A true hood ride or rat look car isn't just a piece if sh!t that has been left to rot, the whole point is that the car is mechanically and structurally sound meaning that most people spend a lot of time and effort getting all the under the skin stuff to show condition. It then takes a lot of time making sure the outside look of the car is right too, just in the same way as building a nice shiny car does..... I have build both looks now, granted on beetles and a hotrod, but the hood ride was more work and got more looks. I agree that newer cars don't suit the look as well but there are some brilliant examples of modern hoodride cars out there still.
