Old School Cool: The Rat Rod RZR

There are a million
ways to customize a
UTV, but often times it's the simplest things that can make the
biggest impact. Take one of the latest Polaris RZRs to roll out of
the Chap Moto UTV Pro Shop for example. Quite a bit different from
the wild, multi-colored, race graphics that you see on a lot of
stock and custom UTVs, the direction for this RZR project was to
give it an old-school vibe and we think we hit the nail on the
head. Clean, simple, but yet striking enough to command attention
wherever it goes, this modded RZR looks like it could roll into the
lineup at a hot rod car show and fit right in place.
Rat Rod RZR In The Making
A Custom Hot Rod Paint Job

The project started with a
brand new 2015 Polaris XP 4 1000 which was stripped of its stock
graphics and then the body work was sent over to Painter Joe's
Custom Paint Shop. Once in Joe's possession he doused the fenders,
hood, cage roof and some Pro Armor Stealth Door Skins in several
coats of matte black. After the black had cured, Joe then laid down
a mix of red and white pin stripping front to back. To add a bit of
traditional tattoo styling to the car Joe hit the corner sections
with some red spider webs and the hood with a black widow.
Stylish Armored Doors

As soon as the painted pieces
arrived back in our UTV Pro Shop, our team of skilled technicians
went to town piecing the RZR back together. Everything slipped in
place with nary an issue and the Pro Armor Door Skins were bolted
right in place over the stock door frames, making for a very quick
and easy install. The door skins are pretty cool (both literally
and figuratively) as they help give the RZR a more finished look,
and have large lower intake scoops as well as venting at the top to
provide plenty of airflow. To keep rocks and debris out of the car
the vents are backed by laser-cut metal screens which were also
painted red.
A New Top And Bottom

Rather than using the boxy
stock cage, the RZR was given a racey and streamlined look with an
AnnLynn Manx cage that had been powdercoated with a light bronze
matte finish. Down below we went with a set of Tensor Regulator
tires were mounted on Raceline Mamba wheels that were powdercoated
bright red. The real kicker however was the white powdercoated
beadlock rings which give the effect of whitewall tires and really
emphasize that old school hot rod/rat rod style.
To help protect the exterior a set of red powdercoated Dragonfire
Racing Race Pace Nerf Bars and Front Bash Bumper were mounted in
place. Driver/passenger protection and comfort was beefed up with
black suede, GT SE seats from PRP and a pair of 5.3 harnesses for
the front and 5.2 harnesses for the rear.
Light Up The Night

When it came to
improving night time visibility for this stealthy RZR a curved Cree
Double Row L.E.D. light bar was secured to the top of the cage. A
mix of intensely bright spot lights and flood lights the light bar
will do an excellent job of leading the way for late night
missions. Additional lighting was added front and center with a Mod
Quad Front Grille and 10" light bar. Inside the cab the driver and
passengers can stay well-lit with a pair of red overhead L.E.D dome
lights mounted to the underside of the cage's center spine. At the
rear of the cage two red Safeglo L.E.D. whips in a quick release
mounts will light up the night like Rudolph's nose.
Extra Accessories

Towards the end of the
build the Chap Moto UTV Mod team threw on a bunch of accessories
from Axia Alloys such as a 9" wide panoramic rear view mirror, a
pair of 12" sun visors, and a quick release fire extinguisher kit.
The steering wheel was upgraded with a Pro Armor Force Steering
Wheel and steering wheel hub adaptor. Lastly, if by chance the new
owner of this vehicle should get in a bind with a flat tire or
empty gas tank, they'll be able to take advantage of the PRP Spare
Tire Mount that's secured to the back end of the car and Rotopax 1
gallon gas can that's bolted to the side of the bed.
This is definitely one of the cleanest and best looking RZRs that
has rolled out of the Chap Moto UTV Pro Shop so far. While the
overall theme is very subtle, the car really stands out amongst
other modded UTVs and we've yet to see another RZR, or any other
Side by Side for that matter, that exudes the old school look like
this one does.
Rat Rod RZR Image Gallery
(Click for full size images)
Rat Rod RZR XP 4 1000 Aftermarket Parts Stat Sheet
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Mesh cut out grilles and integrated scoop.
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