With Halloween tonight, it’s time to revive the most fun T-Bucket Halloween Hot Rod post we have.
The old joke goes, “Doctor, doctor, I’m so ugly. What can I do about it?
Hire yourself out for Halloween parties.”
(Originally posted January 15, 2011) OK, guys and gals. If you’ve always wanted to be the star of the Halloween Parade, scare small children, incite chasing dogs and draw gape-mouthed stares at every car show and cruise you attend then you missed your chance when this Halloween hot rod was listed on eBay with a “buy it now” for only twelve grand!?
(Hey, we’ve already brought you Santa’s T-Bucket Hot Rod Sleigh coverage, so we’ll continue our holiday-themed T-Bucket coverage — anybody got a turkey-bucket)?
In all fairness, either this Halloween hot rod was inspired by some creative artwork or vice-versa.
With its Jack-O-Lantern headlights, this T-Bucket based (check out the T grille shell) Halloween hot rod curiosity features a “one of a kind” (no duh) fiberglass body and if there was ever a car to win the Shriner’s Choice Award, this is it — and it did.
While the eBay listing was titled as a “1927 Ford Model T-Bucket”, I’d say it’s more ’23 based but arguing that seems a moot point.
Powered by a 302 Ford, I have to wonder why the builder didn’t choose the Chevy small block, since they’re pumpkin orange to begin with! 😉
The orange-tinted, pumpkin-shaped windshield is a creative touch but that dash features a 160 mph speedo, which presents its own spooky visions given the lack of front brakes.
And, yes, it’s just as frightening-looking going as coming.
1/21/11 Update: Looks like the highest bid was almost $10k short of the $12k asking price, so it was a no sale. But if you’re a Halloween fan, don’t despair because the Pumpkin T was relisted on eBay and may have sold. If you know its whereabouts, please let us know. We’d love to expand this post with more info on how it was built, how it rides, and what this Halloween hot rod is up to this spooky season.
10/27/15 Update: Just because we like to keep improving on our past posts we wanted to add another Halloween Hot Rod that might be more in line with you C-Cab fans.
Dig that chromed tubular front axle with disc brakes and the vertical steering column in the narrow cab.
And it is a true hot rod, judging by the use of a Corvette independent rear suspension.
If someone wanted to build something like this it wouldn’t be that hard to do because they could construct the custom fiberglass body themselves using the techniques covered in the cool “Build a Custom Fiberglass Body at Home” DVD set at our sister site, HotRodPlans.com.
This one can be found at Pumpkintown USA in East Hampton, CT.
Happy Halloween Hot Rodding!
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.
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The Pumpkintown Rod is somewhat similar to the “Roach Coach” from Roach t Shirts.
Some time ago, maybe a year or two, there was a post about a T Bucket body built in Africa? or some other place where you wouldn’t normally find a T body. The builder/owner made the body out of straight sheet metal panels and hand formed them to look like a T Bucket. I remember it really looked pretty neat and would like to find some information on the post. I have looked everywhere I can think of. If anyone remembers this post please let me know or repost it or send me a link.
Thanks, Ron Henningsen owner of the Dave Bell flamed 27 T Roadster “Ronster”
Thanks for asking, Ron. That would be our story about Marius Mouton’s fabricated steel T-Bucket body in South Africa http://www.tbucketplans.com/t-bucket-steel-body-fabricated/
HI FANS IM RICHARD DeVIER AND I BUILT THE GREAT PUMPKIN. YES IT DID SALE TO A GENTLMAN IN PA. IT WAS A GREAT CAR AND DROVE ALSOME. THE 302 WAS OUT OF A POLICE CAR (AND YES IT WOULD DO THE 160MPH IN THE LTD ) I HAD IT TO 110MPH IN THE T.
IT WAS ALL HAND LAID GLASS 25YDS MOPED WITH 12GLS OF RESIN TOOK A YEAR TO FINESH MOST FUN I’VE HAD IN YEARS. AS FOR THE 302 IN PLACE OF A SBC I LIKE TO GET HOME HA HA. I BUILT THE CAR IN MY SHOP (Sir Richard’s Rods) IN N.C. SHOWED IT F0R 2YEARS AT SCHOOLS AND CAR SHOWS. WOULD LOVE TO GO INTO MORE DETAILS BUT HAVE TO RUN FOR NOW THANKS FOR THE POST.
Wow! Thanks for letting us know, Richard. Your Pumpkin T gets a lot of attention here every October. Hey, if you have more photos (even under construction) that you’d care to share I’d love to do an update story on your creative T. Hope to hear back from you soon. john@tbucketplans.com
Saw your pumpkin car in Morgantown, PA. It was in a storage facility with a huge collection of cars. Don’t know who owns it now but as of this past weekend it was in Morgantown, PA
just seen your pictures on the Dragula and Santas sleigh t bucket (wild) keep up the great work keep the pictures coming. regards Pierre pierregodin6@gmail.com
Thanks Pierre. Yes, they’re pretty unconventional T-Buckets but that’s what it’s all about and why T-Buckets are so fascinating: they provide the basis for letting your hot rod creativity run wild!
i think the owner lives in PA the was at the Noerth East custom car show at Oaks 3 times
Thanks Wayne. Hopefully somebody will let him know that we’d love to learn more about how it all came together so that we can expand the story because every year about this time it’s of much interest.