What is the name for a hot rod with a deliberately rough, unfinished look? It is called a rat rod.
Rat rods are custom cars built to embrace a worn, incomplete, or improvised appearance rather than the flawless paint and polished trim associated with many show cars. Bare metal, surface rust, primer, mismatched panels, and visibly repurposed parts are common features. The roughness is usually intentional, not simply neglect.
The style grew partly as a reaction against expensive customs that were carefully finished but rarely driven. Rat-rod builders revived the earlier hot-rod idea of assembling an affordable, functional car from available parts and improving it over time. Modern examples may combine an old body with a newer chassis, drivetrain, or safety equipment.
Rat rods are often confused with traditional hot rods, but the terms emphasize different things: “traditional” generally refers to period-correct construction or styling, while “rat rod” highlights the deliberately weathered aesthetic. Engines vary, though Ford flatheads, early Chrysler Hemis, and Chevrolet small-block V8s are popular choices.