My original post about the legendary Fred Steele roadster dates back to 2010. Back then, I could only admire this incredible machine from afar. Little did I know, I’d eventually connect with its owner, Bob Collins. In 2015, that opportunity arose, and I jumped at the chance to update and expand on the story of this remarkable T-Bucket, a car that profoundly influenced my early hot rod passions.
Recently, I learned that Bob was ready to pass on this truly iconic T-Bucket to a new custodian, someone who would appreciate its legendary status and share its inspiration with others. I knew I had to seize the moment. I traveled to New England to sit down with Bob and record a brand new episode for our Hooked on T-Bucket Hot Rods Podcast dedicated to this historic street rod. You can listen to our conversation here: Click Here>
John Morehead sitting in the Fred Steele T-Bucket street rod, highlighting its compact and classic hot rod proportions
There was no way I was going to miss the chance to sit behind the wheel of one of the most legendary T-Buckets ever created! Thanks for the opportunity, Bob.
The Fred Steele T-Bucket Street Rod Story: From 2010 to Today
Let’s rewind to 1964. The Ventures, the best-selling instrumental rock band of all time, a group with over 110 million albums sold globally and now enshrined in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, released their 14th and arguably most influential album: “The Ventures in Space“. The album’s cover was instantly captivating. It featured a young, romantic couple with a pristine white T-Bucket street rod parked high on Mulholland Drive, overlooking the glittering lights of Los Angeles. It perfectly captured the sunny Southern California dream. But here’s the surprising twist: this quintessential California hot rod was actually built a few years earlier, across the country near Boston, Massachusetts!
Around that time, I was just turning 16. A friend across the street, a budding guitarist, owned that Ventures album. He played it constantly, trying to learn the tunes, while I was mesmerized by the T-Bucket on the cover. I dreamt of owning a T-Bucket street rod just like it someday. But enough of my nostalgic musings.
The Birth of a Hot Rod Icon: The Fred Steele Roadster T-Bucket
Ironically, this iconic bobtail T-Bucket street rod was the brainchild of Massachusetts hot rodders Fred Steele and Don Spinney. Their inspiration? Norm Grabowski’s legendary “Kookie” T-Bucket. From what I understand, Don Spinney was the primary builder of Fred Steele’s roadster.
A couple of years later, I was thrilled to see the Fred Steele roadster featured in the February 1966 issue of Popular Hot Rodding magazine. In my view, that issue was PHR’s greatest ever. It also showcased the iconic 1915 T-Bucket street rod built by Don Oaks (then owned by Bob Reisner, who would later trade it for Dan Woods‘ Milk Truck). And if that wasn’t enough, it also featured the fantastic T-Bucket of Fred Marasco.
The Popular Hot Rodding editors perfectly captured the essence of this charming, simple T-Bucket street rod, noting:
“You don’t have to be wealthy to own a superior street roadster — just enthusiastic and willing to do your own work.”
I was amazed to learn that this beautiful T-Bucket, which had captured my imagination two years prior from that album cover, was built in 1960 with a budget of “just over $1000”! Before, it was a dream car from an album cover. Now, it was clear: building a T-Bucket street rod on a budget was truly possible.
Let me try to convey the unique appeal of the Fred Steele roadster through these photos provided by its current owner, Bob Collins. It remains remarkably original, almost identical to when it was built over half a century ago. And the snowy Massachusetts backdrop in these photos ironically contrasts with what I originally thought was only a California dream car.
The first thing you notice is the minimal use of chrome. However, where chrome is used – on the wheels, valve covers, air cleaners, and windshield frame – it provides maximum visual impact for the cost. The simple, economical “icebox white” and maroon paint scheme work together flawlessly.
The overall striking “look” of this T-Bucket street rod comes from what’s known as the “California rake.” This refers to the “looks-fast-sitting-still” stance, with the rear end slightly raised and the nose pointing down. Whether intentional or not, this stance is a natural result of mounting a Model T body on a Model A frame with a dropped front axle, without modifying the rear spring crossmember. This look is further enhanced by shortening the frame rails by over a foot, resulting in a nimble 90-inch wheelbase.
In the photo above, you’ll also notice the distinctive look of an original steel T-Bucket body, particularly the rear frame cover panels. Except for Almquist T-Bucket bodies, nearly all fiberglass T-Bucket bodies produced since Cal Automotive pioneered them, have used a rolled rear pan.
Naturally, the Model A frame was also narrowed to fit within the smaller Model T cowl. The decision to forgo a suicide-style front axle and retain the Model A frame horns in front of the axle is another distinctive element contributing to the unique appearance of the Fred Steele roadster.
Staying true to a budget build, Fred utilized a 1956 Chevy 265 cubic inch engine. Back then, this engine was a bargain due to the higher demand for the larger 283 and 327 displacements. Using readily available stock “rams horn” exhausts was another smart, low-cost, yet aesthetically pleasing choice. Keeping the exhaust within the frame rails using baffled pipes further contributes to the car’s clean lines and emphasizes its simplicity.
Although originally equipped with a popular 1956 Ford steering wheel, the Fred Steele roadster now features a wood-rimmed Model T wheel. According to Bob, Fred believed the newer wheel looked great, but its larger size made entering and exiting the T-Bucket challenging. Fortunately, Bob still has the original ’56 Ford wheel. The tasteful black Naugahyde upholstery, a perfect complement to the white body, was economically done in Tijuana after Fred moved to California from 1962 to 1964.
