1923 Ford T-Bucket

Gateway Classic Cars of San Antonio/Austin is pleased to present this 1923 Ford T-Bucket. The Ford Model T's were always hot-rodded and customized from the early 1920's on, but the T-bucket was specifically created and named by Norm Grabowski in the 1950s. A genuine T-bucket has the two-seater body of a Model T roadster, this "bucket"-shaped body shell giving the cars their name. A Model T-style radiator is usually fitted, and even these can sometimes be barely up to the task of cooling the large engines fitted. Windshields, when fitted, are vertical glass like the original Model T. Today, T-buckets remain a hot-rodding staple. They generally feature a large CID engine for the size and weight of the car along with heavy duty drivetrains to handle the power and those oversize rear tires to apply that power to the road! The front wheels are often much narrower than the rear wheels and are often motorcycle wheels. This '23 T is no different with its small block Chevy 350CID V8 mated to a smooth shifting TH350 controlled by a Lokar shifter into the Ford 9" with a center mounted rear-diff brake. The motor has been dressed up nicely with custom long-tube headers, Holley carburetor and aluminum radiator with an electric fan keeping it all cool. The interior is minimal while still being classy with punch dyed brushed metal and leather seats, door panels, rear luggage rack and interior trim. The dash stays simple with 4 gauges consisting of an 8k tachometer, 120mph speedometer, water temperature and oil pressure. Coil over rear suspension, and 4-wheel disk brakes help keep this bucket under control. There's nothing more radical than the T-Bucket, and this beast shows a lot of care and thought in the build, and is a fast, fun, and great-looking little hotrod as a result.