In 1952 Norm bought a fenderless 1931 Ford Model A V-8 roadster for $100.
The A body was swapped for the front half of a 1922 Ford Model T touring with a shortened Model A pickup bed.
20 some inches were removed of the rear framerails, starting six inches forward of the cross member.
Up front, Norm installed a Ross steering box from a milk truck. A Bell three-spoke steering wheel was then installed nearly in a vertical position. Once completed, it steered backwards.
Valley Custom Shop fixed the steering and made a special raked-back and shortened windshield, and made the car a black paint job for Norm's bucket
Valley Custom Shop did also give the car a black paint job before Norm had Tony Nancy stitch a red rolled and pleated interior
Norm later lived in Leadville, Arkansas, My son and met him at the T-bucket picnic and bucket car show hosted be Spirit Cars in Flippin, Arkansas. Great guy and glad we the chance to meet. Probably around 2007-8 but will have to check. I do have pictures of his truck and will send them to you.
ReplyDeleteI never heard why he moved there from California... did you ever see the wood rocking horses he made in the decade or so before he died? Incredible https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2013/02/something-new-from-norm-grabowski.html
DeleteDid you want to look through the other articles I've made about Norm? https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/search/label/Norm%20Grabowski
He's one of my favorites, but you'd never guess I was introduced to him through DISNEY movies!
When I learned he invented the T Bucket, at only about age 23? I was floored... what an amazing guy!
Was it Lead Hill? Or Leadville?