If you’re building a bobtail T-Bucket street rod with significant rear axle visibility, it’s wise to make it visually interesting. Fred and Don understood this and opted for a Columbia two-speed rear axle. Introduced in the 1920s as an aftermarket solution for increased pulling power and quicker starts, it also offered a higher-ratio overdrive gear for highway speeds. Ford later offered it as a conversion option in 1934, fitted to the original banjo-style rear end.
As a big fan of bobtail T-Buckets, going back to my early influences like Bob Johnston’s Tweedy Pie and Marty Hollmann’s T-Bucket, I truly appreciate the simple rear styling of Fred’s roadster. The original Model T gas tank mounted above the rear crossmember, flanked by nostalgic carriage lights, is brilliant. It’s a functional, clean, and cool way to build a budget-friendly T-Bucket without the added expense of a pickup bed or turtle deck.
Shortly after completing the car, Fred moved to California and stayed just long enough to become a member of the prestigious L.A. Roadsters car club and have his T-Bucket photographed by renowned hot rod journalist Tex Smith before returning to New England.
Vintage photo of the Fred Steele Ventures T-Bucket street rod, highlighting its timeless hot rod design and classic appeal
Besides getting his upholstery done in Tijuana, Fred was fortunate to acquire those striking chromed wheels from fellow L.A. Roadsters member, Walt Kaline. Walt owned Luster Chrome Plating and had plated two sets of these wheels, using one set on his own T-Bucket.
These weren’t just any drilled steel wheels. They were early 1950s Chrysler Imperial wheels, originally designed for disc brakes and featuring holes for ventilation.
The “Ventures in Space” T-Bucket Street Rod Phenomenon
Fred was in the right place, at the right time, and with the right color car. The story goes that the photographer for The Ventures album cover was seeking a light-colored car for a nighttime shoot, and Fred’s “icebox white” T roadster was perfect. Rumor has it that some L.A. Roadsters members were a bit miffed that this “East Coast interloper” had his car featured on a California surf music band’s album cover.
It’s highly likely that Fred Steele’s roadster on The Ventures album cover introduced more of the world’s youth to the coolness of T-Bucket street rods than any magazine feature at the time could have. Why? Relatively few young gearheads bought car magazines, but a vast majority of teenagers were into the popular music of the day and, therefore, likely encountered T-Bucket hot rods through The Ventures in Space album cover.
What’s even more intriguing is that during an era where surf music and car songs were dominating thanks to the success of the Beach Boys and Jan & Dean, record companies were rapidly releasing such albums. Evidently, they were willing to cut corners on album cover images. Fred’s T-Bucket street rod also appears on the cover of Hal Blaine’s aptly titled album, “Deuces, ‘Ts’, Roadsters and Drums.”
And, if you look closely at the upper left corner of The Tokens album cover below, you’ll spot Fred’s white T-Bucket again. It’s clearly an image from the same photo shoot as the Hal Blaine cover.
Fred Steele was a larger-than-life figure in the hot rod world. He passed away in 2014.
Vintage magazine cover of Rod & Custom featuring Fred Steele's T-Bucket street rod, showcasing his influence in hot rod culture
In his time, he amassed an impressive car collection and is widely recognized for his purple 32 Ford roadster, which graced the cover of Rodding & Restyling magazine in January 1958.
In this photo of Fred and his cars, you can see his T-Bucket on the left. To the right is the 1959 Lincoln convertible he used to tow it to California when he moved there in 1962.
Fred Steele alongside George Gould's T-Bucket street rod, highlighting the East Coast T-Bucket hot rod scene
While rare in Massachusetts, Fred Steele’s T-Bucket wasn’t the only one around at the time. He was often seen with fellow Bay State hot rod enthusiast George Gould’s T-Bucket.
The Don Spinney-built Fred Steele roadster is truly a timeless classic hot rod. The amazing thing is that anyone today could use this basic formula to build a T-Bucket street rod on a budget that would have incredible visual impact. A basic T-Bucket body is affordable, and a suitable donor car for the engine, transmission, and rear end can be found for well under $1000. It doesn’t require loads of expensive speed equipment. Fred achieved the look without resorting to massive tires and excessive chrome. You can even build a safe, modern Model A frame to replicate the cool rake and those distinctive front frame horns.
The Fred-Steele-T-Bucket street rod in a modern photo, proving its enduring style and timeless hot rod appeal
Sometimes, simplicity truly is best. It certainly worked wonders for the Fred Steele roadster.
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John Morehead
Founder at TBucketPlans.com
T-Bucket fanatic since 1957 when my 8 year old eyes became glued to a full page LIFE magazine photo of Norm Grabowski in the wildest hot rod I had ever seen! I later discovered the fascinating T-Buckets of TV Tommy Ivo, Marty Hollmann, Bob Johnston and Ed “Big Daddy” Roth’s T-Bucket inspired Outlaw. I was hooked for life on T-Bucket hot rods!TBucketPlans.com originated in 2005 as a personal blog extolling the virtues of T-Buckets. In 2009 I blogged about Chester Greenhalgh, the “how to” genius who wrote the legendary, out-of-print “How to Build a T-Bucket Roadster for Under $3000”. That led to a friendship with Chester and our partnership in marketing the updated eBook version of his T-Bucket building bible. The T-Bucket fire burns stronger and stronger.
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