Hot Rods How about some love for the T-Bucket?

I can't find it now, but there was a you tube video of a couple young guys that bought a Yellow Bucket with a top and got it running, then went out and stomped on it. The rear hairpin got all twisted up, so make sure things can handle what you are attempting.

 

Love to get my hands on something similar - so close to being "right" you can taste it.
Adjust stance, delete the unnecessary do-dads, add a bed and you're sitting pretty.

 

It's a nice start, but I'm really starting to lean toward the front wheels tucked in a bit more, overlapping the radiator. This one is right on the edge, especially with how tight the valve cover to firewall is.
It used to be that the altered look worked for me, but that 2-3 inches is a cue I notice now.
Here's @Tim_with_a_T it's really tight!

Here's Chip's which I do like a lot.It has a bit more gap in front and behind he engine, more 'balanced' although the front is almost exactly the same forward.

and @RICH B

The one that really set me off and has many good vibes has that forward front, too.

It's all the little things. That's why there are so many variations on them.
Body tilt, rake, gap at firewall and radiator, engine to frame rake, how high the rear tire is in relation to the bed top, steering and suspension link lines, radiator height and angle, steering column. With everything visible, the lines matter.

This old one has the parts and I bet it was fun. But if I were to make changes, the rad needs to be dropped, that steering linkage needs to be moved up and the back is lower than the front. Opinions, man...

 

I too prefer a stumpy looking wheelbase, which I suppose wouldn't be too hard to correct on that car either.

Norm showed us the way!

 

This T roadster I built a long time ago had a tighter 94-1/2" wheelbase than my other one two posts back that had a 101-1/2" wheelbase. Those 7" make for a lot different look.

 

@RICH B , I hope you don't think I was saying your ride is wrong, it's bitchin'! It just has a design choice that I'd do different. Like I said, opinions, man.
That longer front end comes from history when the altereds went from short and tall to longer and lower. It also is supposed to make them ride nicer. I don't know, I haven't owned one, let alone 2, so paint me jealous!
You are out having fun and I'm sitting here mulling details. I'd say you score one to nothing there.

 

@RodStRace Here is one I built in high school. Used Marty Holmann's T as inspiration; but you had to really squint really hard to see the resemblance.

 

This one is about perfect to me. Probably wouldn't change much, if anything at all.
I seem to like the shorter cars.

 

I sent a PM to 40 ragtopdown about this one.
partial quote
This one piques my interest.
Points dist., low mount generator, narrow wheels/tires, vertical steering, custom exhaust, spindle mounts with no brakes, a ton of chrome, those all tend toward mid 60s, but the paint looks like at the earliest late 60s. Small headlights, 4 bar front, forward rake on the windshield, oil fill on intake with clean valve covers, forward tie rod, front tube shocks and IS THE FRAME DIPPING DOWN IN FRONT? Lots of interesting choices.

 

With the height of the top bows and height steering wheel and angle looks like the seating will be much lower then most T Buckets.

 

@pirate here's the build thread
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/the-belly-button-bucket-build-thread.1000590/

 

as far as short vs long goes. have you ever rode in a old jeep from say the 50's. then rode in a newer one when they made them longer. night and day.

 

Here is how I set mine up, I think it is the right look!