Scott Ellis’ Original Low Blow T-Bucket

Scott Ellis Low Blow 1923 Ford T-Bucket Hot Rod with Hemi Engine

After becoming enamored with Pip Biddlecomb’s “Low Blow” T-Bucket, I subsequently learned that Pip’s bucket was undoubtedly inspired by one built a decade earlier in California. How I learned that is another story that will be covered soon. For now, though, feast your eye’s on the original “Low Blow” T-Bucket built by Scott Ellis of Fresno, CA in the 1970s.

Scott Ellis Low Blow 1923 Ford T-Bucket Hot Rod with Hemi Engine

This mind-blowing bucket was first unleashed on the hot rod world on the cover of the November, 1977, issue of Hot Rod magazine.

Low Blow T-Bucket Hot Rod November 1977

However, if you were to have bought that issue of Hot Rod to see more of this hemi-powered bucket, you would have been somewhat disappointed because it only appeared in two pictures (one just a closeup of the blown hemi) in the magazine, both as part of coverage of the 1977 National Street Rod Association (NSRA) Street Rod and Street Machine Nationals held in St. Paul, MN.

Scott Ellis Low Blow 1923 Ford T-Bucket Hot Rod with Hemi Engine

I should mention that the late 70s were a strange era in hot rod history, with earthtone painted and crushed velvet upholstered “resto-rods” on the pre ’48 end of the scale and funny car inspired, hideous graphics “street freaks” dominating the late models end of things. With its blown hemi, wild flames and mean and low stance, Scott Ellis’ Low Blow T-Bucket stood out like crazy — in a crazy, good way!

Scott Ellis Low Blow 1923 Ford T-Bucket Hot Rod with Hemi Engine

Fortunately, the late Gray Baskerville was so impressed by Scott’s bad boy Low Blow T-Bucket that after returning to southern California he trecked up to Fresno for what was liberally titled a “rod test” that appeared in the February, 1978 issue of Hot Rod. Only then do you learn that the fiberglass T body was widened 8 inches in order to squeeze in needed foot room after allowing for the big Chrysler Torqueflite transmission sharing space with the two lucky passengers.

Scott Ellis Low Blow 1923 Ford T-Bucket Hot Rod with Hemi Engine

While Gray described the windshield as being no more than 6 inches tall, it looks more like 9 inches to me, but still presents a sinister look when the hinged-at-the-rear fiberglass flip top is closed after stepping into this “knee high” T.

Scott Ellis Low Blow 1923 Ford T-Bucket Hot Rod with Hemi Engine

Scott’s 426 hemi is no poseur. It was built by Art Whipple, who owned and tuned the famed “Revellution” Top Fuel Funny Car, driven by Ed “The Ace” McCulloch. Together, the famed Whipple & McCulloch AA/FC team won the 1970 NHRA US Nationals and NHRA 1971 Winter Nationals. Art continued his big, blown horsepower making ways by founding Whipple Superchargers.

Scott Ellis Low Blow 1923 Ford T-Bucket Hot Rod with Hemi Engine

In fact, starting Scott’s hot-T was very much a funny car exercise, which had to be done outside the car by squirting a shot of fuel mixture into the Hilborn injectors atop the 6-71 while pressing a special starter button conveniently mounted beside the injector barrel valve.

Scott Ellis Low Blow 1923 Ford T-Bucket Hot Rod with Hemi Engine

The 426 hemi itself was of 1966 vintage and Art Whipple built it with an Engle cam and Weiand blower manifold and drive, and it claimed a respectable 8-10 mpg back in ’78 when gasoline averaged 69 cents a gallon.

Scott Ellis Low Blow 1923 Ford T-Bucket Hot Rod with Hemi Engine

To give you an idea of how correctly named Scott’s Low Blow T-Bucket is, take a look at these comparison shots with the “Perfect” T-Bucket of fellow Fresnian, Skip.

Scott Ellis Low Blow 1923 Ford T-Bucket Hot Rod with Hemi Engine

With an overall height of 45 inches, the lowness of Scott’s T is evident here, as is its widened body and dropped Model A front axle with Hurst/Airheart disc brakes.

