Jim Ewing’s Texas T - No Brakes, No Shocks
March 2021
Presented by HandHFlatheads.com and USAutomotive.co.uk
Jim Ewing’s original Texas T pops a wheelie for photographer Don Emmons circa 1969
If you’re any kind of a car person there are certain images that are just imprinted on your retina. I have dozens but one is a Don Emmons shot of Jim Ewing pulling a wheelie in his ‘Texas T’ bucket in the 1969 Street Rod Pictorial. Twenty years later Jim and I became good friends, until he was unfortunately killed in an airplane crash but not before he told me great stories of gatecrashing the T into the Pomona drags shouting, “No brakes!” Jim also went on to found the Super Bell Axle Co., and in turn the suspension company Belltech.com
Linda Vaughn and Jim Ewing at the Pomona drags circa 1969.
Back then, Jim’s plastic bucket had tiny Hurst-Airheart front brakes to stop the skinny 12-spoke magnesium American Racing wheels, but these days it has skinny wires and no front brakes. These days? Yes, Jim’s Texas T has been restored and is back pounding asphalt sans front brakes!
T-buckets were all the rage in the 60s when hot rod luminaries such as Pete Chapouris, Gary Lorenzini, Dick Randall and Bob Hines had a club called Vintage Tin.
Tall top, short pickup bed and Jaguar IRS with ETIII wheels and M&H Racemasters.
Like most buckets, Texas T had a fiberglass replica of a 1923 Model T body perched atop a simple 2x3-inch box steel tube frame by M&S Welding.
Up front was a traditional ‘suicide’ front end with an early-Ford transverse leaf spring and a tube front axle made by M&S Welding and located by P.S.I. radius rods—there were no shocks. Out back, Jim originally had a ’57 Chevy axle on coil-overs with some hefty ‘slapper’ bars.
Power for the bucket came from a ’63 327 ci Chevy built by Jack Bayer Racing Engines famous for their off-road Bronco’s driven by the likes of James Garner and Larry Minor. Internally, it was mostly stock but externally, it had that stunning Moon intake with four opposed Weber 45 DCOE side drafts. First seen on Shelby’s Cobras, those setups were the hot ticket in the 60s. They are, however, tricky to tune if you don’t have the equipment and patience.
In keeping with the contemporary trends, Ewing replaced the 12-spokes with Moon wire front wheels but left off the brakes and shocks. He also swapped out the Chevy rear axle for a popular-at-the time Jaguar IRS complete with inboard discs and four coil-over shocks. It looked splendid. Likewise canned were the uniquely knotted headers built by Bill Thomas of Cheetah fame. At the time, the color was a candy maroon with fancy work around the panels.
Eventually, Ewing sold the T and it ended up with Gary Toy for a long time; however, Matt Robbins, Pete Chapouris’ son-in-law and brother Todd, hounded Toy for ten years to sell what was left of the T, which eventually he did.
“It was in pretty good condition when we got it,” said Matt. “The rolling chassis was complete and had never been torn apart—even the Webers were intact. Sadly, the body was missing and we had to get a new one that was painted Hugger Orange by Dave Gongora and lettered in gold leaf by Larry ‘Quicksilver’ Fator but the tall top was complete albeit a bit beaten up. We had the motor rebuilt and had the carbs tuned. Unfortunately, those knotted headers are long gone.”
In 2020, Matt sold the car to Don Piper, who has continued the restoration recently having many little details addressed by Evan and Justin Veazie at Veazie Bros., Pomona, CA. They did a lot of work on the rear-wheel-only brakes and the carbs that needed some adjustment by Augie Delgado.
The last we heard Don was driving the car but called to say: “It has a slight wobble on the freeway at around 65 mph.” Evan Veazie told him: “Drive through it!
Vehicle: 1923 T-bucket
Original owner: Jim Ewing
Current owner: Don Piper
• Frame: 2x3x.125 box steel by M&S Welding
• Front axle: Chrome tube by M&S Welding
• Front radius rods: P.S.I.
• Body: Fiberglass ’23 T replica
• Engine: ’63 327 ci Chevy by Jack Bayer Racing Engines
• Cam: Engle hydraulic
• Intake: Moon with four Webers
• Headers: Bill Thomas
• Trans: ’67 Turbo-Hydro by Art Carr
• Rear axle: ’57 Chevy with 4.11:1 gears, now Jag IRS
• Radiator: 1915 For Model T
• Interior: Ed Martinez
• Steering column: Chevrolet Corvair
• Steering wheel: Antique Auto Parts
• Paint: Camaro orange
• Painter: Original painter Brad Anderson, recent painter Dave Gongora
• Front wheels: American Racing 3x18 12-spoke magnesium
• Front tires: Avon motorcycle
• Rear wheels: American Racing, now ETIII
• Rear tires: Goodyear, now M&H Racemaster slicks
