1925 Ford Hot Rod Model T-Buck Speed Record Car

Southern California was the birthplace of the American hot rod. In its early years, hot rodding was considered a fringe activity. It took a certain type of person to dismantle an automobile, rebuild it for increased performance and then race the car either 'outlaw' style on the street on the street or in a more organized and somewhat safer fashion at a dry lake or salt flat. In this era of unique personalities, Dick Kraft was still able to stand out. If he had assembled a resume of his skills, hobbies and professional experiences it would include: fabricator, builder, racer, sailor, health-nut, body builder and surfer.

Dick began building remarkably simple, but undeniably fast cars in the late 1930s. His cars were legendary throughout Southern California both in drag racing and on the dry lakes. With the outbreak of World War II, Dick joined the Merchant Marines. Not unexpectedly, he used his shore leave to surf and race. There are historical photographs showing cars that Dick supposedly assembled and raced in a single weekend of leave.

Kraft left the ship for good in 1947 and his car-building talents soon bloomed. His post-war designs matured into an appreciation of form as well as function. Broken speed records all over California attested to his understanding of function; vehicles such as this T-Bucket roadster showed that he could build a beautiful car.

This car originally debuted at the 1951 Oakland Roadster Show as the Kraft Special. Its design, fit and finish put Dick Kraft in the big leagues. As one might expect, the car was also very fast, establishing AHRA records in spite of its good looks!

The car was purchased by the Seider brothers in the early 1960s, refurbished and renamed the Highland Plating Special. It appeared in this form, and as seen today, on the cover of Hot Rod Magazine's March, 1962 edition. It is currently owned by Ross and Beth Myers of 3 Dog Garage.

Source - AACA Museum