Street Rod

Street Rod is an American muscle car street racing game developed by Magic Partners with P.Z. Karen Co. Development Group and published by California Dreams in 1989 on DOS and Commodore 64. It was released for the Amiga in 1990.

It’s 1963 and just like all greasers you aspire to be a hot rod king. You start out by purchasing your first car and supe it up as much as you can with your limited budget. At the local diner you can meet other hot rodders you can race for money or pink slips. Races can either take place on a dragstrip or a country road. You also need to be aware of your gas gauge during a race as you will have to refuel at a gas station when you get low. During a race it is entirely possible to cause damage to or wreck your car entirely. This damage can be repaired for a price, so keep your wins coming. As you win races and money you can spend it to either purchase new vehicles or parts. When you acquire a new part it must be installed on the vehicle. The installation of parts is done in sort of a mini game where you remove the old parts and put the new ones on. This involves going under the hood, under the car, or jacking the vehicle up to change the tires. If you don’t put the parts on correctly your car will not work. The ultimate goal of the game is to beat ‘The King’ and take his throne, so to speak.

Street Rod brought new elements to the racing genre as it felt more like a simulation than just a racing game. You have your own garage; can buy and sell cars; buy parts and install them; and you also have a friend who chit chats with you as you play. The game is definitely perfect for any car lovers who like the idea of building their own ride. Though the interface is simple enough that you don’t need to have extensive car knowledge to be able to play it. If you’re looking for a unique racing experience, you just found it.