I am curious has anyone here turned a t bucket into a roaster pickup? Now I am not talking about a tbucket with a 14" or 16" bed I mean some thing more like a 4' or 4 1/2' bed? Please post pictures looking for some inspiration for my new project!!
Those were popular 'back in the day', when rodders were Roadster and Dry Lakes crazy. It was usually a stripped-down 'T' roadster pickup, with a stock 4' bed. Four banger usually, then some with Model A running gear and 'A' 4 banger or flathead V8. I recall a HRM writeup on 'hot rodded' roadster pickups, title escapes me now...something about 'Haulers'. The article raved about the scarcity of 'hot rod trucks', most being straight roadsters. The idea is cool, but if you are 'setting one up', note the profile. A 'T' roadster pickup w/o fenders will look long and 'skinny'. Put it atop 'A', early Chevy', or '32 rails and it gets more presentable. The long bed just draws it out too much. (the stock R/PUs had aprons over the sides, with fenders. Get a 1/25 scale model of the 'T' roadster. Parts inside to do either one, 'T' roadster or roadster pickup. Bash the kit as you would the real thing. When you are familiar with the 'fit and position' of the bed/body (height of bed comes into play!) then go outside to your new body! Set it up like the model. Raise or lower the bed 'til it has 'proportion'. Now... Move the rear wheels back a little, extending the wheelbase. Leave a little bed showing behind the tire profile. The 'look' is quite easy to attain, if you can set it up outside...Gives better perspective. With the resurgence of vintage hot rods, there have been a few 'long beds'...Neat stuff, as you can USE the rod as a 'truck'. Don't haul anything in California without commercial license plates, though. Big fat ticket!
Interesting concept. I had a 27 with a stock bed shortened a foot, looked good but a 23, hmm, don't recall seeing one. Don't see why not as long as as it's not set up lick a normal 23 "T bucket" with the body sitting way back from the front axle. Look too wierd with that long a wheel base. ??? What, you can't haul anything in a personal truck in California?
Run it through that photoshop thread, I did a photoshop on mine years ago but it was on my old computer.
This guy's here on the HAMB. Can't remember his name. A few of my WEESNER favorites. And a vintage shot from the lakes.
The tourer front halves like this one make better roadster pickups than the factory set up. I think it's the squared off seat back that does it.
My RPU started life as a touring cowl and doors. I built the back of the body and the bed which is 36 " long. With that being said, my car is not a T Bucket car. It's a T inspired hot rod pure and simple.
I love them all, but I hope you have short legs. If not, you should really sit in a T before you start spending money.
Just purchased a "T" RPU and I'm planning on building it in the fashion of the Weesner drawings. Gonna run a V-6 Chevy for power.
I am 6'. There has been lots of time spent trying to figure out seating position, pedal placement, steering column, and on and on. Even harder as I want to sit in it and not on it. I actually found a bellhousing with a right sided throwout fork from a 60-62 chevy with the hydraulic clutch, and the parking brake lever will be in the passenger side kick panel. Packaging is a very difficult thing with such limited space.
I've always lusted after the Don Hentzell T, but never realized it sat on a '32 frame. Thanks for the Kustomrama link Gofannon. -Dave
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