To go about creating a rat rod seems to me as the extreme opposite of polishing to preserve perfection.
I guess I may be more of a middle of the road type myself, in that while I can appreciate a greatly cared for machine, I also like to see machines that wear a measure of their history in terms patina. For sure as in the antique trade, there are no doubt those who might care to apply a degree of false history and patina too, which I suspect may add confusion to gauging the way anyone might appreciate any machine in practical terms... Fakery might be too strong a term, unless done to increase it`s market value, and I can well understand that an owner might enjoy his machine all the more by stylising it to suit his personal taste... Shrug, after all I admitted to buying a Morgan as a substitute for a true vintage sports car capable of being both within my budget, and capable of keeping up with modern traffic with minimum expense in terms of maintenance and repair, compared to vintage Bentley, Bugatti, Aston and other sports cars, all of which has worked very well for me over the years... (-:

I remember being at the LM Classic some years back and was fortunate to have a pit pass, thus I grabbed a few pics, some of which I posted in the TM Image Library. One such was that of a wonderful Bugatti which definitely looked like it had been "enjoyed" over many decades, it`s appearance causing me to enjoy imagining the life it may have led... (-: Unfortunately it must have had a tyre issue and was taken to the on site tyre suppliers area to have the issue resolved.... I later saw it back in the pits, it seems whoever repaired or fitted the new tyre could not resist polishing that wonderful Bugatti designed wheel, and in the process polishing away a measure of it`s history.... Sigh!

Ever grateful that I can once again access the TM image library. However, trying to pick an image out of one of my images from times past, to post it within this post has once again has totally confused both my failing memory and sense of logical operation.... I have at least after much floundering around, found some way of providing a link to the Bugatti pic mentioned, though suspect you may have to click on it to see the wonderful old racer in question...?
Hope it is thought to be worth clicking on if you had interest in my rambling.... Anyone...? (-:

https://www.tm-img.com/images/2021/07/02/_DSC3484.md.jpg