Featured Projects ‘60’s Monster Car T-Bucket Build

Yeah, 60s stuff is well do***ented here in the threads I've mentioned. If that is your intent, look thru them.
T-Buckets are more free-form than most rods, but if you go mixing and matching eras and styles, it's not going to be taken well in the Traditional HAMB.
The slot mags started before the HAMB cutoff, but that width was not produced until after.
Here's one from page 3 of the Love For T-Bucket thread. Not a 23, no bed, but the colors you mentioned.

 

I thought that might get some attention. I’m not planning on doing anything I’ve shown, lol. They are all too modern for me. I’m just having fun with the HAMBies.

 

That’s sweet!

 

Don't go winding folks up here. Some still hold a grudge from before you (or a lot of them) were born!
It's Traditional!
It's winter coming on and lots of us get antsy anyway.
Most will help with any bit of info and sometimes even more. But annoy and it won't be as smooth.
Goes back to The Golden Rule; Treat others as you would like to be treated.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Rule

 

I understand, I’ve been here a while, I’m just having a little fun.

 

I realize the rear wheels on my car are technically more of the later ‘60s, but a lot of cars in the Love for T-Buckets thread have wider slot mags.

 

Agreed! It's something that I'm fudging the timeline with too.
I believe that you will make it right, whatever that is!


https://www.hotrod.com/features/0703sr-t-bucket-history

 

That’s a great article. Just read it. Have you seen the series “American Icon: The Hot Rod.” It’s really good, and goes super in depth with all hot rodding. It’s on HBO Max right now.

 

No, I have no cable anything.
If you want a deep dive, I have spent a few (!) minutes looking thru the threads over here.
Scroll down to the early stuff and get a feel for the time frame you are shooting for.
https://customrodder.forumactif.org...manifestations-bourses-d-echanges-car-meeting

 

Really good stuff in there. I was flipping through a the May 1965 Hot Rod magazine and found a few 10” slotted mags on cars, mostly just drag cars for the time, but it is foreseeable that a young kid was at the drag strip and wanted those on his T-Bucket. It’s right at the cutoff though. Pretty cool pics.

 

So this is what I’m thinking for the purple paint accent. I have loved the paint on this Mooneyes T-Bucket since I was a kid. I’m thinking about doing some reverse scallops kind of like this car.

 

Perfection !!

 

you can not polish a turd but you can roll it in glitter

 

I was told once a turd is frozen it can be polished!


@JReece looking forward to seeing what you come up with

 

Santa’s Got A Hot Rod!

 

Hello,

The green T Roadster has some good points in the original build, but looks hardly like a T-bucket.

The main thing is the huge front tires and rims. They have to go…. The tires/rims make it look like an all wheel drive roadster. As long as the tires are going to be replaced, also get rid of the huge headlights. Those two make the front end feel and look too large/heavy.

By getting those two items changed with smaller rims, like those on the T-Buckets below, it will make the whole “raised in the air” fake gas coupe look that has come and gone in the late 60s as a fad.

By looking at the two T-Bucket roadsters in the above two photos, the bottom one looks sleek and powerful. A lightweight front end set up with wire spokes and small headlights makes it look as if it can cut through, but yet, stand out in the traffic.

Jnaki

Even the T-Bucket in the photo below has a sleek front end set up. It looks a little more substantial with those solid 12 spoke wheels, but, still sleek up front with the smaller custom headlights.

Everyone has their own way to see a custom hot rod, but yours has a good beginning, and needs some changes to bring it up to a better looking T-bucket. In this case, smaller tires in front, small headlights will lower the stance of the roadster and get you headed into the right look, overall… YRMV

 

I actually kinda like the big front wheels. I didn’t at first, and I will most likely still swap them for some ET Mag G***ers like the fat spokes you show. But this car reminds me so much of the T-Bucket I owned years ago when I was a kid. It was built in the late ‘60s also.

I do have a dropped Model A axle I’m think about putting on it to lower the front some, but I will have to raise the shock mounts.

As for the headlights, they are just 7” headlights which is pretty normal. These are original Guide 682-C lights which are pretty well sought after and expensive.

Here’s my old car.

 

Some corvette finned valve covers , or some Offenhousers would look really nice. Give it a 60's feel. I do agree smaller fronts would look cool and taller rears .I've always loved aluminum slots .that's a really nice score.
" Sweet T"

 

Already got some to go on it.

 

I think the big thing with the current and the previous one is the spring over and the high arch of the front spring, with the secondary part being the small drop on the axle.
This will allow more compression movement, so it's probably a better riding T than one like mine, which is limited by the tie rod to frame clearance. Mine is also spring over, but the spring is much flatter and the axle has more drop.
While I prefer the lower front, this is entirely up to the owner. If @JReece likes it, that's what matters!

 

I like the video thanks for the virtual ride !

 

First of all, those rims are U.S Mags(maybe Ansen), but not magnesium. Fronts are too wide for a sixties build. 70's yes definitely. If you want a wild 60's build do your homework. It's your car, but just so you know some of us are not feeling it. Me firstly. But who am I? Go here for some good ideas. Randy Bianchi's tees are top notch designsHistory - The (T) Bucket List | The H.A.M.B.

 

The "fat spokes" shown are vintage 12 spoke spindle mount wheels that everybody here loves. Note that they do not have the provision to mount any type of brakes and therefor never would of been allowed to be used on a gas cl*** car.

The ET Mag g***ers you mention are modern 10 spoke lug mounted wheels(with provision for brakes) that many here do not care for to put it mildly.
While I won't hold it against ya I thought you should be aware of the differences and the ***ociated stigma.
Cool car build it to make yourself happy.

 

I get it, they aren't the originals.
But if you have seen SEMA wheel coverage over the last few decades, they are not even close to the worst crimes against taste.
Radir apparently built some recent spindle mount wheels for traditional hot rod community, even including a disc mount. But they are not available and the website is not up to date.
http://www.radirwheels.com/wheels.htm
There have been a few threads on them, with no joy in getting a pair or even a response.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/radir-still-making-12-spokes.1343146/

 

X2!!
Sunkist:

and Moonkist:

Other excellent examples:

 

The orange one, 6th in, great stance, great wheel and tire selection. And Ford in Ford. What’s not to like?

 

What about some American Torque Thrust D’s in the front? Finding actual original 4.5 wheels is pretty difficult.

 

Or the E-T Vintage V’s

 

@JReece Many feel the curved spokes are not right either. Those Vintage V will keep the trad folks happy.
You will probably be happier with a lighter wheel up front, too.