The Street Rod: A Modern Definition
Is Street still Neat?
I’ve talked about and explained the early 1970s Street Rod movement before, but you can CLICK HERE if you’d like more context.
When people talk about Elvis, (I promise you I’m going somewhere with this), they often talk about the bloated, TV-shooting, egomaniac that died on his toilet. Yes, they might glaze over his origins, his influencers, and his influence on music, but only in passing. They might even mention his comeback in ‘68, but everyone wants to talk about the train wreck he became. That’s understandable, after all, Elvis did all of this first. And since he was first he had no roadmap to tell him what and who to avoid. Of course, in many ways, he didn’t sink as far as some that came after him. Kayne West ring any bells?
From: Picture taken towards the end of the Street Rods final act. Frog Follies in Evansville, IN.
My point is just like when thinking of Elvis, people often skip over the good in regards to Street Rods. They forget about the creation of the aftermarket parts industry. They scoff when you mention all of the laws implemented so that Street Rods could be on public roads and how that affects multiple modern car movements, not to mention collective bargaining for auto insurance. Instead, people tend to focus on the extravagant final act.
That 3rd act usually centers on the much-maligned car show, or “Rod Run”. By the late 90s and early 2000s, car shows had become a gathering place for rows upon rows of pastel-colored ‘32, ‘34, and ‘40 Fords (either roadsters or coupes) with gray tweed interiors and $800 billet aluminum steering wheels, all setting on 15-inch Boyd Coddington wheels, (creepy stuffed, pouting kids were optional).
Above: They always seemed to be for sale.
At this point, it might be best to include a definition of exactly what a “Street Rod” is (was?). Interestingly enough Autoweek chose to define a Street Rod as:
““A street rod is the most piratical type of old car. By definition, a street rod is an automobile of 1948 or earlier manufacture that has undergone some type of modernization to engine, transmission, interior refinements or any other modifications the builder desires. A street rod is to be driven to events under its own power and is to be used as a safe, nonracing vehicle for family enjoyment.””
That definition is certainly diplomatic, “…some type of modernization to engine, transmission, …”, is one of those literary devices writers use to keep all parties happy. Fair enough for him, but we can get a little more specific with our updated definition.
Above: A modern Street Rod.
Here is Vinmotive’s modern definition of a Street Rod:
“A Street Rod is a vehicle manufactured in 1948 or earlier. They are typically created from cars that were sold in the United States and in massive numbers, but can also be constructed out of fiberglass. The most common body styles used are the roadster, coupe, two-door sedan, and light truck. They will always include multiple forms of mechanical upgrades, such as 1970s suspension technology, carburated V8 engine, 4-speed overdrive transmission, aftermarket wiring harness, and an updated interior. Safety equipment such as seatbelts, fire extinguishers, dual reservoir master cylinders, and radial tires are universal among the type. Street Rods were constructed to be driven but are typically owned by older people and subsequently spend much of their time in a garage. Wildly popular throughout the 1990s, sentiment turned against them and they are looked at as objects of ridicule. The Street Rod movement as a whole served as the catalyst for the early 2000s Rat Rod movement. Lastly, they all had a cooler and lawn chairs in the trunk.”
So what does the future hold for the Street Rod? Well, it’s hard to say. Street Rods have one important thing going for them. They are fun. Fun counts for a lot when dealing with “classic” cars. In addition to being easy to work on, parts remain relatively easy to obtain. The main barrier is the same one that creeps up with every automotive hobby. Money. People have to have a disposable income to own any car.
Time will tell just what will become of the Street Rod. Popularity is cyclical, what is loved today, is reviled tomorrow, forgotten about in 2 weeks, and then comes back around as nostalgic in a few decades. Hopefully, the Street Rod, in all of its forms, will come back around too.
