Rat rods are the ultimate antithesis to hot rods, eschewing chrome and custom paint for rust and ancient relics. When the designers of Mad Max’s fleet of custom vehicles needed inspiration, they looked at rat rods, and today’s particularly oxidized example would look right at home in Frank Miller’s epic apocalyptic Road Warrior movie.
What started life as 1936 Dodge pickup has morphed into something else entirely, boasting a 5-cylinder Deutz engine for extra obscurity while proudly sporting the finned rear fenders of a 1950s Plymouth. It’s a mishmash, hodgepodge of a Dodge, and we’d totally drive it through an apocalyptic wasteland.
Backing up a bit though, you’re probably wondering (like we were) what the hell is a Deutz engine? It probably comes as no surprise that it’s a German engine, in this case a five-cylinder air-cooled diesel that’s known for being rugged, reliable…and not much else. It’s a weird engine to opt for, and was likely chosen in the pursuit of being more “far out” than the other guy. It’s all about being different in the weirdest way possible.
The sale posting on Hemmings Auto Blog proudly states that unique Oriental rugs have been drafted as floor mats, with vintage grain sacks doing duty as seat and door covers. Generally speaking these features would only hurt the value of a vehicle, but in the case of rat rods, grain sack seat covers are apparently highly prized. We assume that goes for the custom-made wooden steps, bull horns, and tinted (manual) windows.
Go figure.