In 1974, as a jobless, 16-year-old, newly-licensed driver, Ron Ginn could not afford a hot rod. But, he says that he eventually found his way into tinkering with cars.

By the time he was 17-years-old, Ron’s parents bought him a truck.  And, he says that by the time he was 18, his parents were wishing they had never bought him that truck! It was completely dismantled. But, the good news is that six months later, the truck was rebuilt to Ron’s liking.

“I always had to take everything apart,” he says.

Ron grew up an “airport brat” –with a father who built airplanes. He says that he was always around planes and probably would still be involved with that hobby if an inner-ear problem didn’t make him get away from flying. When he learned that he couldn’t fly planes, he says that he became interested in radio airplanes before he took a liking to hot rods. He loved to build things, and hot rods became his passion.

Ron even dibbed and dabbed in a career as an auto mechanic for seven years of his early adulthood, but made the decision to stop when he realized it took away from the fun of the hobby.

In 1998, Ron had the opportunity to build his first hot rod, after he “retired from his kids.” He says that once they had grown up a bit and were more self-sufficient and independent, it was “time for Dad to do what Dad wanted to do.”

The car? A 1923 T-Bucket that took Ron about one year to rebuild.  He named the car Nas T. After putting a great deal of money into the project, and enjoying the car for some time, Ron sold the car. And, to his surprise, he made a profit. With that profit, he was able to purchase a special 1932 Ford Roadster—a Detroit Autorama “Great 8” car.

“But, I only kept that for one year, before I realized that I didn’t like to be in an enclosed car,” says Ron.

In 2004, yet another project car came into the picture. And, again, it was a 1923 Ford T-Bucket (see photo). The car was dubbed the Nas T Too; it took Ron four years to complete. Everything on the vehicle was hand-made by Ron, himself, with the help of some good friends he has made through his involvement in the collector car hobby.

“I didn’t buy this car,” says Ron. “I built it from scratch. I started with two chunks of metal for the frame. And my friend, Bill Darr, the President of National T-Bucket Alliance, helped me build the chassis. You just don’t buy stuff like this. You need to build it.”

“And, I made a whole big mess in my garage,” says Ron. “I had to learn how to use the equipment.”

Ron says that he started his T-Bucket project, with simple intentions: “It would just be a car to drive around the neighborhood and to have fun with, at car shows.”

“But, my wife saw me—once I started to put the motor together— and asked: ‘I thought this was going to be just for fun?’” says Ron.

“It turned into a bigger deal,” he explains. “I had to go a little overboard!”

Ron’s wife has learned to love the car. Granted, Ron has been put on a one-car-only restriction that she enforces.

“She says one is plenty,” says Ron. “She thinks that it’s time to sell the car and buy one she could drive. My whole family had been into cars forever. Since the kids have been 8-..9-…10-years-old. My oldest is 31 and in the Air Force. He built a street car, and by the time he was 17-years-old, he had one of the fastest street cars in Albuquerque. And, Dad didn’t teach him anything! He did it all on the Internet. And, my other boy... Well, girls were more important, and he started to buy the nice cars.”

“And, I met my wife out on the cruisin’ spot,” continues Ron.

He adds with a chuckle: “She liked the car I was driving!”

And, the rest is history...

Also, Ron says that while his father was an airplane-guy, he had a lot of influence on the T-Bucket he most recently built; his dad had given many suggestions and ideas. 

The car was completed in February 2008, only a couple months before Ron’s father passed away. The memories attached to this vehicle are priceless to Ron, making it one very special vehicle, he says.

Others see the special quality in the T-Bucket, as well, and take great interest in this very attractive car.

Ron says that since the car was finished, this past winter, he has attended nine shows with the vehicle.

“And, I have won nine First Place and nine Best of Show awards,” he adds.

But, Ron adds that he doesn’t want to collect many more trophies and plaques.  He has even gone so far as to turn around and present awards to other entrants in shows he has attended.

“Some people don’t have the money, but love this hobby,” he explains. “You almost know what they have done to their car since the last time you saw it. They’re trying really hard… You can keep your trophies and plaques. But, I’ll take the cash! I won’t give that back!”

Ron says that he has entered his T-Bucket at local casino-based car shows that give cash prizes. He explains that he will take the cash to recoup some of the money that he put into building the car.

Prizes and awards aside, Ron says that it is the people that keep him so plugged into the hobby.

“I love meeting people and talking to them,” he says. “I get along with everybody.  It doesn’t matter what they drive. And, with the T-Bucket guys... they put together these so-called ‘rat rods’ with whatever they have. They’re safe and having a good time!”

And, that is all that matters to Ron— Having a good time with friends.

Ron has been involved with the National T-Bucket Alliance, since 2001, and has made a great deal of friendships in the meantime. He says the NTBA has approximately 1400 members that includes individuals from Japan, Germany and Australia.

“It’s unbelievable,” he says.

Ron adds that he loves talking to people about cars. He can be reached at ronginn@gmail.com with any questions about his 1923 Ford T-Bucket.

Story by: Becky McLaughlin

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