Technically speaking, there’s no one straightforward definition of a hot rod. It’s a classic car, mostly, that has been stripped down under the hood, souped-up with engine swaps and performance parts, and basically made to go as fast as it physically can. The origin of the term itself is a bit murky with some saying that the “hot” comes from stolen cars, and the “rod” comes from the higher performance camshaft.
Today, it's not so much about the vehicle anymore as it is about the early classics that are used for it. But apart from being an iconic American car culture, hot-rodding has become a lifestyle for many, and a hobby for some.
If you're thinking of going down this time-consuming line, we have some inspiration for you. And they do say that well begun is half done, so here go 10 cars that make the best platforms for sick hot rods and rat rods.
10 Ford Model T: The Grandaddy Of Hot Rodding
The Ford Model T was a ubiquitous car for its time, and by that we mean it sold so much, there are plenty such surviving classics to date. And it was made to multitask, easily modifiable, and something you could haul potatoes in and take the missus to church as well.
It was the world’s highest-selling vehicle for 50 long years, and you can get one for $20,000, give or take a few grand. The hot rod here is a 1927 Ford Model T, so turned over its head, by Paul and Krishna Duvall.
9 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible: Classic Gen II
The Cadillac Series 62 was born in 1940, and it entered its second generation in 1942. The war meant very few of these were made till 1945 happened, and from then to 1947, this car accounted for a majority of Cadillac car sales, so finding one is not the holy grail.
This hot rod here is a 1947 model, and bears the original engine but massaged and refreshed in a big way. Even the exterior has undergone a complete refurbishment with modified doors, a lowered body, and the most gorgeous cobalt blue paint we have ever seen.
8 Willis WWII Jeep: With Toyota Power
The hot rod culture may be older than the Jeep, or should we say the Willis Jeep, but having an old military jeep turned into a hot rod is like the perfect amalgamation of two things that have been around forever.
This 1974 M34 Military Jeep belongs to Thailand citizen Mr. Heng who, as a boy, was enamored by the Jeeps driven by the US military. And when he grew up, he got Hawaii Joe to build him his dream hot rod, with spark plugs made from decommissioned cartridges. Ain’t it a detailed beauty?
7 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser: Long Innings Awesomeness
The Toyota Fj40 Land Cruiser was introduced in 1960 and remained in production, upgraded, of course, all the way till 2000. So there are plenty of these available and for pretty affordable prices. And being a Toyota, not only are they reliable, but they are also modifiable rather easily.
And this here is a 1976 model, built by Allers Rods & Customs in South Africa, who wanted to show off the hot-rodding scene of their home country. The result is a bit of a Frankenstein with wheels and the rear differential coming in from a Land Rover Discovery, seats from a Wrangler, and headlights from a VW Golf. But, it's stunning.
6 Ford Model T Pickup: Gussied Up Power
Okay, so even the headlamps look a bit surprised on this one. It’s a 1923 Ford Model T pickup, which was simply another way of getting your Model T, but as an open-rear truck rather than the Tudor sedan body. This hotrod has been turned into a T-bucket, which basically is a lot of engine on a not-so-big chassis.
Driving a car like this lets the driver feel like he was sitting on the engine only. Built by long-time hotrodder Lou Buitrago, this one carries a 5.7-liter Chevy crate engine for some white-knuckled power!
5 1965 VW Beetle: A Killer Daily Driver
So calling the Beetle Hitler’s baby is not wrong because it was him who wanted a small mass car made for the hard-working German citizen, loyal to him, of course. The Beetle was made and sold in droves, so buying one is not expensive or difficult at all. And it’s a beauty, in all its years of existence.
And this very muted, SoCal-style hot rod is a 1965 Beetle, made by Gas Monkey Garage with all the hot power revealed when you pop the trunk and see the almost too big engine. It comes with Nitto wheels and everything needed to be able to take a “pedal whomping”, as the team at GMG puts it.
4 Chevrolet Master Sedan: A Hot-Rat-Rod
The Chevy Master and Master Deluxe came in 1933 and remained in production till 1942, replacing the Master Eagle, before being replaced by the Chevrolet Deluxe. Again, there are plenty of these classics to come by, even if they may need a total overhaul.
This is a 1933 model made by Mattias Saikkonen, a Swede, but one who has always loved an American hot rod. The car was also found in Sweden and has been altered drastically, and now carries a BMW V12 with enough power to put new Chevies to shame.
3 1932 Dodge Sedan: Meets Mad Max
So this 1932 Dodge may not one of the easiest models to find but if you look hard enough, well, how do you think people find diamonds in the rough? This one was found in the basement of a dilapidated house waiting to be torn down, so it was rescued instead.
The hot rod has been created by Steve Wilson for Phil Cercone and yes, it was inspired by Mad Max: Fury Road, with a ton of changes to the interior, exterior, and of course, under the hood. It took a while in making but the result is worth it, if scary!
2 Lincoln Zephyr: Black Magic, In Red
This 1937 Lincoln Zephyr would be a hard piece of classic to come across, but it also tells you that just about any classic car, rare, expensive, or barn find can be turned into a hot rod so beautiful, it can make grown men cry.
This one is called the VooDoo Priest, belongs to Metallica's frontman James Hetfield, and rides on a modified stock chassis with a Mustang front, and a Ford rear. The engine is the original one, a flathead V12, only refreshed for way more power. The interior is even prettier and done up in Art Deco style.
1 Ford Roadster: One Oft-Used Classic
In the hot-rodding world, Ford classics are a given, mayhaps because they came reliable, and also come affordable, because there are still plenty of them to go around. This gorgeous hot rod with the shiniest paint job ever is a 1932 Highboy Roadster and comes steel-bodied.
The metallic Burgundy paint makes it look otherworldly, and its V8 power is also enough to let it ride in style, despite the heavier exterior. 330 horsepower is a cool number for a hot rod, especially one that looks this good.
Sources: HotRodNetwork, AutomobileMag, SuperStreet, Motor1, DrivingLine, HotRodHotline, Autoclassics