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

Chip


I couldn't have said it better myself. In fact I couldn't have said it as well. And all those outhouses. bathtubs. and coffins are thrown in with T buckets in most peoples minds.

Are you paying attention Fred? This is why "real hot rodders" despise them.

 

......oh if I only had the bucks....I wouldn't change a thing except for some wild Altered style paint....that lil car speaks to the racer in me....

 

......but was just informed by SWMBO, that she was channeling Miss Judy's "stick-to-it-ivenss"....or call it what you will, that I HAVE to finish the roadster and her 63 Sunbeam Alpine before I get to have/build a car like that.......
.....better than a veto though in my book.

 

SWMBO? I HAVE to know!

I wish I had talent and the timing to take a video of Judy "directing" me in most things in life, but this car in particular. Picture a tiny woman with a string of completely un understandable words flowing from her lips at 200mph, then a slap of her hands together and the word "DONE" spoken very firmly. I usually have no clue what she was just talking about, but the sense of urgency really tells me that I should be doing something, at the very least...

 

single white male belonging to others ? SWMBO

ELEMENTARY; Chip

 

Very nice T now,its so asking for shiny and all.
Just for Bantum's and a-likes. Why I liked these ,is I drove #312 years later for one of Bobby Allison's car owners and just always like that body style mod. Almost in 1961 even built a hotrod type one from a shorten 4door 30A saden body we had with no front doors,but got offered to much$ for it and it was gone Poof!.

 

....UM, I DONT THINK SO!!!......

SWMBO (S.W.M.B.O) /swim'bo/ n. accronym "she who must be obeyed"

sorry we are going to get our hand slapped by Ryan for dragging this sooooooo OT

so back to "Ugly T buckets and the men who try to find the hidden beauty within" or "The Alternative Lifestyle of T bucket Swapping"....

 

Laughing wiping a small tear from the corner of my eye at the same time!!!

 

ok, stand corrected,,, NOW, Back to regular program...

 

Hell, this is an IRREGULAR program at best 'round this thread by design! And with that gang, we have managed to make 1000 posts about the lowly T-Bucket! Thank you guys for contributing!!!

 

1001- What else is interesting enough to talk about

 

Aw hell, I'll just take it outta petty cash... That Wheel/tire combo is gonna bring that thing TO LIFE!

 

From yet another CLASSIC british TV comedy series...

 

Wow. Yea, man. I'm paying REAL good attention. Not only has Louvers documented his adventure in building his version of a period correct T Bucket very well, this thread has REALLY opened my eyes.

I had an idea what was wrong with hot rodding, but wasn't sure I was right. Now, I KNOW I was right. Spotting the bullshit and the "real hot rodders" just got a little easier. Some guys ACTUALLY took those pool table and out house cars seriously? They really didn't know they were to get their kids to bug them about taking them to a show, so they could buy a bunch of crap? Damn. That's unbelievable.

 

Fred so glad you are open minded enough to learn from this thread and are not one of those "I'm going to do my own thing" guys. I've been around this stuff since the '50s and I am learning from this thread.

You read that I invited Chip to accompany me into LARS. Not many glass T's would get that invitation. Gary

 

It's easy for a good plan to go astray. When I first built mine, I had an idea, a photo and a goal to finish it. But like a lot of guys, budget and enthusiasm got me side tracked. That cases compromises to be made.

So, when I was finished, I was glad it was road ready, but a little disappointed that it wasn't what I had planned. But after my accident, had a LONG time to look back and see where I strayed. The final pay off form the city of Houston allowed me to completely redo my first effort.

The brass side mirrors, that were a gift, were replaced with something simple. The crushed Model A grill shell and radiator were also replaced. The wire wheels, I still miss them, were switched to steelies and caps. Lastly, a dropped "I" beam was used, just to be different from the tube cars.

She looks a lot better, I'm happy, but still know I have a little way to go. I'm not going for period correct, just well done. So, I look, read and take note of what works and what doesn't. Luckily, these things are never done.

 

Chip, who is my good friend as well as my builder and teacher, was kind enough to let me take each of my sons for a quick blast in this T bucket last night. We caught up with Chip at the Cruise on Central and then went to his house to drop off my '66 C20 that is getting a TKO500, healthy 350SBC and a new exhaust. Chip offered me the keys to the T and off I went with one and then the other son. Suffice to say that the car is amazingly built and incredibly fun to drive. It just looks so cool. A hard stab on the throttle and my teenage boys heads were blown. They just had no idea a car could sound and feel like that.

There is a lot of talk about how to get the next generation interested in classic cars and hot rods. Well, that is how. You just blow open their minds and then let them re-fill with the sound of open headers rattling into the night while the cool air whips around your face.

Thanks, Chip!

 

Ok,
Since this is kind of a symposium on buckets, what do most think of the 27's?
Not a bucket in the truest sense, but still a T nonetheless.
Personally, after 65 cars, there is still a bucket on my bucket list. (sorry, I just couldn't resist) but mine will have a turtle deck. Aside from the trunk, Chip's car would be the one I'd want.