Scott Ellis Low Blow 1923 Ford T-Bucket Hot Rod with Hemi Engine

Scott’s T is not only low, but in order to better control all that hemi horsepower also long, with a 118 inch wheelbase and overall car length of 143 inches.

Scott Ellis Low Blow 1923 Ford T-Bucket Hot Rod with Hemi Engine

Low Blow’s chassis was constructed by Scott in his garage from 2×3 0.120 wall mild steel tubing that was specially contoured to the widened T body.

Scott Ellis Low Blow 1923 Ford T-Bucket Hot Rod with Hemi Engine

The rear end is an Olds of 1972 vintage suspended by Olds station wagon coil springs.

Scott Ellis Low Blow T-Bucket Hot Rod

Tru-Spoke wire wheels are used front and rear with skinny Pirelli front tires and giant Goodrich’s on the rear.

Scott Ellis Low Blow T-Bucket Hot Rod

Construction of Low Blow took Scott some 8 months with an expenditure of some $15,000, the bulk of which would have gone into the beautiful brutish hemi engine.

Scott Ellis Low Blow T-Bucket Hot Rod

As for the Hot Rod magazine “rod test” about all it covered was the fact that at 80 mph in Scott’s 2450 pound bucket, the hemi was just loafing and that a simple press of the throttle would break the tires loose at just about any speed.

Scott Ellis Low Blow T-Bucket Hot Rod

With such a distinctive profile, it’s no wonder that Pip Biddlecombe was inspired to produce his own version of this highly successful formula developed by Scott Ellis.

Scott Ellis Low Blow T-Bucket Hot Rod

It’s my understanding that Scott still owns Low Blow which, in my opinion, is one of the legendary T-Buckets.

Low Blow Hemi Powered T-Bucket by Scott Ellis

Wherever this car went, and no matter what kind of other machinery it may have been surrounded by it has a huge impact on everyone that saw it. Take a look at the little kid below covering his mouth as if he’d just exclaimed, “Oh, my …!”

Low Blow T-Bucket by Scott Ellis Fresno

Even the most jaded of observers were left slack-jawed in admiration. I’ve subsequently been in contact with Scott and hope to do a nice follow up story when I have a chance to personally connect with him.

Low Blow T-Bucket Updates

3/20/2011 Update: Because I truly can’t get enough of this fabulous T, I wanted to add a few more pics. Although they’re on the grainy side, they do offer some interesting different perspectives. Enjoy.

Scott Ellis Low Blow T-Bucket
Scott Ellis Low Blow T-Bucket
Scott Ellis Low Blow T-Bucket
Scott Ellis Low Blow T-Bucket

2/21/18 Update: Thanks to hot rod photographer Sherm Porter, here’s some evidence that Scott Ellis was enjoying Low Blow last year. 40 years since it was first built and it looks every bit as awesomely dramatic today!

Low Blow T-Bucket Scott Ellis

John Morehead
Follow me
Latest posts by John Morehead (see all)

12 thoughts on “Scott Ellis’ Original Low Blow T-Bucket”

  1. Washing my car on Spruce/Clovis Ave, when I heard what sounded like a top fuel dragster out in the street.
    Low and behold, it was “Low Blow” out cruising. The flip up top and flame job was the dead giveaway to a beast I’ve seen my whole life in and around Fresno. I’m 70 years old and that blown Hemi is still music to my ears…..
    -Doug

    Reply
  2. Not only an extremely well thought out, engineered and a perfectly executed build, the visual is absolutely stupefying !! This car IMHO, is the “California Kid” of T-Buckets. Every bit as iconic as the ‘Kid’. Thank you Scott Ellis for YOUR vision of what a Hot Rod is.

    Reply
  3. I was there at the NATS….just a drooling teenager,,,,Scott unloaded the Low blow and I was hooked. he actually gave me a ride across the parking lot. Later that night in downtown St Paul,,,he cruised the strip. Folks were in awe. Action stopped when the car came thru. it was a HIT.. That NSRA nats will live on in my mind as the best of the best. The action was WILD in the streets. Still a fan of smokey burnouts and large Hp toys. Low blow is my all time favorite hot rod

    Reply
  4. I’m sure the Scott Ellis “Low Blow” was at the NSRA nationals in St. Paul…….sure was a slick HOT ROD!
    -Dennis

    Reply

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.