Projects A Track T Anthony Myrick Wouldn't Drive?

I'd take Royal up on that blue beauty for $13k.

IMHO $14k for that plasticity looking thing is a bit steep.

 

3 pedal flattie bucket T is a beauty; I think a deal at $13k if that is the number. Wasn't that easy to find her in the classifieds. Did a Google image search and it points to two listings, neither of which I can search/find. Even using the title verbatim. Search function is malfunctioning. Not deterred, I went to @Royalshifter profile page/threads and found it. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/1923-t-bucket-3-pedal-hot-rod.1337288/ get 'er while she's still listed!!

Never have I ever considered a T, particularly a T bucket. Don't know why, just doesn't suit my eye. Track T though, does have a certain appeal. I guess at $14k asking it isn't as low as I perceived. Maybe I'm using the wrong, bone stock but nice Model A coupe prices. Seem really attractive.
I was thinking, - damn, even if the SBC isn't the ubiquitous Vette engine (how could that possibly be???) but just a run of the mill indeterminate small block, and it's a lowly Speedway kit. But yes, and thank you trevorsworth (next post) excellent comparison data.

All that said, somebody buy the blue beauty. Back to the street roddy TT, I do like the waning hours of the swap meet mentality. I like it, but I don't like it THAT much. All I gotta do is sell two of the running cars that sit sit sit and maybe one of the project cars. Oh, and get my kid to take his Bronco the fugg wit him...

 

Speedway has made the T bucket extremely available. A patient and frugal guy doing his own work could probably build one like that (or better, really, in a lot of ways) for under 7k. If you had to have everything now I think you could do it for under 13k. And yeah... ditch the track nose... not a lot of cars can pull it off.

I just checked and Speedway has a glass 26/27 T they will ship to your door with a Z'd and boxed frame, full suspension, dropped front axle with spindles and a 9" rear axle housing for $5700. That's a pretty damn good deal and looks real nice compared to the notion of spending $14k on a "finished" car just to throw half of it away and repaint it anyway. Lol

 

Granted its BAT, but just for reference...
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1929-ford-model-a-217/
$10.5k for a trad T with a few go fast goodies.

 

Does that affect it's worth ?

 

Are you not valuing the builders time or the delay by DIY ?

 

I figure the guy that's considering buying a finished car and stripping it down isn't planning to pay someone else to do it. If so he's got deep enough pockets to do it either way.

Honestly you might still be $$$ ahead having a builder assemble a Speedway kit compared to paying them to decontaminate a street rod... I have a customer's pretty nice T-bucket in the shop right now and the time we're taking fixing the last guy's BS is piling up quick. I am basically giving him free hours at this point because I feel bad.

 

Took me forever to sell this. Eventually got 12,500. Mercruiser, 350, and a volvo rear. I thought it was a cool little track T. Glass body tho but the paint is super cool and so was the pinstriping. Its definitely a buyers market, I wouldnt pay over 6k for that T, but Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Gordy

 

Yep. It’s priced 2X what it’s probably worth.

 

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Delu...it-w-Deluxe-Body-Unchanneled-Floor,43695.html

 

That steering tie rod is not only way, way out front, but it's got a huge dip in it to clear the grille, just begging to get bent on something. Anyone who would engineer that into the suspension would probably do all kinds of other questionable shit. We're assuming that it is fully functional and sorted and that all you'd have to change is aesthetic stuff, but I'd bet that is not the case. My bet is the rest of the suspension is an engineering/geometry nightmare. At best, it's a bunch of assembled aftermarket bits, which does not fill me with confidence either.

 

Hello,

The paint is really nice and deep. The nose would be the first to go. Put the original grille back on and minimal paint required. As for the headlights, easy replacement. The rest of the set up the even proportion headers with the level collectors are some details a lot of roadsters add on, but forget the style lines.

