How a T-Bucket Became Key to “Big Daddy” Don Garlits Drag Racing Success

In the early 50s a young Don Garlits was frustrated that his 1950 Ford daily driver couldn’t beat local Florida drag racer, “King” Charles Hogan, and his brutish V-12 Lincoln. A friend of Don’s had a used car lot and was planning to build a ’27 T, but instead sold it to Don who built it into a drag race car under a tree in his yard — a true shadetree mechanic!

The high 13s Don’s original version of the T-Bucket turned weren’t quick enough to let him beat King Charles’, who was running low 13s. Tire spin was Don’s menace, so he lengthened the T’s wheelbase and was then successful in conquering the King of local drag racing. “It had been a few years since I first saw King Hogan beating all comers back on Hillsborough Avenue, but now I had outrun him. I’ll never forget it,” said Garlits.

It was this successful, formative roadster that would give Don the beginnings of his first rail job dragster when he took off the body, moved the engine back and moved the seat behind the rear end. This would be the 12.1 second, 108 mph early slingshot dragster with which Big Daddy would win the first NHRA race he entered when the NHRA Safety Safari came to Lake City, Florida. Three short years later, he would become a professional drag racer.

(Special Thanks to Richard D for the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing pics!)

Here’s how the text reads in the museum plaque:

Donald Garlits 27 “T”
1954
Don and Pat built the “T”, their first “Real” race car, under an oak tree at their home in North Tampa in 1954. An electric welder and gas torch modified an old 1927 Ford Model “T” Roadster to accept a 1948 Mercury Block, ’39 Ford floor shift transmission, and a ’48 Ford rear (a very common method of building a “Hot Rod” in the early 50′s). The “T” was sold in 1956 but during a 1986 parts search in N. Georgia Don accidentally found the old “T” rusting away in a junk yard. He purchased it and personally did the restorations, completed in 1988, and taken on tour with S.R.I. This “Hot Rod” represents the latest “state of the art” in drag racing in Florida during the 1954 period.

Engine: 1948 Mercury 59A Block, 4 in. Merc. Crank, 3 5/16 Bore, 276 cu in, Isky 400 Jr. Cam, Sharp 3 Carb Intake, Stromberg Gas Carbs, Offy Heads, Lincoln Converted Ignition, Albro Aluminum Flywheel, 10″ Long type Clutch, ’39 Ford Floor Shift, Lincoln 25 Tooth Gears, ’48 Ford Rear, 3.54:1 Ratio, Weight 1750 lbs.
-Top Speed 130+
-Low E.T. 13.5
-1/4 Mile Speed 93 mph

For the following terrific photograph, we owe thanks to legendary hot rod author and photographer Albert Drake and Flat Out Press:

On Albert’s fascinating blog, he recalls walking around the corner of a building at the 1989 Nostalgia Nationals and quickly catching this great pic of “Big Daddy” rumbling by in the clone of his original T-Bucket.

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Tags: "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, Albert Drake, Bucket-T, Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing, drag racing, dragster, Flat Out Press, Hot Rod, King Charles Hogan, NHRA, rail job, roadster, Safety Safari, slingshot, t-bucket

Category: T-Bucket History, T-Buckets of the 1950's