1923 Ford T-Bucket

Description

A lot of folks thought the day of the T-bucket was over, but recent strong sales (we've sold several in the past few months) suggest that everything old is new again. This particular 1928 Ford T-bucket nails the look and the feel, combining the classic truncated Model T pickup body with a powerful 460 V8 powerplant up front.

If you're doing a T-bucket, you need to make sure it stands out. That typically means wild paint and custom pinstripes, but the builders of this beauty decided that a touch of class would instead be the attention-grabber on this build, so a subdued yet sophisticated shade of tan was selected to adorn the body. All the T-buckets are fiberglass these days, and this is no exception, and it absolutely nails that modified Model T look. Finish quality is quite nice, and you really can't tell it's fantastic plastic until you knock your knuckles on it, and it captures all the detailing that the Model T offered, from the framed "tailgate" to the outline of a door on each side of the cab (there are no doors, of course). The tan paint is perhaps the most striking element of the entire car, and with a tall canvas roof and trunk lid with extra luggage rack, the builder's really hit all the right buttons on this timeless design. Quad taillights, a painted radiator shell, and King Bee headlights are all traditional pieces of the formula, but each car still seems to look different from the others, including this one. It's a driver, but you can tell it's been loved.

The interior is simple yet surprisingly luxurious, and you'll probably appreciate the upscale tan vinyl upholstery when you're out for an open-air cruise, because A/C is not available in a T-bucket. Strictly a 2-seater, the bench is neatly finished with fresh upholstery that matches the door panels and plush carpet to tie the entire cabin in together. The upright tilt steering column that is part of the T-bucket formula is topped by an after-market steering wheel, and crisp black-faced gauges are spread across the center of the dash. That tall tan canvas convertible top is removable, creating the open-air T-bucket look, and the shrunken "bed" out back houses the gas tank. There's an AM/FM radio for tunes, but no heater or A/C, and, well, nothing but the powerful engine and the barest of minimums to operate it, and that's entirely the point.

The engine is a chromed 460 cubic inch Ford big block that's as much as styling element as powerplant. Dominated by an Edelbrock 4-barrel carb and intake and those outrageous Sanderson headers and side pipes, the look is instantly identifiable and this sucker runs extremely well. Fully sorted, it starts easily, idles well, and is happy to trundle through traffic without overheating thanks to a beefy radiator stuffed into that cut-down radiator shell. It's backed by a 3-speed automatic and a Ford 9-inch rear end, which hangs from a 4-link setup. Up front, the traditional dropped axle on hairpins is one of the coolest features, since you can watch it working from the driver's seat, and there are coilovers at each corner. There are also front disc brakes grafted onto the tubular front axle, so it has impressive stopping power. And while many T-buckets push the limits of tire, this one wears reasonably-sized and staggered 185/65/14 front and 295/50/15 blackwall radials on custom chrome wire wheels.

Is the T-bucket back? Given how easily they sell, there's clearly a large group of guys out there who still think they're cool. If you're one of them, give us a call today!