Russ Sopha's 1923 Ford T-bucket - Arizona T

Russ Sopha, from Casa Grande, Arizona, has always been a car guy and has had a passion for hot rods all his life. His father-in-law had built a T-bucket using a kit from California Custom Roadsters, and, though he'd never built a car from the ground up, Russ thought a T would be a good way to go (not too expensive and a great way to have fun).

His father-in-law had located someone who was selling their semi-finished kit in New Mexico, and Russ went to take a look at it. It was a perfect starter car, as there was a basic frame, front and rear suspension, and a body in gelcoat. Russ liked what he saw, so he bought the parts and brought them home.

Over the next two and a half years, Russ worked mostly on weekends doing minor fabrication and, between calling CCR for advice on how to proceed on certain points and ordering necessary parts, followed along in the instruction manual the company offers its customers on how to build one of its kits.

Not a brass headlamp kind of guy, Russ thought it might be less expensive to paint most of the parts he'd acquired rather than have them plated or polished. He'd already picked out a stunning Corvette Yellow to paint his ride, so he really didn't need an over-the-top approach on everything else (such as a big engine sticking way up in front of the windshield) because the brilliant color would be enough of an announcement that he'd arrived!

Russ was impressed by the quality of the parts from CCR, and said, "They bolted right up just like they said they would." Set up on a wheelbase of 104 inches, the chassis uses an 8.75 Chrysler rearend, All-American coilover shocks, and 11-inch GM discs out back, a dropped tube axle up front with a seven-leaf, reverse-eye spring and another set of GM 11-inch disc brakes. A reversed Corvair box handles steering while Centerline Warrior wheels (15x5.5 and 15) are wrapped in Mickey Thompson Sportsman (26x6.00R15LT and 29x18.00-15LT) rubber.

Russ' subtle approach to the overall appearance of his T extended to the engine too. Not wanting a big motor he'd have a hard time seeing around, a simple Chevy 350 took its rightful place between the framerails, backed to a TH350 transmission. Twin Edelbrock 500-cfm carbs sit atop an Edelbrock tunnel ram manifold and the yellow block is highlighted with yellow spark plug wires from Taylor, polished aluminum valve covers, and T-type header exhaust system from CCR.

When it came time for the car to get its color, Russ visited Harry Rockstroh of Rockstroh's Downtown Body Shop for both body and paintwork. Once back from the paint shop, Russ used a CCR interior kit to make it simple to trim out the cockpit. He chose a tan-colored bench seat with a tuck 'n' roll and whose seatback wraps around the cockpit to form door panels (though this body type from CCR does not have either door). Six whiteface Dolphin gauges are a nice contrast to the yellow dash, and a CCR four-spoke steering wheel gives the ride an old-timey feel.

For anyone wanting the get the true feel of the road, there is nothing that will get you closer than an open-top T. Basically a Harley-Davidson with four wheels, T owners seem to have developed a band-of-brothers mentality between themselves that is similar to their two-wheeled brethren. It's not something you can really understand until you try it.

Russ has enjoyed the time he spent building the car almost as much as driving it. He made his debut with the T at the Goodguys show in Scottsdale in 2003, and has since driven to many local events, including the 9th annual National T-Bucket Alliance's Nationals in nearby Sierra Vista, Arizona, in June of last year. He's not sure if he'll be attending the 10th annual NTBA meet in Springfield, Illinois, in June of 2008, but for now he enjoys picking up his kids (8-year-old Cassity and 10-year-old Colton) from school in the T, and, judging by the reaction of the other students when he does, they've gotta believe Cassity and Colton's dad is the coolest dad ever!

Facts & Figures
Russell Sopha
Casa Grande, AZ
1923 Ford T-bucket