Hot Rods What makes a t roadster a t bucket

I have ssen alot of talk about t buckets lately. I have owned a few t roadsters, but none of them seemed like a t bucket to me. Am I wrong ,or is there a difference, I mean what makes it a bucket?

 

My dad loves to call my '26 a T bucket and I don't think it fits.

The most important part of a T bucket is the altered wheelbase. Real "buckets" have the front axle pushed out in front of the radiator, not below it, and the rearend is right behind the seat back, close enough that fenders would never fit in their original spot. That's why on a real bucket, if it has a box it's extremely short, and if it has a turtle deck, it sticks out well past the rearend.

I also feel like only the 25-earlier bodies are T-buckets, you can build any open roadster T bucket style, even an A RPU, but I don't feel like the 26-27 bodies or anything else is a "bucket" by definition.

This is mine. It does have an early deck, but it's a '26. If this car had a suicide front axle and the rearend pushed forward about a foot, and an earlier tub, it could be considered a T bucket.

Not that I dislike T buckets, nothing wrong with them, I just don't think every T roadster hotrod fits that definition.

 

Here's one, found this picture labeled as a 1924. The key difference here being the front axle far out in front of the radiator, and the rearend right up to the back of the cab. This one just has a gas tank on it, but if it had a pickup box it'd probably only be a foot and a half long, or if it had a turtle deck, it'd stick way out past the rearend.

I like this car, and I feel like this could be considered a T bucket based on the body and axle positions.

 

I would say that you are entirely correct. I would agree that the first two cars pictured are roadsters, and the last one is a bucket. Is that @swifty 's T bucket from Australia???

 

Those people call Model A roadsters Duces.

 

Here's a couple more. The green one I would consider a T bucket, Isky's car is basically the same body but that one is different, due to axle positioning. I like them both, but I only consider one of them a "T bucket"

 

The Kookie T is the real trendsetter here, it's got the axles pushed forward (or body and engine slid way back, however you want to define that) plus the early style T body and the shortened pickup box.

I feel like if you kept everything else on it the same, but had the front axle directly under the radiator with the rear axle moved back the same amount, and a 3 or 4 foot box on it, it wouldn't be a T bucket anymore. It would be a T roadster pickup hot rod.

 

All these terms & definitions are the result of some journalists " pigeon holing" certain style cars with their particular descriptive term . As you might imagine , " definitions" get tossed about pretty free & loose . IMO , there are no " set" descriptions , go with what you like !

 

Hey @2OLD2FAST , your avatar fits perfectly with @Squablow 's definition of a bucket...... axle placement wise.

I had never looked at it this way. As clear as day now that I look for it.

 

A roadster isn’t a bucket, whatever is behind a bucket body, if there is anything, has to be massively shortened or it’s something else again. The body is for two people (a bucket) . Axle or radiator location isn’t the defining point it’s the “bucket” style body with short wheelbase.

 

^^^^^^^ this, - is how I have always understood it to be……
Some buckets have fuel tank or a keg, (to fuel the car, not your thirst), or maybe nothing behind the ‘bucket’ body.
Model A’s can be in bucket form also, - such as @dana barlow ‘s rod on here.

 

A T-bucket to me means, an early T (probably '25 and earlier) with a shortened pickup box, Norm and Tommy's are prime examples. The short ones, with the exposed rear tanks or nothing behind the main body, would be bob tails and the one with turtle decks would be T roadsters. It's just seems easier for some to lump all together, kind of like calling all Corvettes, Stingrays, but we don't want to open that can of worms. Disclaimer; your opinion may differ!

 

Thanks for the kind words @Squablow as that's my T-bucket. Cowl is from what is known here in Australia as a 1924 "Dalgety" T which were built here before Ford started manufacturing the 1926/7 style model. I couldn't find a short cowl so that's what I used. Doors are 27 and tub is Model A.
I feel that Buckets have a fuel tank, short pick-up bed or nothing at all behind the tub and a bucket is defined by the body and not the axle location. If it's got a turtle-deck then it's a roadster which is what Ford built and called it.

 

I've been studying this a lot lately. Funny how a few inches can make such a big difference. I honestly think the only real difference is about 1' variance in rear axle position.
Tucked up close behind the bucket... T Bucket.
Further back... roadster.

Front axle also affects persona/perception, to a lesser degree.

But they're both Ts.
And they're both buckets.
So... whatever. LOL

Clarification:
I don't mean to say that I've been studying this and now I'm an expert. LOL
I've been studying it, trying to make some decisions.