 

IMO Some can look great, but there are rules.... ta-da !!

 

No rules, just a lot of thought.

 

I honestly dig them Done T-bucket style, but am a bit more enthralled with them done as track roadsters. There is a '26-'27 that was on one of the first covers of Popular Hot Rodding in about '62 or '63 that I have always liked a bunch. I'll dig up that copy in the coming days and scan and post it. It's a semi bright yellow, it has matching Ford steel wheels and caps, a small block Chev, and something that would normally drive me nuts, it's slid back on it's 'bucket style frame just a shade so that the wheel arches don't quite line up with the rear tires. For some reason, on this particular car it just looks soooooo right! I can't explain it, I'll just have to find it and scan.

 

Sorry I had to dash so soon. I had an early flight to the east coast. Thanks for sharing all that you did. I enjoyed this adventure very much. I look forward to throwing you the keys to mine, someday.
You introduced me to a lot of guys with some really great cars. I can only say thanks....you are a true diplomat of the sport. I will somehow, pay it forward. What a great time to be in Phoenix, you guys really do it right.
Please tell Judy thanks for allowing me into your home, and most importantly your hotrod "lair".
Stay safe.

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Man, it's always been my opinion, when kid shows an inkling of interest, they need to go for a ride! It's just that simple.

Years ago, when I hit cruise nights in the Plymouth it was always the only primered car in lot. A couple times I asked to leave because my car wasn't up to "show standards". But, while everybody else in the place was putting up "for the love of God please don't touch" signs, I made a small one that said "please touch!". Anybody that wanted to sit in it from a grandma to a sexy young thing to a 6 year old kid could if they asked. Many, many kids had their pictures taken in the driver's seat over the years.

So, I'm at So-Cal about a year ago, and I'm talking to a couple of people about projects they need to get done with me, and a twenty something guy walks up and kinda coyly stands there like he didn't know what to say or if to say something. He very respectfully waited for my client to finish his discussion, and approached me and said "You don't know me Mr. Quinn, but you let me sit in your Plymouth one night at Pavillions when I was 11, and you made me a hot rodder that night!". First I told him to just call me Chip, then he took me out and showed me his '30 on deuce rails he was driving for the first time that day. By far the best compliment I have ever gotten!

By the way Grant, I was massively pleased when your boys asked to ride the Go Kart the other night! Any time they want to come down and do so, they are welcome. I'll show them the course and we'll put a lap time on the board for them!!!

 

Chip

I was far from a kid but when I first saw Von Franko's Kookie Kar klone in Pleasanton in the early '90s (I still thought it was the original and he wasn't telling anyone differently). When he saw how blown away by it I was. He offered to let me sit in it. I felt twelve again. Since then I have let many people and their kids sit in my roadster when asked. It's just amazing to see how their eyes light up. And I'm not just talking about the kids.

Gary

 

OK this is kinda going away from the original thread but since you brought it up. For many years, mid 80s to mid 90s , I did not go to many events because the shift in rodding went in a direction that was not to my liking. Way Way to many people were driving what they thought were pieces of art and not cars. You could talk to them and ask about their car and 90% did not really have a clue as to what was in the car. Now days it has shifted somewhat back to the old school days where guys would build their cars and drive them until they were completed. Some with shinny paint some without. None the less they were driven not trailered. I really enjoy having people sit in my car, especially real Hot Roders. It is a delight to see their faces when they notice just how much room I have made in my old Model A.

 

I do that a lot and have told parents to don't be scared, let the kid sit in it. Maybe they know I'm trying to get the kid interested in hot rods.

 

Naw Fuzzy,

I'm the king of the tangent. On "my" thread, the only thing that O/T is what I think is O/T, or what Ryan tells ME is O/T. There is too many good thoughts to miss out on when you stay straight line and by the book. What we are talking about right now is part and parcel of maybe not the build of a '60s T-Bucket, but certainly the result of it. Remember the concept of shop night at Chips... It's all good...

 

The 26-27 T roadsters are buckets just like the 17-22s and 23-25s, especially when they don't have a bed or turtle deck, just a keg or other gas tank.

 

All good reading and as we have been digressing slightly, can I tell you what happened to me . I use to life in Auckland, NZ's largest city and one evening I decided to take the Bucket up to the Post Office instead the DD. ( pre rebuild time ), well I had it parked in the main street not far from the PO and on my return this young, very scruffy looking man was standing admiring my car. he was full of questions about it which i answered freely and when he ran out of questions I asked him what he was up too which he replied, waiting for the bus to take him home. I asked where he lived and as it wasn't to far out of my way, I said jump in I will give you a ride home, man the excitement he showed will be in my memory for years. Intersting when we pulled up at his place it was a fortified type home in a rough side of town and atleast 4 heads potted up over the high fence to see what was making the rumbling noise. He yelled to his mates to look at what he had just had a ride in and couldn't shake my hand fast enough and say thanks to get inside and tell them all about it. Well after that I felt I could leave my T just about anywhere safely without worry too much about it as I had a group of guys watching over it.