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Posted

Not sure if everyone is aware, by Norm is having health issues. I found this on the HAMB:

"Hello, this is Norm's niece, Mary, logging on to post an update on my Uncle Norm. He had me set this up and I've been able to read posts to him but not reply. So, hope this works. He's been living with us since his hospital stay in St. Louis last May. As of Thursday, Sept 13, he is in the hospital from major complications involving his feeding tube and he got a bad infection from something going wrong with the placement of the tube. So he is getting the care he needs to pull through it. Will keep you posted on how he is doing. Also, with his consent, we set up a Facebook page for him so people could keep in touch, post photos and comments. Look for Norm Grabowski. We read them to him and he will reply by us keying it in. He is not technology friendly, LOL

He does enjoy hearing from everyone and really misses talking, but especially misses eating. Thank you for your support...."

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=705456&page=6

Posted

Besides building the Kookie T, Norm starred in a load of old Disney Movies. I got the life magazine with him on the cover, I'll have to scan it, and the article.

Posted

This is the pic from Life magazine dated April 29 1957. I was 4 yr's. old then.

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The cover shot.

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Article has to do with drag racing, and the car culture.

Posted

Hello......I was very saddened when I found this thread about Norm.......I wish him the very best and to get well soon........I first met Norm when I was kid around 7 or 8 years old.......he came into my fathers shop and wanted a bike built......."Wow" what a bike.......this is the original cover of my fathers 1st motorcycle catalog that he put out......my fathers shop was called D&D Distributors back in the 60`s.......on the cover is my fathers "Italiano" buick drag bike......some of you might have seen a replica model that I made of this bike?.......on the back cover is Norm Garbowski with his Corvair six pack bike.....one of my jobs at my fathers shop was to clean and polish the finished bikes.....it was so cool to have had my little hands all over this bike........My fathers D&D Distributors shop evolved into "Jammer Cycle Product`s" and Easyriders magazine........Norm I wish you the best........John

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  • 3 weeks later...
Posted

Sorry to post this, but according to a post on the HAMB, Norm passed away around 6:00 AM this morning. RIP Norm. There will never be another "crazy" like you!

Posted

I'm not sure, but I think Norm's claim to fame came with "77 Sunset Strip" and the Cookie T-bucket.

Thanks for the link Greg.

To be more precise, Norm built what later became known as the "Kookie T". That car is considered to be the first ever T-bucket. It used a '22 T body and a shortened Model A pick-up bed. When Tommy Ivo saw it at the drags he wanted one too and took several measurements from it to build his own. Both cars became famous. It was later that Norm's T was used in the opening scene for the TV show "77 Sunset Strip" driven by the show's character named "Kookie". And that's how the car got it's name.

So yet another hot rodding icon is gone.

Posted

Oh man... Sorry to hear of Norm's passing. I used to watch 77 Sunset Strip just to see Ed Byrnes (Kookie) and his Hot Rod T-Bucket. No wonder I've suddenly had an urge to build a T-Bucket....!!!!

Posted

The car on that show opened the door for him to get into show business. He has quite a long list of shows and movies he was in over the years. I really liked his character in Hooper!

Godspeed Norm Grabrowski

  • 3 weeks later...
Posted (edited)

It was his car that was in the TV show-the T bucket that Edd Byrnes drove in some of the episodes.

Edited by ZTony8
Posted

?? "Kookie" was played by Edd Byrnes. Norm Grabowski was on the show as another character and actually built Kookie's hot rod, along with other movie cars.

  • 4 months later...
Guest Johnny
Posted

Is the TV show still available to be seen? I have never seen it and it sounds interesting.

Google it and you can find episodes online. I believe it is still being run on MeTV right now on Sunday nights.

Posted

revell needs to recast there t bucket kit and do a cookie/77 sunset car

Which kit would that be? I believe they have reissued their "Roth Tweedy Pie" 51s7LNn2SsL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

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