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BMW 2002 makes for one unique rat rod [w/video]

Zach Bowman — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Classics, Coupe, Performance, Etc., BMW, Design/Style

The enthusiast world typically falls into two camps: those who love rat rods and those that loathe them. As with every corner of automotive world, not all rats are created equally, but we tend to find ourselves firmly rooted in the former camp more often than not. That's especially true when we catch a glimpse of something as perfectly blasphemous as this BMW 2002. Crafted by the twisted minds at Atlanta Performance and Fabrication, the car actually started life as a running, driving round-taillight 2002 that owner John Lee had owned since high school.

During a slow day at the shop, Lee rolled the car in, busted out the plasma cutter and got to work with parts just collecting dust in the garage. After crafting a frame from spare tubing, the suspension went together using coilovers from a C5 Chevrolet Corvette, a steering rack from a Cobalt SS and control arms from a derelict Panoz racer. While not originally a right-hand drive car, Lee swapped things around to accommodate the newer components. The rat Bimmer even uses a roof-mounted shifter for reasons that remain unclear.

APF keeps the lights on with Corvette modification and small-block conversions, so it's no surprise power comes from an LS1 V8 bolted to a TH350 automatic gearbox. Throw in a set of custom fabbed headers and you have the beast above. Scroll down to watch a quick video of the BMW 2002 rat rod coming to life for the first time (Warning: there's some brief foul language), then head over to the StanceWorks forums for the full build thread.

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BMW 2002 makes for one unique rat rod [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Apr 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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German enthusiasts show true passion for rockabilly and rat rods

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Europe, Videos, Specialty, Design/Style

The event is called Rust and Dust, but this year that dust was replaced with rain and mud. Still, the attendees of this automotive festival in Teterow, Germany arrived in large numbers to share their passion for rockabilly, rat rods and racing. The rain attempted to dampen spirits, but it was powerless against these German fans of American old school.

The language is different, but the cars and music are the same. So is the enthusiasm for the style, and it comes through in the following video, which has subtitles but almost doesn't even need them.

OK, that's not true... we need the subtitles. Still, the video shows a group of car enthusiasts gathering to hang out and enjoy their shared love, regardless of the weather. At first it seems odd, due to the language being spoken (and occasional Audi and Opel logo), but it quickly becomes mesmerizing. Click past the jump to see for yourself.

Continue reading German enthusiasts show true passion for rockabilly and rat rods

German enthusiasts show true passion for rockabilly and rat rods originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Patina'd Camaro rat rod hits the dyno

Chris Shunk — Fri, 20 May 2011 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Chevrolet

Patina'd rat rod Camaro hits the dyno - Click above to watch the video after the jump

Imagine dumping $100,000 into a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, building a 485-cubic-inch engine topped with a Kenne Bell supercharger and adding coilovers to all four corners, only to learn that your hot rod wasn't different enough. Such a scenario played out for Bill Rombauts and Dave Sherer, but instead of adding more glam to their investment, the two took a decidedly different approach.

The two decided to turn their $100K Camaro into a rat rod, essentially beating down the pony car over the course of a week to make it look worse for wear. The result is a new-world beater that boasts some serious buzz right in time for the Hot Rod Power Tour, but before this rat rod hit the circuit, it spent some time on the dyno.

Beyond the jump is video of the Patina'd Camaro as it hits the dyno. The Kenne Bell-supercharger equipped engine, which boasts 16.3 pounds of boost, gives this beat down Camaro an impressive 804 horsepower and 765 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels. That should be enough pop to make this Camaro a real hand full at the local drag strip, and we're guessing it will attract a bit of attention on the Power Tour. Hit the jump to watch the video for yourself, if only to hear what 16.3 pounds of boost sounds like at WOT. Thanks for the tip, Paul!

Continue reading Patina'd Camaro rat rod hits the dyno

Patina'd Camaro rat rod hits the dyno originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 May 2011 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Mazda Miata forms basis for unlikely rat rod

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 17 May 2011 09:59:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Etc., Mazda

eBay Find of the Day: Mazda-powered Rat Rod - Click above for image gallery

Let's play a quick game of word association; if we say "rat rod", what would you say in return? We'd wager that "Mazda" wouldn't be the first thing to come out of your mouth. Hell, it wouldn't even be the last thing. Unless, of course, you're a person looking for cheap transportation as you being graduate school in Georgia. It's hard to believe the car in the lead photo started life as a Miata, and has since been transformed into a real ratty rod that's fitted with parts from a variety of vehicles.

The owner states the he was rear-ended in the Mazda Miata, and this started him down a path to turn the wrecked vehicle into a rat rod. The engine, transmission, rear differential, gauges, suspension and steering components are all from a 1996 Miata. The frame was custom-fabricated from the remains of the crash-damaged car. The front and rear sub-frames were attached to the custom frame that was created, and this allowed for the stock steering and suspension points to be retained.

Up front, the grille of the rat rod was created by turning two 1960's Ford fender covers sideways, then welding them together. The headlamps are from a 1940s Packard, while the hood ornament was plucked from a 1941 Cadillac. Inside, the seats were wrestled out of a '70s-era Monte Carlo. Oddly enough, the entire package works well together to create that rat rod aesthetic, and the Mazda motor has no problem moving custom rig down the road.

The asking price is $8,000, and you can find out more about the Mazda-powered rat rod by clicking over to the eBay listing.

eBay Find of the Day: Mazda Miata forms basis for unlikely rat rod originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 May 2011 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Mammoth 1930s Hariss steam-powered split-window prototype

Dan Roth — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Classics, Minivan/Van, Truck, Auctions, Etc., Specialty

Hariss Steam Car prototype - Click above for high-res image gallery

Now here's just the thing to mix up with a heated-up Flattie, or better yet, a Rajo Model T powerplant, which would be perfectly authentic for the vintage. Oh sure, purists will argue that this artifact, which apparently started life as a Hariss Steam Car prototype carrying a Stanley Steamer power unit, should be returned to its original state. Good luck figuring out exactly what that was.

With a deft enough touch, you could pay homage to the 1930s craftsmanship in this vehicle without ruining it. Either way, if you're determined enough to buy this obviously Stout Scarab-inspired vehicle (it currently has one bid at $8,500) it will be yours to do whatever you choose, critics be damned. Going all Travels With Charley with this split-window behemoth, especially towing a homebuilt teardrop trailer, would be a fantastic summer diversion, and if you did go all external-combustion-engine on it, you'd always have a fire to sit around at night.

Gallery: Hariss Steamer

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: Mammoth 1930s Hariss steam-powered split-window prototype originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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