American hot rod tattoos have a long and storied history, dating back to the days of the hot rods of the 1930s. The term 'hot rod' originated in the United States in the late 1920s when car enthusiasts began modifying production vehicles in order to increase their power and speed. It wasn't until the 1940s that hot rods began to be associated with the tattoo community. As early as 1940, hot rods were being replicated in the form of tattoos, often on the arms of the drivers themselves.