Every time I visit Arizona, my friend tells me he has a car I have to shoot, and every time I get surprised by the cars he finds me. My last trip was most definitely no exception. Being that I'm moderately obsessed with rat rods, I was in awe when I saw this thing pulling down the street towards me, barely moving, but rumbling enough to piss people off miles away.

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr
It isn't the rattiest rat rod, or the craziest, lowest, loudest, fastest, but the way in which this car is put together is both frightening and awesome. An all around perfect mix of everything that is good and bad, with someone's heart and soul put into it. What started off life as a Ford Model A, a basic means of transportation for families and such, is now something that scares children and frankly is scary just to get inside of.

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr
Under the hood, or under where the hood would have once been, sits a nice beastly Oldsmobile V8. And naturally its covered in emissions and restrictive parts to make it eco-friendly, haha. The big Edelbrock carb brings the air in, and the headers dump it right out. It's simple and effective.

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr
While some rat rods have insane motors for fear factor, the most frightening thing about this car is by far the interior... Complete with wooden roof for your head to bump into, no windows, missing parts of the floor, seats made of cut and welded lawn chairs, a gas tank inches behind your head, and tetanus risks everywhere. Just looking inside of this thing makes you feel like whoever drives it is probably more manly than you.

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr
It's cars like these that I don't ever get the chance to see in Chicago, let alone sit around and shoot the shit with the people that build them... No matter what kind of cars you really love, getting the chance to talk with people who are into things way outside of your normal realm of cars is one of the greatest things about this industry, no matter how different, we are the same. No matter what you like, there are probably people out there from different parts of the world doing totally different things, that are really into what you're doing. That is what really sticks with me when I visit Arizona... That and wondering why I ever leave to come back to Chicago winter.

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr
It isn't the rattiest rat rod, or the craziest, lowest, loudest, fastest, but the way in which this car is put together is both frightening and awesome. An all around perfect mix of everything that is good and bad, with someone's heart and soul put into it. What started off life as a Ford Model A, a basic means of transportation for families and such, is now something that scares children and frankly is scary just to get inside of.

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr
Under the hood, or under where the hood would have once been, sits a nice beastly Oldsmobile V8. And naturally its covered in emissions and restrictive parts to make it eco-friendly, haha. The big Edelbrock carb brings the air in, and the headers dump it right out. It's simple and effective.

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr
While some rat rods have insane motors for fear factor, the most frightening thing about this car is by far the interior... Complete with wooden roof for your head to bump into, no windows, missing parts of the floor, seats made of cut and welded lawn chairs, a gas tank inches behind your head, and tetanus risks everywhere. Just looking inside of this thing makes you feel like whoever drives it is probably more manly than you.

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr
It's cars like these that I don't ever get the chance to see in Chicago, let alone sit around and shoot the shit with the people that build them... No matter what kind of cars you really love, getting the chance to talk with people who are into things way outside of your normal realm of cars is one of the greatest things about this industry, no matter how different, we are the same. No matter what you like, there are probably people out there from different parts of the world doing totally different things, that are really into what you're doing. That is what really sticks with me when I visit Arizona... That and wondering why I ever leave to come back to Chicago winter.

BSG Rat Rod by AJ Gillett, on Flickr
Comment