’s what they have to say:

A rat rod is a style of hotrod or custom car that, in most cases, imitates (or exaggerates) the early hotrods of the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s. Most rat rods appear “unfinished” (whether they actually are or are not), with just the bare essentials required to be driven. The rat rod is the visualization of the idea of function over form — the cars are meant to be driven.

There you have it — function over form. Although I partially agree with this official definition, in many cases, the form also plays a big part. Case and point is Costa’s awesome-looking 1959 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88. Thanks to loads of hard work, and far less money than you would likely imagine, the car is not only functional, but also clearly a piece of rolling artwork.

Costa, a Winnipeg Transit driver, discovered the vintage Olds tucked under a tarp on a city driveway back in 2003 and purchased it for the princely sum of $900. It was in a dilapidated state and the squirrels had taken over the interior, but it soon became a labour of love and Costa has since trasnformed it into a car-show favourite. To the untrained eye, it may look like unfinished business, but Costa has spent countless hours making it look that way.

In fairness to readers unfamiliar with my personal passion for all things rat-related, it’s worthwhile to note that Costa recruited me as a charter member of the club back in the spring of 2006, moments after spotting me cruising in my dad’s flatback ’39 Ford coupe. Not long after we met, he wisely surmised that the rat-rod craze was poised to take the city by storm.

“This is an element of the hobby that isn’t going away,” he excitedly proclaimed. “It’s really popular in the States and lots of guys want to get into the hobby, but think they can’t afford it, when in reality, they easily can. I see this really catching on.”

How right you were, Mr. Costa. In fact, the rat-rod movement has gained so much momentum locally in the last two years that car shows like Piston Ring’s World of Wheels, Cruz In Downtown and the upcoming Fabulous ’50s Garden City show have all added rat-rod trophies to their awards ceremonies.

Although club members typically have no intention of making a show car, they do have safety and reliability in mind, and after applying the obligatory black primer finish, in most cases the car’s suspension and brakes are fully rebuilt, motors are tuned up or swapped out, and the interior is spruced up. The seatcover of choice is usually a Mexican blanket, and the stereo is often little more than a transistor radio. Rat rods are built on a shoestring budget and many contain parts from a variety of makes and models. The degree of modifications and completion is often a direct reflection of the owner’s budget and level of mechanical aptitude.

Club members range from high school students to retirees. Many of the younger members are still working on their cars, often in the driveway or on the street in front of their parents’ house. They may not have a roadworthy ride yet, but they continue to hang out and support the club, looking for advice and sharing in the camaraderie associated with being a car-club member.

“These young guys really represent the future of our hobby,” offered Adrien Poirier, vice-president of the Fabulous ’50s Ford Club of Manitoba and a manager with Piston Ring Service. “It’s really refreshing to see all the neat things they are doing with these old cars, and they really are just a great group of guys.”

The cars may look tough, but Adrien nailed it — you really couldn’t ask for a nicer bunch of guys and they all love talking about their cars. But just remember: The next time you spot a member of the River City Rat Rodz standing next to his ratty ride at a local car show or cruise night, don’t ask him what colour he intends to paint the car when it’s finished — there’s a good chance it’s as done as it’s gonna get.

On a personal note, I’m proud to be a member of the River City Rat Rodz and can’t wait to see what some of the younger guys in the club do with their cars. It truly is inspiring to know that there are so many cool young dudes on the horizon poised to perpetuate our passion for vintage iron, and we have room for a whole lot more members.

If you’re interested in becoming a member of the River City Rat Rodz, just drop me an e-mail at willy@freepress.mb.ca and I’ll put you in touch with Tony.

You don’t even need a car to join — a dream will do just fine.

willy@freepress.mb.ca

Mark Burton’s 1949 Mercury is a car that looks awesome in any colour, but which looks especially sinister in black primer. (Photos By Paul Williamson / Winnipeg Free Press)

Willy, left, with the passionate members of the River City Rat Rodz club.