 

To me a T bucket has your knee's bent up to your chin. The steering wheel in your face. The roadster has your legs stretched out and your arm are reaching out for the steering wheel. Which also seems to be the difference between the 26-27 and the earlier bodies. As well as the other axle placements mentioned above.

 

I'd not thought about this topic when I started on the Whatever project. Here's a picture of the thing. I'm open to "whatever " anyone calls it!

 

Gee, I’m 81 years old and all this time I’ve been calling my 26/27 Zipper a T bucket!

 

A 26-27 isn't considered a "bucket" because of the molded in quarter panels, there's no visual "water bucket" shape.
I just call mine.... fun !

 

I think @Squablow nailed the description, except I have the question of what's the difference between a T-bucket and a T-modified?

What are these, modifieds, or buckets?

 

For me it's always been about body style behind the "tub" or "bucket". If it has nothing or maybe a gas tank or a shortened pickup bed it is a "T bucket" or as some used to call them a "Bucket T". If they've got a long pick up bed or any kind of stock length turtle deck was a "T roadster". I've always called my 27 a roadster and referred to my friend Jeff Greene's car as a "T bucket".

 

Found her in a barn in Tennessee
I paid five bucks for my Bucket T
Took me three years of sweat and blood
To clean off all that Tennessee mud

 

21 posts & a number of different descriptions . might as well ask what makes a woman sexy !

 

I would call all of those cars modifieds, but I'm not really sure why, other than that they're all 26-27 tubs with the longer cowl. But then again, the first example I posted above (which turns out to be Swifty's car, very nice by the way) could also go in that category, and doesn't have the super short cowl like the early US style T's do.

In the end it's all semantics, there's no governing body that defines T-bucket status or anything, it's one of those "you'll know it when you see it" type deals.

Personally though I do think you can have a turtle deck and still be a bucket. The green one I posted above I would call a T-bucket, and 2OLD2FAST's avatar picture is the quintessential T bucket style to me. That car is exactly what comes to mind when I think T bucket, and I don't think I'd feel any different if it had a shortened pickup bed instead of the deck. It's got the right body, wheelbase, proportions, even the elaborate headers.

 

About a week ago, some young guy started a thread here about wanting to build a '27 bucket but it got axed due to his choice of engine. In my mind, the 26 -27 body didn't really fit the "bucket" style, but there were early examples of them that I posted pictures of. Here they are again. What do you think?

 

As long as it’s Not called a dune buggy!

 

Many differing thoughts, but I’m with Swede. Lots of Fun!

 

I’ve always thought that they are all T Roadsters but subdivided into several types.
T bucket - Kookie car, Ivo T (pickup beds), Paul’s T (w/turtle deck), Brizio and Total Performance kits.
T Modified - or bob tail, no bed or turtle deck, often a gas tank (see post #19)
Track T - Pgans T (and Marty Strode’s) or the Highland Plating Special (w/rounded, fabricated nose)
T Roadster - stock full fendered early T or a ‘26-27 with the rear wheels aligned with the body reveal.
That’s how I’ve always seen Ts. There are attractive, classy examples in every style as well as some gangly, awkward and downright silly looking versions.

 

I'd be inclined to refer to that style as a "Lakes Modified" but no matter what term is used to describe it, that's a great looking hot rod!

Lynn

 

Name rules are sometimes funny, in the ways those who try to use them do ,and want to be so accurate about it!!
Kind of a wide matter with in someones knowledge of rods n custom cars.
"T-Bucket" should be mostly talking about the early 1920s or so Ford roadster, small kind of bucket like body used as a hotrod.
But ,"John Doe public" who only hears a name used now an then,tend to just use it,as they thought it may mean.
Same happens to,want-to-be hot rodders,that are learning ,but have not yet filled in some info holes,not that anyone can fill all of this stuff in ever.

My own hotrod,that ,I first got running in 1959 and still have,is a 1928 Ford roadster. But it was badly crashed in the ass when I got,so I just cut off the crashed rear. Then build my rod out of the rest!! >It's a bobtailed "A" roadster.
Often gets call a "T-bucket",but it's kind of a "A-Bucket", I just always call it my hotrod!
I'll try to tell someone,if they seem interested,but use one of many wrong names;" Hy,that's a nice ________ you have" . What it is to me,and why!!
Most even enjoy, being filled in on TERMINOLOGY !
One that bugs me is "Street Rod", when I was growing up, that only ment a hotrod, driven on the street! Not a drag race only hot rod! Yet some how, new guys think it's some other thing?= The thing I now use 'Gold Chain" as a name for.
So ya,I do this name'y thing too,refind a little,an admit it. Do you?

 

I have honestly learned something from this thread. My next t will be a bucket. Thanks to all for their input.