1923 Ford T-Bucket

Description

While many T-buckets are cartoonish, this '23 gets it right and pares it down to the bare minimums, giving it a hardcore performance look that was surely the intent. Based around a custom tube frame and powered by a muscle-bound Chevy small block, this is the T-bucket that you buy to drive, not merely to show.

There's no doubt about what this is, but the low-key sliver paint (from the late-model Ford color pallet) gives it a serious demeanor. It's a fiberglass Total Performance body, but they nailed the look with doors that are merely hints of the originals, a stubby little trunk that used to be a pickup bed in the original T, and precious little else. Fit and finish are quite good, and thanks to the fresh fiberglass, it was easy to get a brilliant final shine. You'll note that it still sports the perfectly vertical windshield that's a big part of the T-bucket look, but it's not quite as tall as tradition would dictate. The tube chassis makes for some dynamic changes in the look, and with the engine set way back in the chassis, it looks fabulous. There's a bit of chrome, just enough to tie it to the past with a shiny radiator shell that's pure Model T and it's flanked by a pair of King Bee style headlights on slender little stalks. The rear deck is upholstered in the traditional fashion, and little round taillights for a nod to the past.

Minimalist is how I'd describe the interior, but that shouldn't be a surprise to you because that's why you're looking at a T-bucket. However, there's a very high level of finish here that's somewhat unexpected in the bare-bones T. The upholstery matches the bodywork quite well, adding a monochromatic look that's fairly modern. Wide pleats on the seat and side panels wrap around you in a way that only a car without doors can, and while the steering column is fairly upright, it's actually quite comfortable on the road. Retro gauges from Moon (made in the good ol' USA) offer a pretty comprehensive view of what's going on up front, but with a T-bucket, you can actually just look at the engine there doing its thing. No radio, no heater, and only the barest of basics, but that's pretty much the point, isn't it?

No worries in the performance department, however, thanks to a 350 cubic inch Chevy V8 motor. Since it's an integral part of the look, it's beautifully finished with lots of color-matched and polished components. Edelbrock supplied a set of finned valve covers whose black finish matches the block itself and the polished fins work well with the shiny headers and side pipes. Edelbrock also handles the intake duties with a 650 CFM carburetor atop a Holley intake manifold. A TH350 3-speed automatic transmission feeds an 8-inch Ford rear end with 3.00 gears, so it's a comfortable cruiser, too. A tubular front axle on a transverse leaf spring keeps the T-bucket look and feel, with the rear end suspended on coil-overs. Baby moon hubcaps on steel wheels look right on the slick T and wear 165R15 front and 295/50/15 rear performance radials

T-buckets are about a recipe, but sometimes a few different ingredients give you a slightly different result like this. Call today!