Satan's Rat-Rod: 1931 Ford - /BIG MUSCLE

Owner:
• Henry Kessler

The engine is out of a 1952 Diamond-Reo tractor and makes 1,640 lb-ft of torque. The chassis is pieced together from old light poles from the City of Hollywood. The body... that's from a 1931 Ford. Meet Gretchen, one of the coolest rat-rods we've ever seen and a ride that turns heads wherever it goes. This ain't no hybrid, instead it's a black smoke belching, gasoline guzzling, animal of a car that's not only amazing to look at, but with some cool hidden engineering, has the ability to surprise even the most hardened of motor-heads.

[nezerac]

This guy gets it. Build a car you can drive and enjoy instead of count the dollars you wasted. I know some people are gonna disagree but this is why honda is FINALLY starting to make a bit for sense to me. Buy a clapped out civic, slap a h22 in it, race it and enjoy it until something terrible happens to it (which inevitably WILL happen). Then go out and buy another one and do it all over again.

[ScottHillsmusclecargarage]

 I was at The Good Guys Car Show, with my Shelby on Sunday, November 17. There was a father and a eight-year-old kid. That was drooling over the car. Well I told the kid to get in the car and to get a picture. His eyes lit up like crazy. That was just great. You have to pass it down to the next generation. This video reminded me to do that. Thanks for posting and remembering to spread the car love.

[dylanstassen]

Wow. A straight six that makes 1600 ft/lbs of torque? 1, 000, 000 miles and never been cracked open? And it's a 31' Ford engine and trans? If that doesn't say "they don't make them like they used to" then I'm not quite sure what does...

[allanfroehlich]

I own a Prius and that car does not piss me off at all.

[Towert]

"It's goal is to piss off prius drivers and scare kids".  Hell yea, CA needs more people like this!

[rickeymitchell]

Yep, I want one of these! It can't get any better than this. Black smoke, the sound, 1, 600 ft lbs of torque, the beat you to death ride and a smile a mile wide. It's a genius set up BUILT by a man with a vision and the desire to have something no other person can call their own. I can't imagine the blood, sweat, tears and how many cans of beer went into building it. A perfectly engineered build worth many smiles per mile. Congrats and well done to the very happy builder/ owner.

[DM-ryms]

That car makes me smile. I so like the truck wheels and engine. Just the whole thing. Air bags... fun fun fun.

[tone]

You know, what the guy was talking about, with the car show thing, reminded me that this year at Hot August nights in reno, a guy, with a really sick looking like, impala or something like that, was talking to my dad and I about the paintjob, then said "Hey, go ahead and open the door, take a look at the inside of the door" and I was like, "Wait, really?" and he laughed.

[nickb]

I have never been a Hot Rod guy but these kind of Rat Rods that are made of (mostly) period parts, period motors, etc are great! (Much better than fancy paint, chrome everywhere and modern seats).

[Towert]

Big high five guys.  This video was great!

[tfeverfred]

I'm a hot rodder, not a rat rodder. But I can appreciate the hard work and thought this guy has put into his vehicle. As long as it's safe for other folks that have to share the road... motor on, friend!

The people with bad comments are the ones who lack the brains and back bone to build something. The Walmart generation is so sad.

[charliekiger]

I've been pulling wrenches for years, and I just got so excited watching this and hearing how cool the guy is about it. This thing is the tits.

[lawrencedavis]

Rad-Rod 1931 Ford you said same thing I would have "I want one" a very unique ride.I just love it, something you don't see every day.

[Zchef]

Come on mike, there is no way that thing makes 1, 640 lb-ft don't believe everything people tell you. Just do the math! to make 275 hp with that much torque you would be looking at peak power at around 880 rpm, likes to rev? right...

[Modjira]

The car, the attitude of the owner, and this video, are all in perfect alignment.

[tomjohn]

Love this episode!  Would love to see it driven through D.C. on earth day!

[vistadrummer]

Love it. My uncle has spent most of his mechanic career trying to prevent rust and keeping cars in factory showroom condition. He's done with it, he embraces the rust now and is into rat rods. Like this guy he doesn't care and built one that he can just simply enjoy.

[patrickdecarvalho]

Doing some simple math, I find the 1600 lb/ft of torque to be very unlikey.
To make only 275 hp, it would make its peak power at only 900 rpm, at which point the torque drops off faster than the rpm can rise. This thing is clearly revving and cruising around at much higher rpm than that and it would be slower than a prius if it ran out of power at 900 rpm, no matter how much torque it makes.

[gullyrounere]

Its actually transcended the catagory of car...this more of an experience everytime you even look at it..got more character than a studio full of actors....wonderful

[freakineagle]

"THAT IS ONE BAD ASS RIDE...MY KIND OF ROD"! "COUPEZILLA"..THANKS