Geoff's 1917 Ford T-Bucket

Yep, you read that intro correctly. What you're looking at here is this vehicle's third restoration. It's credit to Geoff's determination to have his vehicles produced to the best possible standard that he's undertaken to have the vehicle professionally attended to on three occasions, with the result being that this T-bucket drives as good as it looks.

 

The love of rods runs pretty deep with Geoff. Apart from this car, a '32 Ford is waiting patiently for its restoration, but it's in the queue behind a '37 Packard that is Geoff's current focus.

 

Geoff's desire for a T-bucket came from 60s TV program '77 Sunset Strip' and the vehicle driven by "Kookie" in the show. The 'Kookie Kar', also known as the 'Grabowski T' for its original creator, Norm Grabowski, arguably kicked off the whole T-bucket phenomenon, and inspired countless numbers of enthusiasts, like Geoff, to buy or build their own custom rod in the same style.

 

It took nearly two decades, but finally Geoff acted on that desire for a T-bucket, purchasing a rough and ready vehicle in 1985. Able to trace some of its history, Geoff found details for one previous owner in Bunyip in rural Gippsland, but believes the car was originally built in the early 1960s.

 

When purchased, the bucket featured a fibreglass copy of a 1917 Model T body, finished in pea green with virtually no chrome. The car was running Mickey Thompson rear slicks, along with home-made suspension built around a '56 Ford Mainline ute diff. This combination made it a real handful to drive, "unsafe at any legal speed," joked Geoff, so the first resto was undertaken in 1989.

 

Thanks to contacts made through membership of the Thunderbirds Rod & Custom Club, resto #1 involved keeping the distinctive Mickey Thompson rubber, but replacing the rear suspension with a complete custom made set-up. A respray in Navy Blue and addition of a hood for weather protection saw the T-bucket fit for service again. Geoff put all its rebuilt parts to the test soon after, taking the car to the 10th ASRF Street Rod Nationals, held in Canberra in 1990.

 

Three years later, Geoff decided another, more comprehensive rebuild was needed. For resto #2, he entrusted the work to Colin Bates in Croydon, VIC. Colin was given the brief of creating a hot rod authentic to the early 1960s-era when these vehicles were at their initial peak of popularity. That meant no billet, no modern engines and no late model parts wherever possible.

 

It was a challenge Colin duly rose to, starting by replacing the original chassis with a new, upgraded unit, and junking the original Mainline rear axle in favour of a Customline rear axle with an early Ford transverse leaf spring.

 

Other touches in the 12-month long project included completely new wiring, new gauges, custom-built wheels (using 1956 Ford centres), upgraded front suspension, rebuilt front transverse spring, VW Kombi steering box, custom-built aluminium fuel tank and new, double-thickness radiator core to better cool that 272 Y-block.

 

One of the few parts retained, the 272 was nonetheless completely rebuilt, with all-new pistons and crankshaft, amongst other features, while the top end was given a suitable period appearance update in the form of an Offenhauser inlet manifold and trio of Stromberg carbies. A milled head and three quarter race camshaft completed the engine overhaul.

 

The exhaust system was custom fabricated by Colin, with the distinctive 4-into-1 layout on each side featuring mufflers that, despite their Lakes Pipes appearance, actually run very quiet.

 

The Ford C2 auto transmission and Customline drum brakes (believed to have come from the same car that provided the engine) were also retained, but the Holden steering column was replaced with a unit milled by Colin.

 

Neat additions that suit the car's overall appearance and tap into its heritage include an original Boyce Motometer thermostat for the radiator and period rear indicator lights, but the cleverest touches are the genuine C1917 Ford acetylene lamps, which Colin converted to electric operation for the tail lights. Headlamps came from an MG TD, while an Austin A30 donated its parking lamps for the front indicators.

 

Those indicators actually sit atop cycle guards made out of the spare wheel covers from a '39 Packard, as Geoff said they had the right shape and central bead that he was looking for. A nice pair of brass, veteran-era lamps were planned in place of the MG lights, but Geoff had to eventually shelve this idea.

 

Inside, the distinctive solid timber dash that was on the car when purchased was retained, but all-new upholstery and carpets were fitted. The hood from resto #1 was removed, as Geoff said it made for noisy driving, and besides, the car looked better open.

 

A respray in Honda Red, which included the fibreglass tub, frame, cycle guards, wheels, front & rear axles, selected steering and suspension parts, and even the steering wheel hub, completed the package, with some nice finishing touches including the whitewall Firestones and 'Ford logo' footplates.

 

Suffice to say, the finished result of Colin's work looks the goods; bloody good we reckon! The car made an impression at the 1995 Victorian Hot Rod Show, where it scored a runner-up trophy in its class, but this turned out to be its one and only show appearance. Since then, the bucket has been used very sparingly, racking up only 5,000kms since resto #2 was completed in 1994.

 

More recently, a relocation into smaller premises, along with the attention and money being demanded by the Packard restoration, has led Geoff to seriously consider selling the T-bucket. With this in mind, it was taken to Steve Blatt at American Car Parts for resto #3. This was a comprehensive tear down and rebuild, with a view to making sure everything that had settled and seized during the car's long period in storage was now mechanically renewed and safe for any prospective purchaser.

 

Steve and his automotive manager Andrew also attended to niggles with the vehicle's starting by fitting a new starter motor, along with a fuel line clean out and upgrade of the brakes to a safer split system with separate master cylinder and new stainless steel lines throughout.

 

The work that Steve has recently completed has presented a new problem; now that the T-bucket is tip-top, Geoff says he wants to hang on to the car and take it driving again!

 

For the right money, we reckon Geoff could be persuaded to part with this striking, old-school styled T-bucket. So, if you think you've got the "right" amount - offers around $59,500 will be seriously considered - for this more-than-right classic hot rod, see the full advert and contact details here.

 

 

 

Make & Model: 1917 Model T Ford (replica body, custom chassis)

Engine: Ford 272ci 'Y-block' V8 (from 1956 Customline) with ¾ race cam, Offenhauser inlet manifold and 3 x Stromberg carburettors

Trans: Ford C2 (Ford-O-Matic) 2-speed auto (from 1956 Customline)

Rear End: Ford Customline 8-inch hypoid diff

Front Suspension: Ford four bar and transverse leaf spring with Hillman shock absorbers

Rear Suspension: Ford transverse leaf spring

Fuel Tank: Hand-made aluminium drum

Brakes: 1956 Customline 11-inch drums Fr/Rr

Wheels: Custom 15-inch, with 1956 Ford Customline centres

Tyres: Firestone whitewalls

Exterior: Honda Red paint, grey-painted leaf springs with red coachlines

Headlights/Front Indicators: 1952 MG TD/1956 Austin A30

Tail lights/Rear Indicators: Original 1917 Ford Model T/1919 Rugby

Interior: Grey tuck & roll vinyl seat upholstery and door trims, dark blue carpet, solid timber dash, custom steering column, timber-rimmed steering wheel, VDO vintage gauges

 

Thanks to: Thunderbirds Rod & Custom Club, Colin Bates, Steve Blatt - American Car Parts