Meet the hot rod all other hot rods wish they could be.
This T-Bucket was built completely by hand in Chester County from the custom frame up, complete with a Chevy 350 V8 Engine assisted by two 62mm Precision Turbos driven by a turbo 350 transmission. At just seven psi of boost, it has approximately 500 horsepower and weighs just 1,800 pounds.
While Ford Model Ts (after which the T-Bucket is named) have been modified since the early 1920s, the true “T-Bucket” hot rod didn’t take shape until the 1950s, when it was created and named by American hot rod builder and actor, Norman Grabowski.
The mastermind behind this particular hot rod is Mark Ranieri, owner of West Chester’s Leading Edge Autosport, a local auto repair shop specializing in luxury and exotic automobile maintenance, repair, and, of course, modification.
“All of the welding and building was done by me and can be done in-house at Leading Edge,” said Ranieri, “I actually do drive this car. You might have seen it at West Chester Cars & Coffee, York Street Rod show, or Ocean City Maryland’s Cruise Week.”
[uam_ad id=”79286″]
According to Ranieri, of all the features on the car that could catch someone’s attention, what stands out the most are the rear wheels.
Why? Because they measure 20 inches in diameter and are a whopping 18 inches wide!
So, where does one get the skills to build something this wild?
“I went to Wyotech for training, and have been working in a shop since I graduated 13 years ago,” said Ranieri. “I worked in a couple different environments, from dealerships to private shops and custom builders, so I was constantly developing and challenging my skillset. In 2015, I decided I was ready to go out on my own and started Leading Edge right here in West Chester.”
If you’d like to meet Mark Ranieri and learn more about his creation, as well as the excellent work they do at Leading Edge Autosport, join him at the Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance at the Radnor Hunt Club on Sunday, Sept. 9. Tickets are on sale here, and the event benefits Thorncroft Equestrian Center in Malvern.
______________
The Wright Agency, located at 1142 Horseshoe Pike in Downingtown and led by Jonathan Wright, is a family-owned, independent insurance agency that has been serving the individuals, families, and businesses of Chester County since 1977. Call Jonathan at 610-269-6115 for a fast, friendly, and free, no-obligation insurance quote. Click here for more information on The Wright Agency.
