Rat Rod aesthetic question

[Rusty Hood]

Rat Rod aesthetic question. I am new to rat rod bike builds and I have a question as to how far to take a build. I just purchased a bike that is has a nice patina. But will I take away the aesthetic by mixing it up with newer parts like a new seat, wheels, crank, etc. I do not believe the bike has any collector value to keep stock. However, whenever I show the bike to friends the comment I often hear is just leave it alone, but that takes out the enjoyment of a build. Any thoughts?

 

[LukeTheJoker]

I think RatRod answered your question pretty well in your other thread!

Luke.

 

[Wildcat]

You have a late 50's/early 60's AMF bike there, the kind that has the seat stem tighten like a handlebar stem, and you have the coveted star sprocket, only made until mid 60's. Everyone wants one of those sprockets. You are lucky that the chain guard and tank look good too. A good start for a build. Your forks have a very slight backward bend, but that's an easy fix.
Anything you do with it is good, as long as you approve. Fresh glossy paint, chopper forks, apes? Banana seat, springer forks, 3 or 8 speed Nexus? Colored tires? If you have access to a shop, you could cut it up and stretch it. Anything goes as long as it suits you.

 

[Fv2]

Agreed, do it how you want it done. If you wanna do a Randy Rhoads tribute and paint it black with white polkadots, do it. Or you could just do whatever, this is ratrodbikes; anything goes here.

 

[Wildcat]

Here's what I did with mine, same frame as yours: