i think that is one reason the rat rod movement is so popular. not necessarily with spectators, but the owners.
as paint and material prices continue to climb, and buddies get out of the body and paint business, the rat style will continue to increase. if a guy wants anything shiny, it will be "Earl Schibe" or learn to do it your self.
Between that and the concept of the amount of effort required to keeping the shiny paint clean and shiny, and those dreaded, sure to come, first chips and scratches. Other people get really picky when something has pretty paint, and feel a need to pick it apart. With the rat rod look, most people look at it as an old vehicle (as long as its not radical) and admire it as a survivor (weather it is or not).
Seems the rat rod is either "cool", or its not, but a shinny car is a "show car" and gets compared to perfection.
I drive my stuff. Perfection was never the goal.
