Have you ever dreamed about owning the meanest, fastest, loudest, most bad ass car in your neighborhood? If ever there was a type of car that filled the bill, it’s the hot rod. But what specifically constitutes a hot rod? Says the experts, and the Merrian-Webster dictionary, a hot rod is a vehicle that’s been modified and/or rebuilt for rapid acceleration and high speed. Hot rodding is not a new passion. It actually began back in the 1930s in Southern California when automotive junkies would rebuild their cars in order to race them on the dry lakebeds just outside Los Angeles.

Today’s hot rodding goes way beyond just a simple rebuild, since it constitutes a way of life—a passion, if you will. The hot rods of today must possess a striking appearance and stance. They can even mimic famous vehicles found in feature films like the 1980s Mad Max series.

They are also outfitted with some of the best addons, especially when it comes to high end car stereo systems boasting thunderous subwoofer bass that must be heard and felt above the roar of the powerful engine. Not sure where to find the perfect audio system for your custom-built hot rod? Just Google “car stereos near me” and you’ll find what you’re looking for.

The Difference Between a Hot Rod and a Street Rod

Dating back to 1948, street rods are different from hot rods in that they maintain more of the car’s original look and style, only with upgraded engine, transmission, suspension, and interior addons like custom leather seats, high end audio systems, GPS, and more. They can also be repainted and outfitted with flashy custom wheels.

AHot Rod is Not Constructed Overnight

According to RoadandTrack.com, if you’re a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) kind of individual, you might spend anywhere from two to ten years building your hot rod. But if you’d rather pay a professional to construct your dream hot rod, it might only take about a year or even less. It all comes down to the condition of the vehicle, the amount of modifications you want, and how much cash you’re willing to dish out.

Built for Speed

How fast can a hot rod go? Depending upon the style and make of the automobile and the size and power output of its engine, a hot rod can run as fast as 200 MPH, such as those cars that still race on the Bonneville Salt Flats. Some only go as fast as 75 MPH or less. But the point is not necessarily speed, but how cool looking your hot road is. You’re looking for an engine that roars, an audio system that pounds out the bass, and a style and make that makes people’s heads turn even if you cruise by them by doing only 20 MPH.

What Kind of Accessories are Available for Hot Rods?

Rodding USA Magazine often reviews all sorts of nifty addons and accessories for your hot rod, such as digital speedometers that can give you an easy to see, precise reading of your speed as you cruise the highways or flats. Like off-road Jeeps, hot rods boast their own type of shock absorber, many of them chrome plated and offering “comfortable compression settings.”You can even purchase pickup truck doors that date back to the early 1930s if your idea of a cool hot rod is a very old truck.

Are Hot Rods Drive-Thru Friendly?

If you decide you can’t go without a Whopper and fries, you can pull your hot rod up to the drive-thru like any other car or truck. But you’dbetter shut the car stereo down and the engine off or it’s going to be darned near impossible to hear the tinny voice coming over the menu speaker. Plus, it’s said to be a hoot when the cashier gets his or her first look at your flashy hot rod. It’s something that might even attract the attention of the entire burger flipping crew.

In the modern era of electric cars like the Tesla and the Green New Deal, it’s hard to imagine that hot rods have much of a future. But if you ask the many hot rod enthusiasts who pour thousands of dollars of hard-earned cash into their vehicles, hot rods aren’t going away any time soon. Neither is the combustion engine, for that matter. If anything, hot rods will be getting hotter and hotter as the years go by.