As far as the wheels, the wide rears could use some new rims and definitely the narrow front tires are ok, but those solid discs are street machine type. They can be sold for those that still want an 80s look on their hot rods or sedans. Since it does not have a supercharger or injectors, there is no need for a fake injector hood scoop, but a nice filtered air cleaner that works.
a little bit of old style plus new traditional upgrades
Jnaki

If the price is so low, it might be a bargain for someone. You did not mention what the price is, so if it is too high, the cost of those repairs/replacements may be out of reach for some. An open roadster for daily driving or just trips down to the ocean for a great relaxing view. We could see that happening with the different modifications to make that bulbous nose roadster a cool hot rod. If we had a third car garage, it would be tempting to get and modify, for a couple of old hot rod folks cruising around, today. YRMV

Even our college age granddaughter is now seeing the fun in flames and want me to outline some flames on her daily driver… ha! But, I got her an original design “ flame” t-shirt to mellow out the urges. Would she ride around in this open roadster with flames? You bet… would she drive it to work and play? Yup!

 

I watch'd it for quite awhile. thought it had a cool look sitting there... just couldn't get my self to pull the trigger... good on you to get it sold...

 

Fiberglass is a huge turn off. I didnt realize how much so until I tried to sell that car. I dont mind glass cars, but dang was that tough to sell.

I think OP could wait and that thing wont be going anywhere at 14k.

 

@G_Don I can't speak for everyone, but your car was on my radar. I liked it and it's very nicely put together, BUT the engine was the thing.
I know that you don't need 350 HP to scoot around in something that light, and it's a packaging impossibility to jam a typical V8 in there and retain the body lines. Of the choices of 4s and small v6s, I can't think of another engine that would have made it better either, aside from an Offy or something else exotic and revered. That would have tripled the price, though. Again, just my thoughts.
I ended up with a typical T-Bucket at half the price (critical in my case) that is rough and needed love.
I'm sorry it didn't get the money it deserved.

 

I think the criticism of this car is probably a bit harsh. I bet if you put 10 guys in a room none of them would agree on how it should look. The wheels, late model steering column/wheel, headlights and air cleaner are the standout items I would change. As far as the headers they are the same as 90% of T’ Buckets out there. From the cam over hood latches looks as if it might have at least a hood top.I know nothing about the drivetrain, suspension and steering so can’t comment.

Unless I’m way out in left field I don’t think you could build this car for $14,000 and certainly not half the price that some have suggested. Even using the Speedway kit, shipped to your shop, used engine and trans, paint, upholstery, you have exceeded that cost. Of course there will be those with a hoard of parts that can do everything themself will disagree. Not even going to go down the steel versus fiberglass road. This car probably represents a good deal for someone without a big budget to enter the hobby and have fun and possibly make changes as money permits. My opinion your mileage may vary!

 

And so to will be the next thing you " appraisers" offer for sale ...price everything down & soon your stuff won't be worth anything either , it's bound to come around & bite you in the wallet ...

 

don’t care. That’s what this particular ride is possibly worth to me. Others can disagreee all they want.
absolutely not my style. But if it was cheap you could do something with it.

The car posted has a nicer chassis than this kit. The ugly can be sold off. If bought right, it’s a better start than the kit.
Hopefully prices will keep dropping. Guys cleaning out hordes and collections have prices where I’m more comfortable at. Just picked up a vintage intake for about half what it was bringing 10-15 years ago. Something I would have never bought due to inflated prices.

I build cheap crap anyway. I’ve at least broke even on most of the old junk I’ve sold.
Lost $500 on the last beater body I sold. Market dropped on 50 merc 4 doors. Of well. It is what it is. I don’t gamble but I do buy old car parts. Ya win some ya lose some.

It’s a hobby for me. Not a business.

 

@G_Don and @Royalshifter real world examples are both better than the one for sale IMO. Call me stupid (you won't be the first) but I thought the $14k asking was pretty attractive given what it took to get that car to its current level of street roddy gaudiness. I said it was at "a very low price" but as of now, I stand corrected. My mistake. It's more of a buyers market than I guessed.

If it went for $9k or $10k and you put a couple thousand into it after selling off the marketable bits...
Spend the take and a bit more in details (tucked exhaust, smoothing the hood (it has a scooped hood) making the small block more '60s looking, steering flush (wheel, column, address spindles/tie rod, possibly box), maybe just moon disc/disk wheel covers and some reasonable rear wheel/tire combo, de billet the thing...you might have a really sorted little hot rod for a song. Maybe.

