1923 Ford Model T

1923 Ford T Bucket Not many car people will fail to recognize the T Bucket's famous shape: open engine, open cockpit, upright windshield, and a stubby deck out back - all of which have been part of the formula since day one. The original Model T's of course, were produced from 1915 to 1927 and served as the platform for old school, early day hot rodding. Typically, they have a raked appearance that looks like excessive speed has pushed back every component on the frame along with staggered tires, lots of chrome, and an open bucket that is a feast for the eyes.   For consignment, a 1923 Ford T Bucket showing 12,405 miles, but the true miles are unknown. Chevrolet and Ford got together, (in someone's garage), to create this awesome street rod which has lots of newer parts and more eye candy than a Dua Lipa concert.  Exterior If you want to turn some heads, pull up to the car show in a T bucket. If you want to attract a crowd, paint it red and that's what we have here. A body and '32 Ford grille surround in Flame Red augmented by cowl lanterns and a tan canvas top connected to the upright windscreen and jutting upward to create headspace. The next thing you'll need to draw people like moths to a flame is chrome, and it's here in spades with the exposed suspension, side pipes, and the 15-inch Cragar SS wheels with staggered width tires no older than late 2019. The padded decklid is made of stitched tan vinyl to match the interior, as we'll learn and the bumperless tailgate wears blue dot tail lights. Imperfections include some chipping paint, rock chips, various scratches, cracking paint on a wheel opening, and some failing chrome plating on a wheel.  Interior The mottled tan vinyl returns to cover the inner doors and the padded bench seat that wraps around the back wall and all is in nice shape. From there, a four spoke wood rimmed steering wheel presents to the driver ahead of the wood faced dashboard housing a simple array of gauges with more perched on the cowl on the outside of the windscreen. Tan and brown loop carpet cover the floor where you'll find the Hurst shifter with an eyeball grip and a transverse mounted hand brake.   Drivetrain As much a part of the exterior as the red paint, the front houses a 327ci V8 from 1969, bored .030 over and with 9.5:1 compression, originally rated at 235 horsepower. It wears an Edelbrock AVS 4-barrel carburetor over an Edelbrock intake and is backed by a GM TH350 3-speed automatic that sends power to the Chevy rear end with 3.36 gears. A newer battery and starter are also onboard, along with Edelbrock finned valve covers. Polished headers leave the engine and drop dramatically to the chrome side pipes that trail back and point outwards at their terminus.   Undercarriage The underside is clean and dry and in places, a bit showy. The front axle, bracing, and transverse leaf springs are all polished metal while the suspension in back is less showy with coil springs and ladder bars being employed. Disc brakes are on front and drums on the back and the system benefits from newer wheel cylinders and master cylinder.   Drive-Ability The 327 comes to life and the entire mall knows it, so we roll it outside where the sound will be dissipated to the rural hillsides of Morgantown. This relatively light car would probably be fast with a four cylinder, so eight cans in front makes it easy to light it up and it scoots easily around the test loop. Fun and fast, this might not be the ride you take on long highway road trips, but it lives for cruise night! The simplicity of the build means less to go wrong and in fact, all functions operate as they should and we head back to the mall as quietly as possible. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase.  Cash in your T-bills for this T bucket, and you'll yield more short term and lo