It’s no secret that I’m incredibly particular, and down right judgmental about T-Buckets. Meanwhile, my partner in crime Brian Lohnes thinks these suckers rock. And that is why I have chosen to post one up this week, while Brian is on vacation, in order to show that I can be a good sport.
This particular T-Bucket fits the mold perfectly, while holding on to a few “modern” touches. The top, the steering wheel, the interior, is perfectly “correct” for a T-bucket. The engine on the other hand is a little weird. That’s 440 cubic inches of Mopar between the rails on this bad boy, which is something you don’t see every day on a T-Bucket, but honestly makes me like it more.
I have to admit that there are some things about this T-Bucket that are much better than most. Notably, the steering wheel is on this list. Sure the wheel is standard T-bucket fare, but the angle at which it runs is something you don’t usually see, which means driving this car is a top priority. Who knows, maybe I’m getting soft in my old age, but if you are looking for a ’23 T Bucket, this could be your dream car.
What do you think? Should we start passing the hat so Brian can buy it, or take the time to talk him into something he really needs?
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I’ve built two T buckets with 440’s in them. What other engine would an intelligent being use, save for a hemi?
As cliché as a T-bucket is? Let me put the 440 to good use and shove a wound-up 302 into there.
Why do T-buckets always need that huge Conestoga top towering over a channeled “tub?” Didn’t any of the original designers/suppliers (Norm Grabowski, Bird, Total Performance, Speedway Motors) have any understanding of the RULE OF THIRDS?
A “Fad-T” kit with the chassis stiffness and track safety of a Lotus/Caterham/Lo Cost 7, but the looks of a vintage track roadster . . . and a Hemi-sized engine bay would seem to be the E-Ticket for entry-level street rodding . . . Yet nobody offers that . . . .
Instead, we keep endlessly recooking Tommy Ivo’s and Kookie’s “Kars” from ~1960 . . . producing vehicles that are useless for much of anything but lawnchair “racing” and fairgrounds putting.
I read the replies to this topic and I think people misunderstand T-Buckets all together. This is simply an extension of ones personality, obviously the dude is a Mopar fan that wanted to build a fun, inexpensive Hot Rod.
I think for what the car is you could not build it to the level that he has for what’s being asked for sale.
I can picture upgrading the 440 intake to a cross-ram with spun aluminum velocity stacks, Hunt magneto and some Hurst single-groove Cheaters in the rear. This would be a blast to cruise into Bob’s Big Boy or In-n-Out!
Very cool ride!
I’ve never gotten the Tbucket concept.
I always expect Ed Roth or Herman Munster to appear
Any T bucket should have a roll bar
I think it needs another carb spacer…
Can you build one that is more functional? Sure, but it may lose some of its identity in the process. That, however, is totally up to the builder.
Build it how you want it, enjoy it.