An 11-week thrash brought Natalie McClelland’s open-top cruiser dreams to life in the form of this V8-powered 1923 T-bucket dubbed ‘Grasshopper’. Born into a hot-rodding family, 28-year-old Natalie has always been surrounded by modified early rides, which has fostered a rodding passion of her own. Recently, she was welcomed into the Drag-Ens Hot Rod Club as its first female member.

First published in the November 2024 issue of Street Machine

How did your T-bucket build come together so quickly?

My dad, Andrew McClelland (SM, Jul ’17), and I made the decision in June last year to get my 1923 bucket built for the upcoming Valla Rod Run, as we realised it would be the car’s 100th-year celebration. So, we only had 11 weeks to get it done. As I’d spent the prior five years collecting parts, we could just smash it out.

When did the parts collection commence?

After Valla 2018, I thought, “This is it, I need a car!” At Valla, we’d cruise in topless cars, so I wanted to have something similar, and T-buckets looked like fun – plus they were something different to what Dad had built in the past. So, I bought a body that I’d seen for sale at Valla, and then I found a chassis a couple of months later. Over the years, I slowly collected parts, but I only got serious about the build last year.

How close to completion was it before the 11-week frenzy?

It was a rolling chassis at that point. After work every night, there were usually up to six of us working together in the shed – mostly Drag-Ens members and other friends. It was a huge team effort, and it never would’ve been finished in time without everyone’s help.

What’s the driveline?

It’s running a TH350 trans and a nine-inch diff, which Dad had in the shed. The 305ci Chev came up for a good price, so it just made sense to grab it. Those 17in and 18in Billet Specialties rims were originally for Dad’s hot rod – I had two rear American Racing rims that I loved, but I couldn’t get a matching front set. As it got close to the finish line, Dad agreed to sell me his wheels, and I love them now!

When was the T driveable?

I got rego on the Friday before Valla ’23, and on Saturday I did a 100km shakedown run. Then on Sunday, we headed off on the six-and-a-half-hour trip to Valla. I drove the T-bucket and Dad followed in his ’34 Ford. There weren’t any major problems, although I did run out of fuel, as it was running really rich and drinking more fuel than Dad’s worked V8! The drive was tiring, but I had a smile the whole way. And as I drove into Valla, my friends were all smiling and waving at me, which was exciting.

Is it fun to drive?

I’m the right height, so I fit behind the windscreen – just. It drives really good, and the engine is perfect; there have been no real problems, which has been a shock to me. Already, I’ve driven it thousands of kays, and I’m keen to keep getting to events, including the Australian Bucket Nationals, and back to Valla, of course.

Girls — wanna be famous? Become an Iron Maiden! Email car details, pics (2MB+) and contact deets to [email protected]. You and your ride could appear in the mag!