The T-bucket is one of the most enduring and endearing styles in all of hot rodding. Generally acknowledged to be the creation of Norm Grabowski in the 1950s, -buckets are the essence of the hot rod: big engine, ig tires, nd a minimalist body to keep weight to a bare minimum. The idea has always been that the T-bucket was built from scavenged parts, ut many of them, uch as this 1923 Model T roadster, ust look too well-finished to be junkyard dogs.The shape is archetypal T-bucket, ith the tall, ertical windshield and stubby pickup truck bed out back. Nobody's really sure how that came to be, ince Ford pickups never looked like this, ut today it's the accepted style of the T-bucket and it just looks right. We don't know when this one was built, ut it was a while ago, o it has a proper old-school look that you'll find appealing. The paint is an appealing raspberry red, hich is a nice change from either the primer black that has recently come back into fashion, r the excessively metallic hues that characterized T-buckets of the '60s and '70s. In fact, ust about everything on the car was bathed in that burgundy paint, rom the frame and most of the suspension, lthough the hand-crafted oak bed out back is a nice touch that warms up the overall look. The traditional Model T radiator shell is chrome, s are the headers and side pipes, o there's just enough flash to make it really pop.In their back-to-basics style, any T-buckets had bare interiors with nothing more than a blanket for upholstery and if you were lucky, aybe an oil pressure gauge. Not so here, here there's two-tone vinyl and a full array of gauges keeping an eye on the small block up front. Stitched up in traditional pleats, he seats are nicely done, nd this one even features a custom-tailored carpet set. The doors, f course, re simply for show, ecause no true T-bucket driver does anything other than hop over the sides and hit the road, ut the passenger's side does open and has been finished with a proper inner panel. And as I mentioned, he dashboard is custom made and offers a complete array of vintage-looking Auto Meter gauges.The engine is a 350 cubic inch Chevy V8 topped by an old-school style Offenhauser tunnel ram with dual quads up top. The block is black, erhaps to keep it in the background visually, r perhaps in contrast to the red body, ut either way, t looks really good. Chrome dress up includes the air cleaners and Edelbrock valve covers, nd the headers are exactly what every T-bucket wears: long tubes blowing through massive side pipes. This one is happy to run all day on pump gas, nd stays cool thanks to a custom radiator stuffed inside the Model T frame. The transmission is a quick-shifting TH350 3-speed automatic feeding an unusual mid-year Corvette independent rear end with custom ladder bars keeping it in line. Up front, transverse leaf spring supports a traditional tube axle with disc brakes. And the only rolling stock you can put on a T-bucket are skinnies up front and massive meats out back; in the case of this car, hey're 215/60/15s in front and gigantic 295/50/15 Kelly radials on shiny chrome wheels.T-buckets are as popular today as they ever were, nd their combination of outrageous looks and potent performance makes them a real party to drive. Anywhere you go in a T-bucket you'll make friends, nd the nostalgia alone is worth the price of admission. Call today!