Early 1970s Build: 1929 Ford T-Bucket

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There is something undeniably cool about classic hot rods, particularly those created in the 1970s. The scene had moved away from its roots in some areas but had remained faithful in others. This 1929 Ford T-Bucket is a product of the early 1970s and would still turn heads today. It recently emerged from an extended hibernation and is set to find a new home. The seller has listed it exclusively here at Barn Finds Classifieds in Fresno, California, with an asking price of $18,500 OBO.

This T-Bucket is a stereotypical hot rod with no engine cover, fenders, or running boards. Builder followed that approach to minimize weight and paint usage. This gem has spent over thirty years in hiding, and its overall condition suggests the storage environment was virtually ideal. The paint shines beautifully, coating panels that are flawless. The Yellow shade isn’t subtle but is typical of the flamboyant approach of most builders. The Black soft-top is excellent, and the chrome sparkles as nicely as the paint. There are no rust issues, and the wire wheels perfectly suit this classic’s character. A T-Bucket is as much about show as go, and this one successfully ticks that box.

The hot rod scene was born out of necessity. A group of individuals could not purchase the latest and greatest offerings sitting on showroom floors due to a lack of ready cash. They turned their attention to adaptation, taking cheap or readily available parts hiding in the garage to produce a unique breed of motor vehicle. This approach saw a cross-pollination of mechanical components, and this T-Bucket is no exception. It may wear Ford badges, but it is powered by a Chevrolet small-block V8. It is dripping with the chrome that was a hallmark of the breed and sports a high-riser intake and a dual-quad carburetor setup. It is unclear what internal upgrades were performed, but that engine must sound glorious, exhaling through the chrome headers and side exhaust. The seller worked through reviving this Ford after thirty years in storage, and potential buyers should consider it a turnkey proposition. The process included replacing the brakes and alternator, rebuilding the carburetors, and performing a complete service and fluid change. It runs and drives perfectly and has accumulated a mere 6,991 miles since its creator rolled it out of their workshop five decades ago.

This T-Bucket’s interior is typical of the genre, with builders adopting a minimalist approach. This one features a wooden dash loaded with gauges, diamond-buttoned cloth on the seats, matching material on the remaining upholstered surfaces, and a vintage wheel. The consistent nature of this classic is visible immediately, with everything presenting superbly. There are no issues or faults, and every light and gauge works as it should.

I used to collect toy cars when I was younger, focusing on those produced by Matchbox and Hot Wheels. One of my favorites was a Green Metallic T-Bucket with a chrome decklid. The top was removable, and lifting the deck lid revealed a collection of tools cast into the trunk floor. I always vowed I would own one, but it never happened. This one is tempting at the asking price, and it is a solid fact that you couldn’t recreate it for the asking price. That makes it worth a closer look for those with their heart set on hot rod ownership. Could that person be you?

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Comments

  1. bobhess bobhessMember

    Love it! Being a yellow color fan I love the color too.

    Like 7
  2. Howie

    Sweet ride, no mention of what engine it has.

    Like 4
    • Yblocker

      It’s an orange crate

      Like 2
    • Hank

      Says Chevy SB in the discussion

      Like 0
      • Yblocker

        Like I said, an orange crate

        Like 0
    • Red Dogs Rod Shop

      Looks like a 327 or a 350 chevy.

      Like 0
  3. Mike Beesley

    Beautiful T bucket with a great price! Good luck to the buyer and seller!

    Like 9
  4. Joe Haska

    it can’t be a 29 Ford and T-Bucket. However that is not exactly true, I have seen many buckets spliced together with Model A Cowls and T Pick Up Beds, and vice versa. I think the T Bucket is a style of build that doesn’t necessarily have to be a Model T ,many were not even Fords. There were Dodges and everything in between even parts of old touring bodies that the builder didn’t even know what they were. Then came the fiber glass bodies and that made it all much easier and cheaper. IMO the next thing was they were so popular they became “Belly Button Hot Rods” and anybody could have one. The next thing was most people that had one realized how impracticable they were and they either sold them and got a different hobby or built a more practical ride.
    That’s my opinion and I am 80 years old and I was there and that’s what I remember. Did I want one hell yes, did I ever own one. Hell no I was lucky I had 32’s and 4’s and even a 40 or two and I got a ride in some T’s and grew up, not having the experience. A 32 highboy was a much better ride,

    Like 12
  5. Maggy

    Cool car if all you want is a local car show car.Priced right if the build is good imo. Too impractical for me. WW2 and Korean war vets returning from their theatres and tours of duty started the Hot Rod craze for the most part.

