Lightnin’ Bug’s TV Debut…

It’s easy to argue that Norm Grabowski’s Kookie Kar is the most iconic T Bucket of all time. A large part of the car’s notoriety was derived from being the vehicular star of ’77 Sunset Strip’.  What’s probably lesser known is the TV debut of Norm’s car when the little black hot rod was still known as the Lightnin’ Bug. Fresh from it’s cover car appearance in the October 1955 issue of Hot Rod magazine, the striking little T was noticed by some casting agents and offered a starring role in Ford Television Theatre’s series “Mr. Kagle and the Babysitter.” As is common in cars used on set, Norm’s Bug was slightly damaged, and the studio offered to pay for the repairs. This inciting incident actually push Grabowski into making two decisions- First, to be the only guy to operate his vehicle on the set of future TV shows or movies, and that the Lightnin’ Bug was ready for a fresh look, which would lead to the total transformation into the Kookie Kar. If you think about it, “Mr. Kagle and the Babysitter” created the tipping point for Norm to make the famous T Bucket and launch his own acting career!

Here’s a August 1956 Rod & Custom story on just how Lightnin’ Bug came to that TV fame: