Just for you, here’s our coverage of the Grand National Roadster Show 2016 Top T-Buckets. This year was the 67th Annual and, as always, it’s an event well worth attending if you happen to be in Southern California. In case you weren’t able to attend, here’s the show through our T-Bucket focused vision — in no particular order.
Grand National Roadster Show 2016 Top T-Buckets
John Stone 1923 Track Roadster
I love louvers! And does John Stone’s ’23 Track T have them!
The interior features a great looking engine-turned dash and Bell-style wheel along with great synthetic leather upholstery by Tommy Krish interiors.
The turtle deck appears abbreviated and it’s mounted high on the original steel T-Bucket body for just the right track roadster look.
The body is unchanneled and the frame is nicely tapered to follow the body lines as Bob Hamilton shows how to do in our StreetRod 101 Hot Rod Frame and Chassis DVD. What’s really cool are the neat louvered panels that cover the frame.
With a custom windshield frame for a nicely laid back look and a Model A grille shell, it’s all wrapped up in subtle DuPont base tan and PPG “flats” clear coat, applied by Al Stone.
The bugeye headlights are ’34 Ford and motivation is by a modern 350 GM small block. The front axle is a ’47 Ford half-ton pickup item, suspended with Posies quarter elliptic springs.
Roger Scott’s 1926 Dodge D-Bucket Roadster
I love unconventional power plants and the 270 cubic inch Dodge polysphere engine in Roger Scott’s bucket was built by Y-Block Guy, Tim McMaster. What else would you want to put in a D-Bucket?
The nostalgic looking upholstery and tonneau cover by Eduardo’s is awesome and perfectly complements the red paint finish by Marty Lebarr.
The wide whites and hubcaps complete the traditional look.
Just gotta’ love the Frenched in license plate and those cool taillights thanks to the work of Dan Sigl.
The chassis is by Mark Skipper, who knows a thing or two about traditional T’s as noted in our earlier story about his own. Of course, it features an early Dodge smiling front axle.
This is just the kind of car that made my trip to the Grand National Roadster Show 2016 such a worthwhile endeavor. But, there’s much more.
Larry McCullah’s 4-Cylinder Tub-T
The T-Bucket and Tub-T world is populated by many who like to march to a different drummer and Larry McCullah is one.
No “belly button” motor for Larry. Instead, he went with a modern take on a traditional theme. Larry’s tub is four-banger powered, but how about an Olds dual overhead cam Quad Four for something different — with some real punch.
Coming at ya’, Larry’s T is all tradition with a V8-60 style front axle and drum brakes.
The red wire wheels keep the traditional vibes going and the capped lakes plug exhaust is really a nice nostalgic element.
Larry’s build is also representative of what can be done on a modest budget, too. With the right parts and paint, chrome just isn’t necessary.
Of course it’s gotta’ have a quickchange center section and transverse rear spring to be as traditional looking going as coming.
John Geraghty “Grasshopper” Recreation by Dave Shuten
Of course, I had to visit the Galpin Autosports tent to once again lovingly look at Dave Shuten’s beautiful recreation of the late John Geraghty’s “Grasshopper”, the history of which I covered last year. You can read about it in the older story, but for now you can just feast your eyes on the incredible beauty of this T-bodied work of art>
David Yerger’s Full-Fendered ’27 T Roadster Pickup
Here’s one more fine example of the variety of different approaches to T building found at the Grand National Roadster Show 2016. With its full fenders and straight front axle, David Yerger’s 1927 T roadster looks like a gasser from the front.
It’s a nice blend of old and new because that late model steering column attaches to a rack and pinion steering assembly.
The coil-over-shock rear suspension is attached to a cool looking third member and the rear axle is running disc brakes as well.
In addition to the full fender look, David has chosen to shorten his pickup bed only to where it’s about even with the fenders and it has left plenty of room for actual storage.
Again, this proves you absolutely do not have to follow some rigid outline in building a T hot rod. Rather, by following your own likes and inspiration you’ll have the ingredients for a distinctive looking ride. After all, that’s what it’s about.
A Real T-Bucket on a Budget!
First off, my apologies to the owner of this bucket because I didn’t get his name. With the undropped I-beam front axle with wrapped spring mounted on top, rather than behind, you’ll note a nice tall spring perch on this T in order to get it closer to the ground in front. The disc brakes are a nice addition for safety.
Out back, the theme continues with a California-modified look having the fuel tank behind the bucket.
And a quickchange center section gives great visual appeal.
It’s an original steel body, but the interior has been left sparse and functional.
In my mind, this little T with those red wires shows how nice a modest 6-banger can look in one of these.
The original steel body is the truly unique feature here and you can see the holes in the firewall that were originally there for spark plug wires.
It just goes to show that at the Grand National Roadster Show 2016 it’s not all high dollar show cars. The outdoors car show includes every aspect of the sport.
Hey, we’re just getting started. So click here to see Part 2>
TBucketPlans.com originated in 2005 as a personal blog extolling the virtues of T-Buckets. In 2009 I blogged about Chester Greenhalgh, the "how to" genius who wrote the legendary, out-of-print “How to Build a T-Bucket Roadster for Under $3000”. That led to a friendship with Chester and our partnership in marketing the updated eBook version of his T-Bucket building bible. The T-Bucket fire burns stronger and stronger.
- The Steve Scott Uncertain T – Resurrected! - January 24, 2024
- Uncertain T Exposed! - January 24, 2024
- Y-Block Ford T-Bucket: Ted Kramer’s Snoopy Inspires Me - February 11, 2023
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Some great looking rides again! I never tire of seeing these. Love the front axle on the Dodge bucket. A friend here has a Dodge bucket but it has a Model A axle and a Model A front bumper. Kind of hokey looking but he bought it that way.
Thanks for the nice comments, Bill. Yep, I also like the Dodge smile front axles. Regularly kick myself because a few years ago I walked by a homemade dual axle trailer with two of them in a local scrap yard. Of well.
Keep these stories comin !!!
Thanks Jim. It’s followers like you and the many others who purchase our plans that allow us to continue to provide interesting and helpful T-Bucket hot rod content.