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This also, to quote Caleb Bogart, would depend on the area in question. Southern California was steeped in car culture years before the rest of the U.S., so hot rods were seen almost regularly here during the 60s, and more so during the 70s. In those days rat rods were known as "beaters" and were in various states of disrepair simply because their owners couldn't afford to fix them up, not because it was "cool", "fashionable", or "trendy" like the modern rat rods. In fact, most of the "old school" hot rodders dislike modern rat rods for the simple reasons that the look is so obviously manufactured, and the workmanship is often shoddy and unsafe.You're spot on about Hot Rods. Outside of car shows, I don't recall, in the 60s-70s ever seeing a true Hot Rod on the street! I think it was in the 80s, when they started to become common. and now, they are big money! And Rat Rods, were just some poor chump that could not afford paint!