When I check t-Bay for T parts and whole vehicles for sale, I prefer to see regular T's and usually just skip over the T-buckets. HOWEVER, when they have all Ford parts (flathead V8 with a Ford 3 speed?!?) then I take another look. Man o' man! If I was going to have one then this would be the one for me. If I had $15K I would just buy it now and not even worry about bidding.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Model-T-1923-T-Bucket-Original-California-T-BUCKET-1937-Ford-Flathead-V8-1960s-Vintage-Racing-/281225525357?forcerrptr=true&hash=item417a58f86d&item=281225525357&pt=US_Cars_Trucks#ht_1366wt_1362
This is a righteous ride. I'd drive this all the time and call it my "rail job" like the kid in Hollywood Knights. HAHA! Great movie by the way - "Chinese bandits 8 oclock!"
I like the vintage styling of it, but it has too many obvious modern and repro parts to really excite me. I've thought about building something similar, but I have too many projects already.
I'd never use a fiberglass body, an alternator, aftermarket frame, modern headlights, etc... I'd use only original or accurate reproductions of parts available prior to ~1950. Nothing rare or valuable, just common stuff a young guy could have assembled from wrecks with some ingenuity in the late-40s.
so what part of that car is Model T?
Seth, I'm with you...for a bucket, it's neat just in the fact that it doesn't have a belly button motor.
Better get your fire suit ready, you're going to feel flames soon.
It needs red wheels and wide Whitewalls for my taste. I've always wanted to build a T bucket but the restorations are what I like best. It's good to have lots of dreams.
Rich
My question is, Why are all T buckets 23's?
Will, my recollection is that when the fiberglass bodies came out they made a '23 and a '27.
I have always encouraged the street rodders to use the fiberglass bodies as those old steel bodies don't hold up well with all that power.:0)
Rich
Somebody has explained it on here before but it has to do with '23 being the last year that it was easy to get a car registered I think.
As for the car itself, I'd definitely have some model A front wheels, and much skinnier slicks in the back, more 50s style. I'd keep the alternator though! Lol Id get Mr. Becker to make me one that looks like a generator. It needs a set of headers somethin' fierce. But like Chuck said: the main part that is cool and exciting is the all Ford power train. Plus I think the builder got the look and stance just right, even if I'd do the details differently.
i for one am not much for hotrods but i do like ratrods. Ratrods tend to be made more of original parts. As for this one, at least they did use a flat 8 a apposed to everyone else using a chevy engine.
I think I'd put some front brakes on it. Interesting that it's for sale in Washington but has Ca. plates.
"My question is, Why are all T buckets 23's?"
The funny thing about it is that all those "1923" T-buckets use the '24-25 style high cowl.
Not sure what this thing is. It is not a *classic* rod of the early days....wheels are wrong, including the steering wheel, windshield is awkward, and engine is not typical. Exhaust system sucks. Alternator must go. A 1937 engine is a wimpy 85 HP,221 cu.in. and appears stock. The 2 97s ain't gonna help that much. To be a classic, should have a 59A engine, heads, 3-4 jugger, headers, maybe a 3/8 x 3/8 stroker, 296 cu. in.
It needs to have an identity...either modern or classic.
That rear section, I assume that's the "bucket" referred to, doesn't appear to be copied after any thing T I've ever seen yet this type of restomod always has it. Where's it come from? Did it grow out of the need to give the body a finished look or just a fuel tank/storage area.
Charlie -- The "bucket" is the body itself. In rodder lingo, a Touring Car body is a "tub."
Norm Grabowski shortened a T pickup bed for his famous "Kookie's Car" which started the whole T-Bucket craze in the 50's. So all the T-Bucket fiberglass bodies have that faux shortened bed on them. BTW, Norm didn't call it "Kookie's Car" originally, that name was applied to it after it was used in the TV show "77 Sunset Strip." The character who drove it in the show was a parking lot attendant named Kookie.