This is a major update of my original post about David Gadberry’s “Low Bucket” T-Bucket from 2010. You’ll find oodles more great pics, plus you can hear David tell the story of how it all came about in our recent Hooked on T-Bucket Hot Rods Podcast episode at TBucketPodcast.com.
The December, 1996 issue of Hot Rod Magazine featured a story by the late Gray Baskerville titled, “Low Bucket — Doin’ a Fad-T for $2.94 a Pound!” After first reading it, I spent countless hours pouring over the three picture-filled pages accompanied by Baskerville’s always entertaining and informative commentary. While I’d been hooked on T-Buckets from around 1959, it wasn’t until four decades later that I had that slap-in-the-head moment when I confidently said to my self, “I can do that.”
What was striking about the Dave Gadberry T, after the 70s and 80s brass ornamental era was its utter simplicity: if it wasn’t absolutely necessary, then it didn’t have it! (Thanks to Hot Rod staffer Will Handzel, who chronicled the budget build of his own ’31 Ford roadster in the September through December 1995 issues, virgin ground had been broken to devote pages in that then-esteemed publication to hot rods that were more than merely “rough around the edges.”)
While there were some things about the Gadberry T-Bucket that I wasn’t crazy about, like the non-channeled body, overall it was a very cool low-budget hot rod that certainly appeared achievable by even someone possessing modest talent, tools and budget. By the way, the car was sold a number of times and, as I understand it, now resides on the East Coast and while it has had a few upgrades and changes it is still true to its low-buck hot rod ethos.
I must not be the only person who appreciated this T-Bucket build and Baskerville’s story. Evidently, it was reprinted in Hot Rod and can be read online almost in its entirety.
Of course, after getting to know David Gadberry he was kind enough to provide me with a treasure trove of additional cool pics of his Low Bucket that should serve as inspiration to anyone with budget T-Bucket hot rod aspirations.
To check out and be inspired even more by David Gadberry’s “Low Bucket” have fun scrolling through this cool gallery.
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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Man, I love this car. I fell in love with it when “Gas Pumper” owned it in Long Beach, CA. I spent countless hours studying it on the HAMB and I had him send me whatever detail pictures and info he could offer. I finally found this article on the Hot Rod website years ago and bookmarked it. I don’t know how many times I’ve visited this article. Over the course of the last number if years I’ve collected enough parts to build a tribute to the version with the full hood. Had I never seen this car, this is the car I would build anyway, but Gadberry nailed it and I gotta give credit where credit is due. I love these lakes mod inspired builds. I gotta finish my tall windshield car with a top first, but this is the car I really, really want to put on the road. All killer, no filler.
The “2X4″ frame is actually a ’28 Model A that was modified quite a lot…..actually took two frames to make one. The first was under a Roadster Pickup that raced at the CA Dry Lakes….a customer came in for a new fabricated frame and I got the cast-off…..the basis for the Low Bucket. It had a crude vertical rear crossmember for coil-overs that was scrapped, then the rear of a very rickety A was used to kick up the rear about 7”, fully boxed and welded. I specifically did not want a “suicide” front end…..I wanted a “Bucket” but with a more traditional suspension arrangement. And I wanted the car to have some “lakes modified” ques while still being a “Bucket”. I’m 6′ 1″ and wanted to sit down in the car as you relayed. It was started in 10/84 and I even toyed with painting the whole car monochromatic refrigerator white – like L’il John Buttera did on one of his cars. I was surrounded by traditional T Buckets, building and driving them at Specialty Cars…..for my own ride I wanted something different. BTW I bought the car back, and along with other projects am toying with it some. We keep breaking the rear-end so modern slide-in axles are next…..and it needs a LOT of love. #thegadberrylowbucket & #gadberrysgarage & #blackjackdeuce on Instagram…..
John, I really like the unchanneled body! A 2×4 rectangular tube frame might not be as pretty as a deuce frame, but it’s not that bad either. Skipping the channel job, IMHO looks great…more mechanical, and there is nothing wrong with looking at a well constructed frame and suspension components. The most discouraging thing about owning and driving a T bucket is the cramped cockpit. Anything you can do to make more room is a very good idea. Skipping installing a conventional automotive seat also helps (use just foam and upholstery Instead, and skip the metal seat framework). The Gadberry T is one of the more inspirational buckets ever built. It just screams, “I could build that”! Wish more were being built.
Also, wish someone would sell a proportionally enlarged T bucket body. Standard width, so it fits on normal width bucket frames, but a little longer and then proportionally taller. The longer for more leg room, the taller so you sit down in them more! I hate the “looks like you are going to fall out” look.
-Denny