Projects The bucket of ugly! A de-uglifying thread...

I was finally able to cross the LARS off my Bucket List in 2014, but we had such a good time it will be an annual event for us now. It wasn't anything like I thought it would be after a lifetime of following it in magazines and here on the HAMB. Why all the empty open space, swap meet to the "Other Cars" waaaaaaaaaaay over there? Finished show car area was fine, swap meet may have been picked clean of goodies by 9:00 when we got there Saturday. I just expected everything to be packed tightly together. We'll be there again in 2015, have pith helmet and will travel. Bob

 

Bob, this year was kinda strange. Those big open areas between the finished cars and the swap meet were a new idea (some kind of speciality parking, I don't remember what they were labeled as reserved for), and I don't think anybody really understood them because there were't more than a half dozen cars in them Sat. As best as I can remember, they wern't there last year, and that area was packed! Not sure if they will try that again in 2015 or not.

 

Thanks Blownfuel, that area would sure look better filled with cars or swap meet spaces. This year at Hershey I found an early 1923 T Touring car body I'd sold over 35 years ago, and keep thinking about it. Are any T Buckets being built today using original Ford tin or are most glass? Bob

 

This T Bucket is reported to be the first bucket built in New Zealand and to this day is still my favourite (in NZ). It was build by Russ Clarke who Kiwi Paul should know. The pic was given to me by the second owner in 76 and I believe it was built in the mid to late 60's. JW

 

I'd have to say glass cars are more common, but there are plenty of steel cars going to gather as well. I know of a few going together in the San Diego area.

 

Like that orange '60s bucket. Judging by Chip's thread here a lot of people are going back to steel or at least early fiberglass bodies that were direct knockoffs of steel.
As for all the open space at LARS in 2014 the club opened up a lot more space on the fairgrounds and put most of the venders in buildings.
Probably letting the cat out of the bag but we bought a swap space and drove one of our tow trucks in and parked it under the trees in that open space out by the train engines that was used for swap area before. I was going to suggest that that would be a good place for us to meet and set up camp if they don't change things around again. We will need an alternative place in case they do. Actually we could bring some parts to sell if we do park anywhere out there.

Gary

 

Yep, JW, I remember Russ. I know Terry Furness` Bucket was built first, though. I remember going to a Show that Roadrunners had in a Dealership in the Hutt Valley--John Parlane`s 33, Phil Murphys unfinished T, Alan Hare and Dave Chung.......Old Days......

Gary...Wherever we decide to gather, I`m sure we can let each other know through our posts here. I have your Secret Envelope ready to post, by the way....will talk to my `Striper pal next week about the Pith Helmet Resto. I have come to a halt on the T for a few days--The Shop workload is really substantial for the next month, and I need to get some stuff finished up!! Got a nice surprise today...A Cheque (yeah I know...CHECK...) from a customer that I repaired/remade a pair of Cad Convertible Window frames For...Along with the payment was a note in caps saying `Nice Work Guys! `.....even though it`s just me here.......Nice to be appreciated for what you do....

Chip!! You still there? Where are our Interior ideas? Hey...Anyone else got Non-Ugly Interior Shots?

 

I will accept your Cheque any time mate, we may only be 4 million Kiwi's that can't fly but we do know how to spell sometimes aye. Seeya atea Matey....

 

Kiwi Paul, I was at that show too, around 76-77?.
Terry's T. JW

 

Yeah JW it was `76. Kerry Little`s VW V8 was in there too. Can`t remember any other details. I was joining Roadrunners at the time. I`ve known Furnie a long time as well. He and Carly came and stayed with us in Nelson for the `86 Nats. If you post a pic from the old feature on the T from `72, I think, that would be neat to see. I much preferred that look to the current one....I`ve gone right off Aunger Mags....

 

Interesting use for a spare set of valve covers!

