In a recent article called “Don’t Call Them Rat Rods,” in Hot Rod and Restoration magazine, the old school ‘rat rod’ hot rods were featured as a booming trend in the collector vehicle hobby.

“It started almost ten years ago,” explained writer John F. Katz.  “But, it’s really exploded on the scene in the last five years.  Everybody knows what it is.”

And, for anyone who might not know, the online resource Wikipedia defines the rat rod as a modern name for the original hot rod style of the early 1950s. It also specifies that rat rods are usually vehicles that have had many of their non-critical parts removed, are usually finished in primer-like paints and tend to be conglomerations of parts and pieces from several different cars of varying makes and models.

And, that definitely stands true for Jerry Santangelo’s 1932 T-bucket Ford.

“The frame is made from 1.5" x 3"x .120 wall rectangular steel, and the front axle is a dropped tube with 1937 Ford spindles and Pontiac Fero disc brakes,” said Jerry.

“The rear end is a 1994 Chevy S10 Pick-Up with fabricated 4-link suspension, made of 1" x .156 chrome moly seamless tubing with coil over shocks. The steering box and column are out of a 1934 Dodge truck,” he continues.

“The engine is a 1967 Chevy 283 small block with a 2 speed transmission and homemade lime fire headers.  All the brackets for the head lights, windshield and radiator were made of brass stock… The gas and brake pedals are from a Dodge Neon, and all the gauges are from a Glasstron boat. The floor is made out 3/4" marine plywood…

And, the parts that we did not have or make, we got from local junkyards or EBay.”

The car is a real “Frankenstein,” according to Jerry.

Scrounging the junkyards for all those old parts reminded Jerry of his time building cars with his brother, some thirty years ago.  It was, after all, in 1974, that Jerry initially immersed himself in the automotive hobby, when he and his brother were heavily involved in drag racing.  In the ‘80s, the two worked on a lot of muscle cars, he adds. 

But, some time in the 1980’s, Jerry says he got away from his involvement in the hobby, when it came time to raise a family.  Now, with his children grown, he recently found himself with a little more time on his hands, and he revisited the hobby with this particular build.  Jerry says he just finished the project in December 2006.

The result of his work, a true ‘Frankenstein-esque’ T-bucket, is painted in a satin black color, which is typical of retro-rods.  Jerry says that he enjoys not having to worry about getting his car dirty—a concern he might have had if he owned a shiny high-dollar hot rod. 

But, just like any owner of a high-cost collector vehicle, Jerry takes pride in his rat rod and all the hard work that went into its creation.  He plans on taking the vehicle to local car shows, this season, and is looking into attending the well-known Right Coast Syracuse Nationals, in late July 2007. 

And, while the vehicle hasn’t yet been honored with an award, Jerry hopes the T-bucket might be recognized for its intense fabrication.

Story by: Becky McLaughlin