There is no question that the Rat Rod craze is strong and well. The idea of pulling out an old car, purchasing some old parts at a swap meet and building a unique street rod is very appealing. The idea is to express yourself, build a cool car for little money and make people smile over your creation. The down side is that like most old cars and old parts they are not necessarily safe or dependable. Heck, some of them aren’t even licensed and show up at car shows on trailers! Gives an entirely different meaning to trailer queen.

Jalopnik is a popular car site that is always pushing the envelope. A recent post shows us an entirely new possibility in the Rat Rod world. What if you could have a Rat Rod that was safe, totally dependable with all the creature comforts; even air bags? How much would you pay, $50,000 maybe $100,000? How about $150,000?

That is what car (Rat Rod) builders Dave Sherer and Anthony Musilli claim to have invested in their 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS. They started with a new car and artificially aged it. They added dents, sanded down parts and rubbed salt onto bare metal to get the rusty look just right!

I am not sure I have the nerve or bank account to take a brand new car and age it to where it looks like it needs to be restored but to each their own. A more realistic approach is one like we are taking with our 1967 Mustang fastback Project Car. It is an approach that many of us can use on vintage cars that are good running vehicles but not show quality. These are usually cars that would cost twice what they are worth to restore. Rather than ignore these cars and not restore them or be ashamed to take them to a show why not give them the Rat Rod look?

To be fair these muscle cars really aren’t Rat Rods, that term should be saved for pre-war hot rod style cars. So what should we call these new approaches to car customization? Street Fighter has been suggested but usually means lots of horse power and a modern suspension.

The cars certainly aren’t Customs in the original sense of the word nor can they be considered Originals. Most of these are old Muscle Cars redone in the Rat Rod theme; how about “Muscle Rat”?

What do you think?

Well, one of my good buddies just got the same thrill when he drove his new 2010 Camaro home!. Steve Whitaker ordered a new Camaro in February and just took delivery in early June. I can only imagine the fun he must be having with his new toy. Here are a couple of photos. You can see and read more on our Friends’ Car Page listed under the Car Museum page.

This book is an insider’s perspective of the historical record on how the new 2010 Camaro came to be.

Camaro A Legend Reborn contains numerous photos and stories about the design process and the prototypes that were built. There are first hand accounts of testing in Australia, Germany and in California.

Why isn’t the Camaro a full retro design like the Mustang and Challenger? What were some of the alternative design solutions? What were some of the early design sketches? Was the 1969 Camaro really that important in the design of the 2010 Camaro? Who were the Twelve Disciples and why were there fifteen? This book answers these and many more questions about the new Camaro.

As you read Camaro A Legend Reborn you will see a glimpse of what the new GM might have been and the cars it can produce. This book is not only a look at how a Legend is Reborn from its beginning as a colorful sketch on paper to the factory assembly line production of the first cars; it is a hint of what GM might have been or what it might still become.

I hope it survives, right now we need a new “Rocky Balboa“.

To read the full review of this book and to see more photos, Click Here.