 

a few asked for pictures of me in t for fit? also regarding the angora fur it all started with this trike i and ed roth started before he died. Due to him passing it stalled as i did other projects but now i want to get back to it and i am. more pics to come. the t frame is 3 x 1 1/2 - 1/4 thick so steel floor is flat with door sill and body is fully channeled for more leg room.

 

sorry about how pics are coming thru.

 

gege I really like your T. It kind of reminds me of the first generation Don Brasseau roadster which I used to see driving in the Bay Area in the '50s. Talk about radically (yes we make up words on this thread) that gen. mounted high on top of the engine. I even like the angora now that you explained the Ed Roth connection. How many purple rabbits did you have to kill? I even understand the bomb in the bed. It is sometimes hard to stop adding stuff even when your rod is finished. I fight that all the time and sometimes loose the battle. At least the bomb can be covered with the bed tarp. Hope you finish the trike. Okay guys slap me but I'm starting to like that far out stuff.

Gary

 

here i am sitting in t.
i wanted to sit as low as possible.

 

i like how u "SIT" IN it.. looks great, good job!!

sure like to see 3/4 front and rear pictures...?

 

I guess the only part I really don't like is the angora, doesn't mean it doesn't have a place, just that it is not what I like. The rest of it is top shelf and is a fabulous T bucket in my books.

 

Terry added the matching valve covers on the exhaust headers to be totally different from the rest and also for extra points when he entered the car into the old show. Not my cup of tea but if you knew Terry that in itself would explain heaps. Paul the reason Terry has the spoke type wheels on the front is to sort of match the Tru-Spoke wheels on the rear. They are 13x6" I think from memory and all he could find in that sort of size. Still a cool car with genuine NZ Hot Rodding history.
Gege does your roof fold down by any chance ? I do admire the way you sit into the car too and also the length of it looks cool for a change.

 

Pardon my interjection, but my immediate assumption was the 2nd valve cover set was to disguise the functional, legal exhaust. Assuming the side exit, T-bucket type is not legal in NZ? Correct me if I'm wrong. Also, I will also accept cheques

 

HA! Brad-As far as I know, you can run outside T style exhaust in NZ still---And Mark,I know what you are saying about Furnie....Look up the word Character in the Dictionary and there is a picture of him in there.....Wish he would get `Grandma Duck `back on the road, but with the front end the way it is, and as stubborn as he is, I don`t think it will happen....Anyway...Gege...Do you have any front end or engine shots of your car? I really like the way it sits, even though the wheelbase is a bit longer than I usually like...

 

I thought the extra valve covers were to give it a Buick look. I also have a photo of it from the other side and it has two Lucas coil holders. And yes we can run open exhausts here in NZ. JW

 

Whiplash: the top does fold,took 2 to 3 touring tops to get enough good parts and cut down to work on this t.
new wood bows and some bungs welded in with quick release pins so it stays stiff.
Kiwi:Because I built it low it looks longer than it really is(I will measure but I think wheelbase is around 105 inches.
will send more pics.

 

Hi Brad, if you look closely towards the rear of the collector, you will notice that Terry has pipes from the collector going under the car into mufflers and them they dump uder the Jag Bum. I think he had the T Coupe at the Beach Hop last year Paul but to be honest, couldn't tell you what front end is in it. I will try and post a picture of Terry's font yard for you.

 

The second photo is from a get together of a few of us in the South Waikato for a day of fun in our cars. This photo was taken at a private museum just outside Tirau. Terry's T, from Tauranga, mine from Pukekohe, Steve and Ali from Tokoroa, Bill's blown Yblock from Matamata and a young lady from Tokoroa who sold the C Cab shortly after this and her and hubby moved to Aussie.

 

I would love to see some detailled photos of the bows etc and also one of the car with the top down please. I'm going to build a fold down top for mine and have cut up the old fixed top as it had good lines so will use as pattern. We here in NZ can have 4 or more seasons in one day at times so it is handing to be able to pull the top up quickly if needed where as I have removed the top before leaving home for a rod run for the weather to pack up and end with rain resulting in a wet trip home.

 

That's the one thing I hate about my top, oyster doors