This “rat rod” is literally nothing more than a garbage can on wheels. Photos from Garbage Can On Wheels Facebook fanpage

Just like a festering abscess, the Rat Rod trend has burst and spread the disease across the world. Not to say that all Rat Rods are a tetanus shot waiting to happen, there are some builders who demonstrate true skill, but the vast majority are grown up mini-truckers. How many of these vehicles are based on an s10 frame?

Tennessee ghetto-hillbilly style.

Sure, it could be a coincidence that s10 frame is the perfect fit just as a Lincoln Versailles rearend is the perfect 9-inch swap for an early Mustang, but this could be the evolution of mini-truckers.

Rat Rods fit into a certain subculture that places a huge emphasis on music, tattoos, and fashion. Not to say that this is bad thing, but it leads to a pressing question, are Rat Rods just overpriced accessories with beer tap shifters?

Admittedly, the oversized beer tap shifters seem to be an attempt to overcompensate for some form of structural inadequacy. In regard to shifters, the other popular option is make use of chain that is typically used to disposal of body mobster style. One could consider Rat Rods to be an example of found art that has been repurposed to create a Frankenstein S10 nightmare. Just because one has a welder at their disposal does not make them a car builder.

That M37 deserved a better end after a glorious career serving our country.

There are those Rat Rods that implement techniques used in traditional hot rod builds and those are just fine, but the “garbage cans on wheels” are the one’s that are deserving of hate. Those are just like Honda Civics with every conceivable decorative item found on that one aisle at an auto parts chain store.

Beauty or beast? Seriously. What is it?

Just go to any local car show and watch the bearded, flannel cloaked, skinny jean wearing hipsters emerge from their tetanus shot on four mismatched wheels.

Again, this trend will pass just as the van clubs turned into minitruck clubs. These vehicles are built as a fashion statement that accompanies skinny jeans, birth control glasses, and overgrown beards.

Just remember that there is a difference between patina and a trip to the emergency room for the sake of hipster street cred.