Greg Myers Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 (edited) Ross Myers ( no relation) the recent purchaser of the fabled Norm Grabowski "Kookie's T from the TV show 77 Sunset Strip is shipping it off to Roy Brizio's Street Rods for a complete rebuild to it's former Iconic glory. Upon completion it will make a trip to the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance 2019. This all from Joey Ukrop's "Evolution Of The Kookie Kar" in the recent Rodder's Journal. Now I'm wondering which model company would take this on as a new kit? The car will be completely dismantled at the Brizio shop so measurements and pictures would be easy to get. Danbury Mint had a diecast 1/25th scale but get your check book out if you can find one now. Edited October 4, 2018 by Greg Myers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eshaver Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 I think the "Kookie " T would be a big hit with we Seniors out there ! One of the things I do is catch 77 Sunset strip on ME TV each week day morning . I have to sort clothes , make coffee and breakfast for my youngins cause they have an Hour ride to school . So Model companies , put me in fer one , PLEASE!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casey Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 (edited) . Edited October 7, 2018 by Casey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 Yup...as per Casey's two reference posts, it would be an easy kitbash to do a credible Kookie-Kar using the original Tweedy Pie or Tweedy Pie 2 as a jumping off point, and easily-sourced components to make up the difference. The old Revell parts-pack Caddy engine comes to mind, and the valve covers on the Orange Crate are about right (though the O-Ccrate is an Olds, they ought to fit pretty OK). Similar pickup beds abound too. It's just not that tough. Of course, on the other hand, it wouldn't be cripplingly difficult to modify one of the Tweedy-Pie tools (cut NEW steel using a lot of old data) either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deuces Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 I could give it a go with one of my big t kits... Maybe..??... ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Bartrop Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 (edited) The Kookie T is based on a Model A frame, and the pickup bed is from a Model A, so if you don't mind some slicing and dicing to get everything to sit right. Revell's "Rat Rod" '29 pickup looks like it would get you most of the way there for the chassis, even to the wheels and tires. Combined with the Tweedy pie as mentioned, or even AMT's '25 T, and a Parts Pack Cadillac engine, you could get pretty close. If say, Revell wanted to cut a set of moulds for a Grabowski T kit, I'd be all for that too. Even if you don't care about the show, or the history of the car, it would still offer lots of kitbashing potential. Edited October 4, 2018 by Richard Bartrop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobthehobbyguy Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 (edited) The outlaw has the caddy engine and also a modified a frame. I think that between the tweedy pie and outlaw you would have a good start. Edited October 4, 2018 by bobthehobbyguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Myers Posted October 5, 2018 Author Share Posted October 5, 2018 16 hours ago, Richard Bartrop said: Even if you don't care about the show, or the history of the car "or the history of the car" ? this IS the first iconic Hot Rod Tee Bucket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TooOld Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 One often overlooked detail is that the Kookie T has a "cut down ' '32 radiator shell , the Tweedy Pie has a "sectioned" radiator shell . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
styromaniac Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 The first Hot Rod T Bucket? Did Tommy Ivo's Buick powered T arrive about the same time as Gabowski's T...or did it show up later? Then there was Ed Iskendarians T....which may have predated them all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
styromaniac Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 (edited) https://goo.gl/images/LJQq5i. T Bucket Plans website..... Edited October 5, 2018 by styromaniac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 (edited) 14 minutes ago, styromaniac said: The first Hot Rod T Bucket? Did Tommy Ivo's Buick powered T arrive about the same time as Gabowski's T...or did it show up later? Ivo built his nailhead-powered car based on measurements he made off of Grabowski's car. The Isky T, the most famous one anyway, though much earlier, lacked the now-iconic "T-bucket" proportions. Edited October 5, 2018 by Ace-Garageguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Haigwood Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 I have been gathering the parts to build it. Starting off with the Monogram T Street Rod w/Trailer for body that will need some modification to look like the shortened touring body.. The bed is a model A bed , the Revell parts pack Caddy engine will be used. I still need to find the right frame that will need to be modified also. I have the Big & Little Skinnies Wide Whitewalls with Steel wheels and