Norman "Norm" Grabowski... inventor of the T Bucket
Here's his website! http://www.normsnews.com/Maybe you have heard of him, maybe when T buckets are mentioned... but I was watching a movie, and saw his name in the credits.... and that had me wondering if it was an actor, or the famous car customizer.
It's the same guy, lucky guy huh?! Mostly 60's Disney movies, http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0333288/
Also, the T-bucket specifically was created and given that name by Norman Grabowski in the 1950s. http://hotrod.wikia.com/wiki/T-bucket
He also influenced others, of course, but Tommy Ivo credits him specifically http://www.tommyivo.com/hotrod-1.htm and LIFE featured Norm and his "Kookie T" inside the April 29, 1957, issue http://theselvedgeyard.wordpress.com/2009/05/24/the-great-1950s-t-bucket-rod-rivalry/ of the magazine with a multi-page feature on the underground drag racing movement and the subculture it helped create. http://www.streetrodderweb.com/features/0703sr_t_bucket_history/photo_02.html
To instantly recognize him, and recall all the movies you've seen him in, http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0333288/ and look at this video clip http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi392626201/ he's the guy in the blue letter "M" sweater.
Skip the first 16 seconds... this is a really good look at the car Norm built, that was featured on the tv show "77 Sunset Strip"
There's a photo and short caption in the Jan 09 issue of Hot Rod about Norm, it says he was also a bodybuilder and vegan... huh, that makes sense. He also tried his hand as a nightclub entertainer, see Hot Rod Deluxe, Sept 2011 page 46
For a gallery of the recreated Kookie T that I came across at SEMA: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2009/11/replica-of-norms-kookie-t-i-doubt.html
For a full post on Norm and the Life gallery of photos taken at Norm's garage and on the way to drag race Tommy Ivo at Santa Ana dragway in 1957: http://theselvedgeyard.wordpress.com/2009/05/24/the-great-1950s-t-bucket-rod-rivalry/
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