    Like 3
  6. Joe Haska

    A T-Bucket is more of a build style than a model and year of a car. Even in this post it is called a 29 Ford T Bucket, and that’s not possible. But actually it is. I have seen them constructed from parts of Model A’s, Dodges, GM’s and any old touring body in a field, that even the people who took them didn’t even know what their DNA was!
    Then came mail order and fiberglass body and anyone with a 100 bucks and a zip code could have one That created “the Belly Button Hot Rod” everyone had one. Supply and demand and the popularity went away. The die-hard still loved them, I think it was between their bucket and their Harley. I skipped that fad as I was fortunate to have 32’s ,34’s and a couple of 40’s fat fenders and pick ups. I am now 80 and that’s how I remember it.
    Before you attack me, a side bar is, over the years I was fortunate enough to spend time with Tommy Ivo and to call Norm Grabowski a friend and they were the two guys who really started the bucket craze. The only thing I regret is we never really talked about it. I don’t know, I got the impression that it was not a big deal for them. That figures they both did so many other things! Why would they care?

    Like 4
  7. StanMember

    T-buckets, sunshine, beaches ⛱️, babes in bikinis 👙 💅, good tunes 🎶 , ice cold drinks 😎

    Like 8
    • Neal Jacobsen

      Absolutely!!! Love it. Never could afford one, but still dreamed about them anyway!

      Like 1
  8. TheOldRanger

    Appears to be related to the Munstermobile !! LOL

    Like 2
  9. Demonsteve

    Why is it considered impractical, because it only has room for two or no luggage space. Think about it, if that’s the only reason then wouldn’t that make any two seater impractical, like Corvette’s, mg’s, Porsche and pretty much all supercars.

    Like 2
    • Gray Wolf

      Hard to secure. No windows, easy to steal, not great in traffic accidents. Great fun to ride or drive!

      Like 1
    • John EderMember

      For me, as a hearing aid wearer (thanks, rock and roll, and RF-4 Phantoms…), I have struggled to understand how you could subject yourself to such high dB unmuffled exhaust sounds for prolonged periods. At a recent car show, a guy fired up a (brought in an enclosed trailer) similar car. The noise was ear-splitting, and most of us (old folks) moved away from it to protect what hearing we had left. That would severely diminish the “practicality” of this vehicle for me.

      Like 0
    • Colleen Hamilton

      Oh my this ain’t no lemon, that diamond-buttoned seat is amazing! Motor is heaven on wheels, love it too…..

      Like 0
  10. dogwater

    Price is right fun

    Like 1
  11. FrankD

    These are nice to look at and drive a few miles. Then the fun wears off.

    Like 1
  12. Headturner

    First panic stop with no front brakes will leave you needing new underwear. Pretty and shiny but totally impractical makes it a great hot rod toy.

    Like 1
  13. TomD

    Let’s be clear, that could only be called a ’29 ford T Bucket but for some creative Title work at the DMV. A T-bucket commonly referred to a ’19 -’23 Ford T body (later, fiberglass replicas) with a shortened T or A pickup bed on a Model A or scratch built frame. A ’29 Ford is a Model A and a roadster pickup body or the front half of a touring car could be assembled in a similar fashion but would still be called a roadster pickup. After Norm and Tommy built their cars they became very popular and were dubbed Fad Ts. To todays traditional hot rodders they are like 70s leisure suits, not something you’d want to be seen in ;-)

    Like 0
  14. John

    I want it & i’m 70.. Still a kid at heart.. Be fun to have & cruise..Price is right.

    Like 1
  15. Howie

    Sold.

    Like 1

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