Or you could have a load of surprises and post decision regret.

 

If you will allow me, here's my take on T buckets vs Track Ts.

T Buckets
I was a young single digit aged lad living in a blue collar area. On my block was a small single car house that always had over the top gearheads in it. First I could remember was a hard top racer, mid-late 60s. Used tires in the back yard. Dude worked at an auto shop (and had a smokin' hot wife.) He drove a pickup, had an open trailer and an ever present cigarette. Next occupant of the house owned a polishing shop. B&T Custom polishing. He had a bucket T. Maybe early 70's. Outrageous pink color, flames, gold leaf between the pinstriping. Loud as hell, 265 SBC and a Powerglide. Chrome everywhere. Chrome rear end, chrome frame, chrome springs, front axle, backing plates, spindles, tie rods, hairpins. Every thing was chrome. No front brakes, little tiny spoked front wheels. The "bed" was so small you couldn't put anything in it. I was in my early teens at this point and the owner, Bob wasn't too bad unless he was drinking. Kept my distance but I did score some chores for the dude. He paid well. Car bewildered me. He drove it often, but it seemed more like a showpiece. Couldn't understand its purpose. I was into kart racing, and old fast cars, 50s music and hot rods. I wasn't sure what it was, but I didn't think that thing was a hot rod.

Track Ts
Never really paid attention to model Ts. At all. My fascination with the Model 40 started with California Kid. I was 13 when I saw that and it wormed deep into my brain. I bought a very rough 34 5W when I was 15. That's another story. Flash forward many years into the 80's and I was a mechanic/competitive driver at heart but strapped to a desk in an ad agency. My client Wally Nissen of Paso Robles called me. He said he saw a burgundy Track T at the Bakersfield Business Conference. (An insane event with Gorbachev, Dan Rather, Ronald Reagan - nuts really.) He knew I had connections. Said he wanted the car. He sent me a photo of the car and he re-emphasized that he really, really wanted it. I knew a few guys, we got it tracked down (so to speak.) Wally ended up buying the car. It was sexy in a way I'd never imagined a T could be. Track ready, sleek, a performance oriented, drop dead gorgeous hot rod.

And the stuff Marty Strode builds is kick ass.

Hard to explain what appeals to a fella. But that's my story, crappy memory and all. And I'm stickin to it.

 

I'm driving one just about like it. I had more that his first asking price in it when I was done. I don't know how to get real bargains (new motors don't come cheap) nor do fiberglass materials. I cut doors in mine. It drives great and a smooth ride if the road is smooth. Mine was a "stuck in the back of a hog shed" twenty years ago (or more). I paid $4K for the roller, the transmission was good (although it leaks The first picture is when it rolled off the trailer into the shop, and the second picture doesn't show the fresh seat which was added later. I kept a spreadsheet, I know how much I really spent

 

it's a game of follow the leader.... I remember the same guys that would walk the car shows and look under the cars and snub their nose at the car... it's still has a straight axel.. now the same guys look under and say oh my god... it's mustang11...and they walk up to every car and say,...Is it fiber glass..

 

Never build anything to suit anyone other than yourself of the person paying the bill.

 

1957
The first fiberglass T-Bucket body was introduced in 1957 by the short-lived Diablo Speed Shop in Northern California1. The first recorded account of its availability was in the August 1957 issue of Hot Rod magazine2. The first known fiberglass T-Bucket hot rod, known as the Glass Image, was completed in 19603. The first T-Bucket was built by Norm Grabowski in the mid-50s using a '23 T cutoff Touring Car body4.

 

Id drive a glass car

 

Like my grandpa used to say: people who drive glass cars should not throw wrenches

 

Or drive without any pants!

 

Here's my dirty little secret: I built my champ car with no pinch on the rear of the rails so I could easily afix a glass '27 T body to it if it turns out I do not like the champ car body.


I like track Ts.

 

As do I!

Seth Hammond

 

Looking back. I don’t think I’ve ever made $$$ on old cars.

Only for shop labor at work.