History The father of the first T-Bucket

Just wondering, what transmission did Norm have in his T?
I know it was a Cadillac motor, and on the movie/TV clips I've seen it looks like he moves the shifter forward to drive forward like going into first gear on a 4 speed. What 4 speed would be in the car?

 

39 Ford trans with zypher gears, he started in 2nd gear so the shifter was forward.

 

Thanks John. Guess the linkage was reversed or the movie/TV footage was just faked. What got me wondering was that in every clip of the car starting off from a stop the driver just pushes the shifter forward and takes off, like a 4 speed pattern. But the commentary on the clips was that as the car took abuse from all the different drivers and takes on the sets the clutch was shuttering. The clutch comment meant it was a manual but what manual as the car was built in '57 or so.

 

No linkage to reverse in 1939. All the shifting was done within the shift tower and not changeable. Now if the car had a later side load (stronger) trans the arms could be mounted to change the shift pattern.

 

The person with Norm was a relative, I think a cousin of Norms. Another thing that isn't well known is that Valley Custom Shop did the Blue with Flames Paint and grill insert.

 

Most likely took off in second. JW

 

maybe they were starting out in second

 

ha!

 

I think scores of early days yet to be called "Hot Rodders" around the country had the same idea at or around the same time, I recall my father telling of buying model "Ts" for $5 & stripping the fenders etc. & terrorizing the countryside, I'm sure a few brave individuals at some point had the idea to 'bob' the rear as well.

 

Norm once stated that taking off in first gear was useless so he just took off in second gear, was smoother maybe do to clutch chatter. It was also stated some where's that Kookie was the only actor that could drive/handle Norm's car. The first pic is not the one in LIFE, it was before he posed and different angle..

 

Lots of superfluous information + a whole bunch of speculation . Good for giggles though ....

 

Found this article on the restoration - starting off in second makes a lot of sense with a car that light it would be easy.

https://www.motortrend.com/features/1922-ford-kookie-t-bucket-restored/

 

Norm, me n' my T bucket.

 

in an interview, norm talked about a certain actor who couldn't handle the power of the T. i assumed edd byrnes, but i guess not. any ideas?

 

Charles Colburn the older gent maybe had trouble.

 

I'd consider that a T Bucket with the turtledeck. This is what I'd define as the Roadster body. IMHO a T Bucket body stops at the rear bulkhead of the passenger compartment and has a short pickup bed, turtledeck or is open with fuel tank mounted.

 

How about a 15 year old Clint Eastwood and his $25 dollar hot rod? he almost had a T- bucket. HRP

 

HRP- good to hear from you.

 

I'd say ANY car using this"bucket" part of a 2 seat Model T should be considered a T Bucket regardless of what the builder has added behind the seats.

 

I like your "T", why is there a puppy in your wheelbarrow?

 

it's not a puppy, it's a pink concrete piglet, a subtle example of the wife's whimsey