Hot Rods I’m the new custodian of British built T bucket Shotgun

This car was built in 1971 by Glyn Dobinson. It was featured in many magazines and books and won loads of awards over the years. It even appeared in American Street Rodder in 1975.
I had first laid eyes on the car at the ‘77 Belle Vue Custom Car Show in Manchester. It took my breath away. Its big red Glowble Metalflake seared my eyeballs under the lights of that amazing indoor show.
I saw it again in ‘78 at the Norbreck Castle indoor show in Blackpool. It was amazing to see, but what happened next was something that made this teenager lose it.
Sometime following that, it was the summer of ‘78, my chronology is blurry now at the age of 60, I heard the rumble of a V8 and a La Cucaracha air horn. I looked out of the window and there was Shotgun with my next door neighbor, Keith McCormick driving it. He said “get in” and took me for an unforgettable spin. It was almost too much to take in.
Anyway, many years later, right here on the HAMB I got word that member El Swervo had bought the car and it remained virtually unchanged.
I couldn’t believe it, it still existed!!!! I commented on the thread he started that if he ever wanted to sell it to please call me.
Years went by, FB started, I kinda got off the HAMB, I was member 101, but I just lurked and perused the classifieds mostly.
I stayed in touch with Dave, aka El Swervo, and would ask him about Shotgun. He’d say he’s sell it but never committed.
I had pretty much given up on it happening and decided to built my British flavored T Bucket, Leaping Lizard, which I finished in 2020.
And here we are now, Dave finally did decide to sell it, and thankfully to me.
I picked up Shotgun from Jacksonville last Thursday with my son, Miles. I had forgotten my ID so he had to go inside to get it. He drove it and almost made it to where I was with the UHaul trailer but the front brakes locked up, as Dave said they would after about 15 minutes of driving. New brake hoses will fix that. Miles called me and said where he was. I drove the five minutes over to him. I didn’t spot him and then he said “turn around I’m standing up inside the car” and that’s when I saw it, 43 years later, Shotgun.
I really couldn’t believe it, there it was, it has a few dings and the chrome was no longer perfect, but the 60 coats of lacquer over that metalflake still shone despite the cracks.

I was a kid again.

Here are some pics of what is surely the greatest thing in my lifetime of messing with cars has led to.

The body of this car was hand beaten in steel by Glyn. He built the chassis, he built the tube axle and all the fittings. The rear control arms were gorgeous chrome round tube but have been replaced with these square tube things that aren’t very good looking. I intend to replicate the originals and put on some bias ply tires, other than than, she’s staying as she is.

The late 60s and early 70s was when hot rodding really took off in the UK, many a hot rod was built but most missed the mark, Shotgun did not, it looked great then, it still does to this day.

Sorry about being long winded, but I’m over the moon. Thank you Dave for making my dream come true.

 

Some more pics

 

Thanks Ryan. It's beyond belief. Dave owned it for 18 years and really preserved it

 

Some more

 

The top is long gone but it shouldn't be too hard to make.

 

I remember that one from the old mags I confiscated from my dad as a kid. Good score @Nads

 

Awesome score! I couldn't imagine actually owning a rodding icon from my youth. Seriously, major congratulations.

 

Cool car and even cooler story. Not too sure I'd enjoy steering from the passenger seat though, I imagine that would take more than a little getting used to.

 

Fuck yeah!

 

I built the green T deliberately right hand drive and have had no problems driving it. It just requires paying a little more attention .

 

Custom Car magazine was my education, to heck with school!!!

 

The green T has nearly identical proportions, and not the typical T bucket ones either, easy to see where the inspiration came from.

Is that the steering wheel the car had originally? It's pretty shocking the car survived that much intact. There was a long period where cars of this style were NOT well appreciated, making survivors from that era even more rare. Cool history too. I like the guy's outfit in his magazine spread, looks a little like Greg Brady.

 

You are sneaking up on Mark Moriaritys number of cool cars! Good for you!
It looks like there is a burned flesh mark on one of the headers...I remember as a kid seeing a T-Bucket outside the swimming pool where we went in the summer. The owner had just dropped off his girlfriend and the car instantly drew a crowd. The guy had just finished telling us to stay back "cause the headers are hot" and there was a blood curdling scream from one kids who leaned over and burned both thighs. It looked like a horror movie...the creeping flesh.
So , how are you going to decide which T-Bucket to pick for a drive?

 

Congrats, @Nads!

That thing looks like a lot of fun!

 

Miles will drive one and I’ll drive the other.

 

That’s my neighbor Keith. He moved to America a year before we did, he owns the Palm Springs Auto Auction.

 

The front wheels are first year production of Wolfrace wheels, they were introduced in 1971, the original name was Woolferace, they are 13” diameter.

 

Very stylish, Nads. Nice to see you posting again.

 

That's some hot rod goodness right there

 

Thanks Rocky.

 

I love it! Those slot mags rule!

 

The gentleman who built it, Glyn Dobinson, is now 84 years old. I’m astounded by the engineering in this car. It was built using many domestic parts, it seems he lived near a junkyard. In 1971 England there wasn’t much of an aftermarket, of course you could get parts from America but they were very expensive.
The more I look at this the more details pop out. The rear fender mounts are particularly ingenious.
It has Ford Cortina front discs and the Chevy rear end has Jaguar calipers mounted on hand made brackets.
The original early 283 Chevy engine was cracked and was replaced with another early one, I don’t know what year but I’ll research it from the numbers.

 

That is so cool Nads, and it looks like you got more room for a few more cars.

Lets see some photo's of you driving the car! . HRP

 

As soon as I replace the front brake hoses I'll take her for a spin.

 

Cool. Belle Vue in '77? I'd have been there. Not sure if I'd have seen it subsequently, but can't say for sure, and it looks like it was on uk roads until at least 2008, but so many cars are built, have some exposure and the disappear, or at least disappear from the national UK scene.

Chris

 

worth the hunt, and lots of patience, to get the deal done

 

Looks like you found a hero car, nads.
Cooper are one of the few making 13" old school Cobra style tires now.