1927 Ford Model T

1927 Ford Model T Roadster Norm Grabowski's take on the T-Bucket, built in 1957, is what most people today consider the definitive hot rod. Warner Brothers saw the car cruising around Southern California. They paid Grabowski the princely sum of $50 a day to borrow his car, which would serve as the signature ride of Edd Kookie Burns on their detective drama 77 Sunset Strip. The Kookie Kar, as it came to be known, quickly became a fan favorite, and helped to spread California hot rod style nationwide. For consignment, a 1927 Ford Model T roadster with a title verified 2,435 actual miles. A combination of steel, fiberglass, and aluminum make up the various panels. Built by New Jersey's Vince Lily, it's been owned by our consignor for 15 years who put it back together and added some modifications including a 9 rear with 4.11 gears and Positraction. Exterior Two stage Midnight Blue coats this roadster and we're talking deep paint here and in certain light, it can look black while other light brings out the navy blue and it's nicely applied. Once you've absorbed the beauty of the paint, the wheel set up is next to compete for your attention, stacking 15-inch Weld wheels with vastly different widths and tires sizes, creating that classic hot rod stance that's been a proven winner for about 80 years, here under fiberglass fenders connected by a steel running board. In back, the rectangular quartet of tail lights get your attention right before the massive meats grab your eyes as they peek from narrow fenders. Up front, the fiberglass '32 radiator shell looks perfectly at home next to the aluminum hood which connects seamlessly to the fiberglass body. A modest windscreen with nicely sculpted posts completes the exterior which shows no glaring imperfections. Interior Stitched Ivory vinyl is the palette of choice here, providing a nice contrast to the exterior and the bench is augmented with blue piping that delineates the pattern change to smooth. The three spoke steering wheel leads to the body matched dashboard, clean and straight and adorned with a row of Classic Instruments gauges. On the floor, an ivory vinyl boot wraps the B&M shifter over black loop carpet, all in nice shape, and the finished trunk includes a carpet covered gas tank. Drivetrain That fuel heads to the exposed 350ci ZZ1 V8 with aluminum heads, a Holley 4-barrel carburetor, GM aluminum intake, and coated headers, all ingredients of a recipe that develops 300 horsepower. It's mated to a TCI TH350 3-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the Ford 9 rear with 4.11 gears with Positraction. As an engine visible to the world, it's appropriately clean and showy! The car operates on a 12 volt system. Undercarriage Same here, clean and showy with glossy black paint and some polished components too. Dual exhaust takes in glasspack style mufflers before heading east and west to exit in front of the rear tires. Disc brakes are at all four wheels and suspension is a 4-bar with transverse leaf spring up front and leaf springs in back. Drive-Ability We've got a big engine in a light car with lots of power, but we also have tires that are 35 years old, so there will be no flogging today. The exhaust note is sweet and there's obvious power underfoot and how much wind you get in your hair is determined by your right foot. Meanwhile, all of the functions available in this sweet rod operate as intended and we return it to the mall where it probably won't be here long enough to collect dust. 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. Somehow the combination of '27 body, '28 fenders, and '32 front all work together beautifully. So does the combination of dark blue and light vinyl and as a bucket, the interior is as much part of the exterior as the paint. This is a fantastic build and for your refere