Chuck Wieland of New Ulm parked his 1949 Ford F100 rat rod with a skull hood ornament on Minnesota Street just north of Center Street.

He admitted he’s partial to old Jeeps and continues to create rat rods out of them.

A rat rod is a custom vehicle with a deliberately worn-down, unfinished appearance, usually lacking paint, showing rust and made of various cast-off parts that may be non-automotive.

“I’ve got a 1954 Jeep Willys pickup that I’m putting a 1987 Jeep Wrangler drive train underneath it this summer,” he said. “Next year, I plan to work on a 1955 Willys wagon with a Chevy C-60 chassis and make a dually rat rod out of it. I’ve had 17 Jeeps in my life. I have four now.”

Norm Kopp drove his 1932 Chevrolet racer to the roll-in. It has a 1932 Chevy six-cylinder “stove bolt” engine, transmission, axles, mechanical breaks, steering, wheels, radiator and gauges.

He made the body from aluminum sheets formed or an ash wood frame. The firewall and dash feature a “turned” aluminum finish. The seats and upholstery are genuine leather.

“I built it like it would have been built in the 1930s for racing,” said Kopp. “It’s only got 60 horsepower but it’s very light. It’s a hoot to drive. It corners very well.”

Koop said he plans to take the 1932 Chevy to the St. Peter show and swap meet set for Sunday, Sept. 21. He has placed high in that show with the car in previous years.

Staff photo by Fritz Busch Ben Kopp of New Ulm displays his 1932 Chevrolet racer at the downtown car and bike roll-in.