Dannevirke: Bargain budget 'rat rod' proves a hot attraction

Ford Hame climbs into the driver's seat while Cole Simmons looks on.

Among a sea of gleaming paintwork and shiny fenders, one car stood out from the rest at Dannevirke's hot rod show on Saturday.

The rat rod, built by Cole Simmons, was a bitser, with a rusted body, but it was a drawcard for everyone, especially young car enthusiasts who were encouraged to get inside.

"It's not as if they're going to scratch it," Cole said as Michael Wilson and Ford Hame leapt at the chance to get behind the wheel.

Daniel Feck and his daughters take a closer look at Cole Simmons' hot rod at the show at the Services and Citizens Club on Saturday. Photo / Christine McKay

"It would be the cheapest hot rod here. You boys could make one at home. You just need to chop up stuff with an angle grinder."

Cole's 13 months of work on his ratter started with a search for a cab that wouldn't cost a fortune.

"He had set himself a budget and he had a vision," his wife said.

The 1950s Morris cab was unearthed at Wilf Boyte's junk yard on Miller's Rd, hidden among the blackberry. But the only problem was how to get it out from the acres of rusting cars.

"We called in Vince from Outback Helicopters to lift it," Cole said. "The old 1982 Hilux chassis came from a farm next door and the rear end is a J2 Bedford truck."

The old Morris was originally used in Norsewood to cart cream cans from farms to the dairy factory and retains the same rusted paint work it had when lifted from Wilf's yard. Chris Berkahn of Delux RNR and Cole set about building the old pick-up, while Dannevirke's Warwick Clayton was in charge of the electrics.

On Saturday, an excited Ford slid into the rat's seat, a 20-gallon drum cut in half, Cole flicked the key, the rodder roared into life and the young boy's eyes lit up. "It's cool eh," he said.

And Cole has no plans to tart up his cheap-as-chips, cool-as-hot rod. "I'm not painting it. I'll probably just put a bit more yoghurt on it to grow more moss."