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

Actually, since the start of this thread, the coil overs were the one thing that I always felt should stayed on the car no matter what. Even though they are a little out of the period style you want to stay in, I personally think a pair of coil overs look better than a single buggy spring. The single buggy spring T's often have a "stink bug" look that I've never been a fan of. I think your decision to draw the line is a wise one, especially since you plan to sell the car at some time in the future. The car is going to be bitchin' when it's done.

 

.....and why sticking religiously to a build date is more of an OCD move rather than a creative one.

 

You guys both know me... I'm about one step away from shutting the lights off three times when I leave the room! But ya, you do have to draw a line somewhere. I have several '35-'40 rear springs on the rack in the yard, and I even have a P&J mount kit. It could happen quickly and not sacrifice ride height or comfort, but it won't. I'm gonna be happy just the way it is. I do have a serious dislike of coil overs though... One, (click) two, (click)...

 

Picked up the ugliest, most beat up top half of a deuce grill shell today from my buddy Craig Smith, Custom Paint Guy, AKA at one time 'round these parts as "The Liberace". Another friend of ours had tried some funky weirdness with it to put on his bucket a few years ago, so it's not getting photographed triumphantly quite yet. I'll make sure it saves first!

 

You know, its just me, but NOTHING says sixties t-bucket like a cross leaf out back...Yea, I know, instigator...

 

Just get to doin' burnouts part already dude. It'll fill that little soul-hole...

 

^^He probably has a point there...

 

If ya can't see the rear spring it's not really a period T Bucket. I'm just sayin!!!

 

Oh oh, here we go...Well, while your at it, you may as well cut that extra 3" out of the front of the rails as well...

 

...And the slope gets THAT much slipperier...

 

Just soos ya know I have the same dog!!!

 

Cool! Ya gotta have a special sense of ridiculous to be a dad to a Schnauzer! Absolutely diabolical creatures! When Judy moved in almost 6 years ago, I thought I was going to kill him in the first week... Now he's the best friend I have - Hell, he's laying right next to me as I type this. Mr. Rocket Chan is his name, and he understands both English and Cantonese, and he holds the distinction of probably being the only dog on earth that has actually been 86'd for life from a PETSMART location... I swear though, that Chihuahua probably had it coming!

 

Yeah they don't play well with others. Ours name is Astro Von Jetson. I got him for my wife but it seems he is my dog.

 

So school me....When did coil-overs come along?
Mike Motley had a bucket when we were in H.S. in the 60's, but I never got close enough to it to know what set up it had in back.
I remember when we were drag racing, late 60's early 70's, coil-overs were pretty common already.

 

Dave Marasco had them on his T bucket in '63, but that was extremely unusual. They came into common usage on hot rods around '69/'70.

 

Late response on this one but I think you hit it pretty close right there. A lot of self styled "real hot rodders" see a T bucket as an entry level or kit car. Some see them as "he can't afford a real car" rods and more guys view them as the gaudy over loaded with trinket fad rigs of the 70's with the brass radiators huge brass headlights and tail lights and all the other trinkets that got added on at that time.

Entry level? Hell Yea, they are simple and reasonably easy to build and don't have to be expensive if you plan, buy right and don't get caught up in the "gotta have" syndrome.

I think that just as many guys don't like them because the ones they ave been around or ridden in were hell for uncomfortable even for a cruise around the fairgrounds and you had to be nuts to try a serious road trip in one. As mentioned earlier, guys slapped them together without a consideration for comfort or being able to drive any distance. In the 70's there was one in Central Texas that pulled around 10 mpg and had a gas tank that held a bit under 6 gallons if memory serves right. About the time the group he ran with got rolling good on a road trip he had to stop for gas.

I'd love to build another T, I have enough of the pieces that It wouldn't be a bank breaker and my wife loved the one we had because she had fun sneeking it out and driving it to town. At 4'10" she fit the car better than I did.

I like the way this one is going as it is going to end up looking like and for all practical purposes being a well built mid 60's build that should be a great driver to boot.

 

Subscribed to this great thread. Thanks Louvers. Do you know who made this body? Love the dash. Check out my Track T build from years ago on my album. Still enjoying it.

 

I really don't wizzard23. I'm taking suggestions though so I can research a bit and figure it out. It has plenty of very cool features such as the dash, (damn, I have to get Judy back out turnin' swirlies for the insert... Oh Sweetheart!...) and the fact that there is a molded and finished open space from the bed to the bucket that makes wiring pass through and such easier. But, in general, it came from an older slightly used up mold some where, 'cause there really isn't a straight panel on it. The bed looks a little like the old "Ball Park Franks" commercial where they would dent the Weber grill top when they plumped, just a bit misshapen all around and kinda, well "plumped". The top of the cowl is just a bit sway backed too, which is making the windshield post fit a bit challenging as well. All stuff to clean up and fix when primer and maybe final paint come to fruition.

 

Great story so far. Love the fact that you already dumped the ugly assed radiator and that damned ugly zarape interior.

Keep us posted on the Miss Judy feedback. I also have a supply of female critics, albeit older, that always add a little verbal flavor to what I'm doing. I try to keep the boys away, especially when they start to lift a leg...

 

Here it is !!!

 

Ya, sorta kinda... maybe. See, here I come with nit-picks again, but that's the re-creation of the car from the mid 2000's, and I was really disappointed by some of the detail items they used, such as the "smoothie" wheels and the off the shelf frame and kit in general. It wouldn't have been any more work to do it right, ya know? I really dig the original Big "T", but it sat at sort of a weird reverse rake that would have been easy to undo as well. They fixed that with the model, and it looked better than the real car. Pretty similar is where we are going with this one.

 

Yup that's why I posted the pic don't ya know

 

Just a bit of inspiration.

 

Well, you got one thing right, that IS the inspiration!! LOL. You are a little late to the game with this LSA, Chip and I have been pming back and forth about the Penry car for ,what, maybe 3 years now? Its basically the reason he bought this car...

 

Oops.

 

Yup that's where it should be going!! Spring and all!! HAHAHA

 

I like the look of this T......is it not channeled? The side profile looks great, with it not looking so thin.

 

Great thread and I love this build.

Dear Santa,

AKA need louvers ?, if you could find it in your louvered heart of hearts could you please park the Bucket under my Christmas tree? I will leave the cookies with milk at the kitchen table.

Great looking build louvers and I love the direction you are going with it. It is going to be an awesome ride when done and one I will drool over and look to for inspiration when I get my build going.

 

Yesssss.....Penry's(?), T is killer.

Love the proportion and the pipes too. I think a chopped A shell would be cool though.

 

Nope that one is channeled about the three inch depth of the frame rails. It's wheel base is a very short 94" or so, and that is what makes it look a bit more vertical than mine.
That particular car is my personal favorite T-Bucket ever, and was featured in Car Craft in mid '65.