Projects 23 T, been sitting, preserve "Patina" or refurbish?

Buddy of mine just bought a 23 T Bucket at a charity auction.
Appears to be 283 or 327 SBC powered.
Formerly owned by a Jason Whitlark of San Mateo, CA.
Anyone know this car?

Seems to have been sitting a while, may be an estate donation.
Chrome parts have gotten some "Patina" that most folk would call light rust.
Aluminum valve covers are dull.
Black with fairly extensive pin-striping, paint will be kept.
Looks pretty old school, hoping to find a signature.

Fenders are steel and we think the body may be steel as well. Full height windshield, folding top, opening doors, four fenders, front disc brakes, cushy looking diamond tuck seats.
Too bad about the auto trans.
But as Buckets go this one is probably more practical to drive than a lot of them.

Pics once he gets it home so I may take them.

 

Considering that there are literally thousands of shiny, chromey T Buckets out there, driving an honest patina'd barn find would be quite a novelty. I'd say go through it mechanically, make it safe...and drive the shit out of it the way it is.

Sure would like to see pics of it

 

Full fendered. Sounds interesting.

 

Cant make a vote without a pic

 

Going by the photos....oh, forget that.....I think maybe clean it up, polish the old chrome and aluminum and see how she looks first. If its ugly, rebuild her.

 

Better pics later when it is off the trailer.
It did drive on to the trailer.
Brian had a bit of an issue getting it into gear, seems it has some sort of "You have to push down" shifter in it and a torque converter that does not do "Creep along"!
He was told Corvette engine, I recall when every "Hot Rod" had a "Corvette!" engine in it, LOL.
I will get numbers for the truth.
Brian is looking to replace and re-plate as some of the chrome is coming off in strips.
I have convinced him to keep the paint.
Still hoping someone here may know this car.
From what we can find it so far was built in the 60's.
Once he finishes the move to SC this will be a daily driver, the bed has space for groceries.

 

That is a true late 60s early 70s built car. T70R rear wheels and magnesium spindle mounts up front.....cool!!! Clean it a little and drive it. Nice find.

 

I'd vote for a simple clean up and then drive and enjoy it, I know I would.

 

I wouldn’t change much on it.

clean it, make it safe and drive the wheels off it !!

 

Looks like one of "Andy's Instant "T" kits, the buyer did good.

 

Just do a good clean up and polish and use it as is.

 

She's an Andy's Instant T !

 

Good eye, Marty

 

It doesn't have to be all or nothing.

The pieces that the chrome's peeling, replate. Clean up the rest.

That car's not my taste but I feel like you'd be devaluing it by making any major changes. It's only a survivor once.

 

I believe Andy used Steve Archer bodies. I bet Roy would have bought it, if he had known it was being sold.

 

Just out of curiosity, what would have been the fair maximum to bid for this one?
Runs and drives but needs TLC due to sitting.
Not for sale, no plan to sell later.

 

^^^^
This!

 

Give it a bath
Give it some gas
And haul (you know)

 

Oh man that is sweet!! Change only what he's gotta to get it safe.

 

Poking around the 'Web it seems a lot of these "Instant T" cars have known histories.
Really hoping someone recognizes this one.
How would we confirm it as a Brizio built car or not?

 

x2

 

Wow! I wouldn't change a thing.

 

Yep, a simple spit shine, clean up, and make safe and drive it!!

Sorry but I'm kinda expecting the driver to have a beetle's hair cut and bell bottom jeans !

Definitely a cool survivor

 

So, how to clean up the valve covers without going too far?
Somebody told Brian they are 'Vette covers but I don't think so.
Prefer to not have to remove them if possible, at least not right away.

Headlamp shells will need replacing but are not expensive.

 

Not Vette valve covers, just use Mothers mag polish and lots of old soft socks. The headlights probably are real Deitz and should be replaced with the same if you need to. Personally I'd just wash everything, and polish it all with Mothers if you need to get crazy.

 

That truly is patina or it will be once he hand polishes the valve covers and headers and puts a wax job on the body.
I've said it times over before, To me "patina" isn't letting one look neglected, Patina is like your cowboy uncle's favorite saddle that he has had for the past 30 years and cleans and saddle soaps it on a regular basis and then rubs in his choice of leather conditioner to preserve it. It has scars and shows a bit of wear but is very obviously well cared for.
I wouldn't leave it alone but just do what most of us would do after the car had been sitting over the winter. clean and polish up the valve covers by hand and polish the chrome including headers and spiff up the rest of it and call it good and drive it for the season. That way he can drive it for a while and decide what he likes and doesn't like.

 

Use Simi-chrome polish on them, little bit at a time, what you can reach w/your fingers. Messy as in will turn your fingers black, rags too, but covers will shine. Mothers makes a good Al polish too. Hand paint 'twixt the fins iffen you like that look. T looks nice, like the Instant T look. Ooops, I type slow.
Marcus...

 

It is already insured and will be on the road very soon!
Maybe I can get him to bring it out to HAN in some manner.
But I don't think he is big on waiting in lines all day or huge crowds.

 

That looks nice! As others have said, just fix the worst stuff and enjoy it. I am not a big T-Bucket fan, but I like that one.