1927 Ford T-Bucket Roadster

Description

Ever since actor Norm Grabowsky departed from the armed services in the early '50s and began transforming Model T's into aggressive street machines, T-Bucket roadsters have been a perennial favorite among street rodders. Supercool specimens like this 1927 Ford T-Bucket roadster continue on that storied tradition – featuring a bespoke paint combination, custom interior, and a spirited 327 small block V8 holding court in its open engine compartment. And with only 173 miles on the build, this hot-rod has barely had the chance to show off its prowess.

The color scheme on this '27 - which combines a bright green backdrop with white accents outlined in black shadowing - adds a 3D effect, making it seem like distilled hotrod energy radiates below the surface. Having seen so few miles since its application, the paint is in great shape, with no glaring blemishes to speak of short of a swirl mark or two accrued from an after-wash wipe-down (easily remedied with a buff-and-wax), but certainly nothing that pulls focus away from the glittering and deeply lustrous shine. The detail work on display here is downright impressive, with sharp edges on all the accents found on the body, and the uniformity of the contrasting colors is a testament to the amount diligence and dutiful attention that went into getting this T-Bucket looking just right. The open engine compartment is always a focal point of the T-Bucket design - it puts the powerplant on center stage and lets it flex its proverbial muscles - and the combination of an aggressively outfitted engine with sweeping chrome headers merging into shiny side pipes takes full advantage of the feature. More flashy components include the King Bee-style headlights up front, the custom mesh radiator grille, and exposed portions of the suspension like the bright differential cover at the back. Traditional T-Buckets include a makeshift pickup bed in their designs, and the one built here is stuffed full with a fuel cell and relocated battery.

The inspired custom interior provides just the right amount of exciting, open-air experience that T-Buckets have come to be associated with over the decades. The plush padded bench seat is well fitted to its surroundings, matching both the color scheme and bright green tuck-and-roll inserts of the door panels. Of course, in a T-Bucket there are no actual doors, but nevertheless the interior tub is quite nicely appointed on every side. The plush black carpeting hasn't had occasion to cross paths with many sets of shoes since its installation, so it's still looking its best and is nicely set off with matching floor mats. There's an aftermarket, 3-spoke steering wheel sitting atop a sharply-angled chrome column, while just in front of it, the smooth dash was painted to match the body and features a full complement of Omega Kustom gauges with parchment colored faces. A Lokar shifter juts out from the floor of the tub and falls to hand easily, and the vintage-style brake and gas pedals are a call back to Model T roots. Prop up the rear deck lid to reveal the nicely detailed gas tank area covered with black carpeting, along with a securely mounted battery sitting toward the front.

With no hood or fenders to shield it from view, the engine featured in a T-Bucket carries plenty of head-turning responsibility, and the powerplant chosen here certainly doesn't disappoint. A 327 cubic inch V8 sits up front, and it's dressed to the nines, carrying a dual set of Edelbrock 4-barrel carburetors atop a matching Edelbrock high-rise intake and hiding underneath that brightly polished blower-style air cleaner that towers over everything. Additional chrome pieces include the valve covers, the radiator hose, and those aforementioned polished headers, and all that bling really looks great against the contrasting green engine block. With hardly a baffle to quiet the exhaust, the rumbling soundtrack is very impressive, and with the throttle wide-open this baby can definitely scare the neighbors. A smooth-shifting TH350 3-speed automatic transmission manages the engines power with ease, and it spins a more-than-capable 10-bolt rear end out back. Underneath, 'simpler the better' is the name of the game, but you do get front discs brakes and coilovers out back, along with a beautifully presented undercarriage. Flashy 15-inch chrome wheels are wrapped in a classic hotrod configuration with 185/60/15 front and 275/60/15 rear radials to complete the awesome look.

The exhilarating experience a T-Bucket roadster provides is quite a thrilling ride, and this dialed-in 1927 Ford T-Bucket roadster is a fantastic representative. Call today!