In the Hot Rod world people do "build" Rat Rods on purpose. They don't get a fender-less 32 ford with a big motor by letting a stock deuce just waste away. The whole idea is to look like junk and blow the doors off unsuspecting fancy cars.
Now, since the motorcycle crowd, for the most part, isn't in to drag racing, I suspect most Rat Bikes are just ratty bikes. If they win awards, then they were probably purpose built.
Yeah....should be called "Beer-can" builds.....sh*t weld'd on here....that fall'n off there...rusted this....rattle-can paint'd that.....basically a roll'n POS.....yet try to call these things custom:icon_la ugh: