THE 2024 SYRACUSE NATIONALS

It’s an immersive party that celebrates rockabilly culture with roaring cars, and retro costumes that will take you back in time. An event so fun and vibrant that even Elvis would do some hanks and Marilyn would sing "I want to be love by you!" 🎶🎸🚀

Imagine a car that looks like it’s been through a zombie apocalypse, but still drives with style.

That’s right, it's a rat rod!

These customised cars are part of the hot rod culture, but with a touch of an assumed “I don't give a shit in my look!” Unlike traditional hot rods, which shine like the stars on the sidewalk of Hollywood celebrities, rat rods are often left in a voluntarily shabby state.

Rust, bumps, flaking paint, holes in the body?

No problem, that’s the charm!

It’s like your car says,
“I may be a little bumpy, but I’m here for fun and I don’t take myself too seriously.”

Some typical rat rods features include:

• Rustic appearance
Imagine a car that decided to dress up as a wreck for Halloween, but forgot to take off its costume. These cars from the 1920s to 1955 are often rusty, battered, and can have parts of different cars and tractors assembled together, like a giant puzzle made by a five-year-old kid. It’s DIY at its best!

• Minimalism
Imagine a sedan, convertible, coupe or truck that has decided to go on a draconian diet. The bodies are often lightened, the roofs lowered, as if they had followed a slimming diet. No chrome parts or artistic paintings here except for half-painted lettering!  It’s as if the car said, “I don’t need any frills to be king of the place!”

• The pace
Imagine a car that decided to get as close to the ground as possible, as if it wanted to whisper secrets to asphalt. These cars are usually very low, not only to look cool but also to sneak into corners. They follow the example of hot rods from the 1940s to the 1960s in more extreme. To achieve this look, it takes painstaking work on the chassis and suspension adjustments. And if you add a low roof, it’s like the car is wearing a fancy hat, just to impress!

• The power
These cars are usually equipped with powerful V8 engines, often left visible, as if the car wanted to show off its muscles like a bodybuilder showing his chest. It’s a bit like saying, “Look at me, I’m a power beast and I have nothing to hide from the cops who arrest me!”

Here are some rat rod examples created from cars of the 1920s and 1930s.

Rat rods are a true expression of the art of automotive transformation. They celebrate the rusty imperfection and the sheer creativity, as if each car was a unique rolling sculpture, created by a somewhat crazy and brilliant artist at the same time. It’s mechanical engineering with a good dose of fun and unexpected surprises!