This Hand-Built 1959 Chevrolet 150 Rat Rod Called "Tetanus" Is for Sale at Streetside Classics

Some builds whisper. This one grabs you by the collar. A hand-fabricated 1959 Chevrolet 150 rat rod nicknamed "Tetanus" has landed at Streetside Classics' Phoenix showroom in Mesa, Arizona, priced at $64,995. Between the bare, oxidized sheetmetal, the exposed frame rails, and a small skull mounted near the front suspension like a talisman from the underworld, this roadster looks like it rolled straight off a post-apocalyptic salt flat.

Underneath the deliberately unfinished bodywork sits a chassis built for real driving. A 350-cubic-inch small-block V8 breathes through a hand-built exhaust system and sends power through a TH350 automatic transmission to a Ford 9-inch rear axle, which rides on airbags for an adjustable stance. Up front, power steering borrowed from an Oldsmobile and disc brakes bring genuine drivability to a car that otherwise looks like it belongs in a junkyard diorama. Inside, rust-toned bucket seats continue the weathered theme, while the body mixes faded teal-green patches, exposed rivets, and pinstriping over raw, corroded steel. Streetside Classics notes the car is a new arrival with more details still being cataloged, so fresh specs could surface as the listing is updated.

Rat rods occupy a strange corner of the collector market, since they are deliberately built to look unrestored even when the mechanical components underneath are practically new. That makes standard price guides tricky to apply directly to a one-off build like this. Still, for anyone trying to get a handle on where stock, numbers-matching examples of the model land, Hagerty's valuation tools are a useful starting point. A base 1959 Chevrolet 150 in factory trim carries far less attitude than "Tetanus," but it gives a baseline for what the underlying model is worth before a builder starts cutting metal and welding in a custom chassis. Similar logic applies across the custom-build world, as Motorious covered recently in a look at a modified 1968 Camaro RS that leaned on Hagerty data to explain where it lands in today's first-gen Camaro market.

Streetside Classics is one of the largest classic car dealers in the country, with showrooms spread across multiple states and more than 1,600 vehicles listed between its physical lots and online inventory. Buyers who want something a little further off the beaten path can browse Motorious's roundup of 10 off-roaders for sale right now for other unconventional builds currently on the market.

At $64,995, "Tetanus" is not cheap, but it is also not a car anyone will mistake for something else in a parking lot. With 46,370 miles logged since its transformation and a permanent home in Streetside's Phoenix showroom, this rolling art project is ready for whoever wants to make an entrance at the next cars and coffee. The full listing, including all 84 photos, is available on Motorious.