If you figured rods and customs peaked at the millennium, there was cable TV. In a flash in 2001 there was a documentary, Motorcycle Mania and a follow-up, both with Jesse James. We have the weekly Monster Garage in '02 and the concurrent American Chopper. In '04 American Hot Rod debuted as well as Overhaulin' with designer/fabricator Chip Foose. Rods and customs also began showing up in TV documentaries formerly featuring classic and exotic autos. This exposure has surely sparked a wide interest in building or owning what's seen on television.
Still having car fun are the rat rodders, young tuner car owners, low riders, 'gasser look' owners, muscle car folk, and classic rodders. As Thom Taylor said, '...the hot rod and custom car...is as strong and vibrant as it has ever been.' It is an American phenomenon and we are happy to carry it on.
Hope this rant was on-topic with you.
Bill
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Don't know about how faithful the rat rodders are. Even with the courage of Wonder Woman, driving a rod that won't corner, won't stop...only go, is as tiresome as it was 50 years ago before we knew better. Some of the folk I know in the sport are sneaking boxed frames, real brakes and heaven forbid, paint into their rats. And patina? You can't beat 50 years in a Michigan pasture for patina. And by the time you cut and weld in enough metal so the fenders will go where the car goes, that patina is long gone.
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