Baby Moon hubcaps from R&M. The exhaust pipes may be a challenge. I will have to do some tube bending. I also will be building two versions of Tweedy Pie. The original Bob Johnston version with the flathead and a later Roth version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casey Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 1 hour ago, Greg Myers said: "or the history of the car" ? this IS the first iconic Hot Rod Tee Bucket. Fad Ts had their moment in the sun long ago, just like other automotive fads which have come and gone, and despite a few hold outs, didn't stand the test of time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake45 Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 18 minutes ago, Jon Haigwood said: I have been gathering the parts to build it. Starting off with the Monogram T Street Rod w/Trailer for body that will need some modification to look like the shortened touring body.. The bed is a model A bed , the Revell parts pack Caddy engine will be used. I still need to find the right frame that will need to be modified also. I have the Big & Little Skinnies Wide Whitewalls with Steel wheels and Baby Moon hubcaps from R&M. The exhaust pipes may be a challenge. I will have to do some tube bending. I also will be building two versions of Tweedy Pie. The original Bob Johnston version with the flathead and a later Roth version. IIRC, around 1966 or 67 Don Emmons did an article in Model Car Science on how to build a "Kooky T" from the Monogram Little T kit. He wasn't going for a strict replica of the Kooky/Grabowski car, but a build that was obviously inspired by it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High octane Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 A club member built Kookie's T for the Milwaukee NNL this past April....................................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snake45 Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 What's the induction on Norm's T? That's not a Man-A-Free, is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Haigwood Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 42 minutes ago, High octane said: A club member built Kookie's T for the Milwaukee NNL this past April....................................... Looks nice, It looks like the headers have one to many pipes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace-Garageguy Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 5 minutes ago, Jon Haigwood said: Looks nice, It looks like the headers have one to many pipes. Yup...4 pipes ignoring the fact the center ports on the Caddy are siamesed, and nailhead header spacing, entirely wrong for a Caddy anyway. Oops...there I go ruining the "fun" again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodgefever Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 The proportions are pretty far off too. Wheelbase is way too long and the body and frame aren't raked enough, wrong pickup bed set too low, headlights are in front of the grille shell... nice model, but nowhere close to being a replica. To be fair, we can't see what's written on the card - it might just say "inspired by" rather than "replica of". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
styromaniac Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 1 hour ago, Ace-Garageguy said: Ivo built his nailhead-powered car based on measurements he made off of Grabowski's car. The Isky T, the most famous one anyway, though much earlier, lacked the now-iconic "T-bucket" proportions. LOL....I knew it would be only a matter of time before you rang in with precise info....Thanks Bill! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Bartrop Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 3 hours ago, Greg Myers said: "or the history of the car" ? this IS the first iconic Hot Rod Tee Bucket. I think it's a big deal. I'm just acknowledging that there might be people who don't know about the history, or don't care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Haigwood Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 7 minutes ago, dodgefever said: The proportions are pretty far off too. Wheelbase is way too long and the body and frame aren't raked enough, wrong pickup bed set too low, headlights are in front of the grille shell... nice model, but nowhere close to being a replica. To be fair, we can't see what's written on the card - it might just say "inspired by" rather than "replica of". You may be right about it being "Inspired By". Norm did lengthen the frame in front of the cowl 5 inches. It's original name was "The Lightning Bug" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Bartrop Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 And Iskenderian wasn't even close to being the first person to hot rod a Model T. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
styromaniac Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 (edited) 21 minutes ago, Richard Bartrop said: And Iskenderian wasn't even close to being the first person to hot rod a Model T. Granted many a nameless wrench turner pulled off the feat first...but are we talking iconic here? Ideal proportions, wheelbase, etc Edited October 5, 2018 by styromaniac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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