Released by California Dreams in 1989, Street Rod is a definitive DOS racing simulator that puts you in the shoes of a hot rod enthusiast in 1963. Starting with a limited budget, you buy a used car from the newspaper classifieds, wrench on the engine and drivetrain in your garage, and head to the local diner to challenge other drivers for cash or pink slips. The ultimate goal is to build a machine fast enough to defeat the local champion, “The King”, and claim his custom vehicle.
How to Play
The garage and management sections are driven by pointing and clicking with the mouse to read the paper, negotiate prices, and physically swap out car parts. Once you accept a race, control shifts to the keyboard to steer, accelerate, and shift gears. This browser version runs the original DOS release; use your keyboard for driving and press Right Alt + Enter to switch to fullscreen mode.
Tips
- Always upgrade your transmission and tires before pushing too much horsepower, as a stock setup will struggle to put the power to the ground.
- You can haggle on the prices in the newspaper; try offering a few dollars less than the asking price to save money for crucial early upgrades.
- Be careful when betting pink slips. If you lose the race, you lose your car completely, which can easily end your career if you don’t have a backup vehicle or enough cash to buy another.
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