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The Kneeslider

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Harley Sportster Powered T Bucket Roadster

By Paul Crowe

Harley Sportster powered T bucket roadster

Spotted this little T bucket roadster for sale powered by an 1100cc Sportster V-Twin. It looks pretty well done, though I’m not sure what type of racer he was trying to emulate since it has a wheelie bar like a drag racer, but it’s running dirt track tires. The wing could go either way. Maybe he wasn’t trying to emulate anything and was more interested in building something a little different, one of those projects that kinda grew and grew and just got away from him.

Harley Sportster powered T bucket roadster

He doesn’t say what it weighs, though it’s a single seater and looks pretty light so the V-Twin should move it around just fine. No mention of a reverse gear, either. Interesting.

Link: Harley T-bucket on eBay – auction over

Related: Harley Davidson powered cars

Harley Sportster powered T bucket roadster

Posted on July 17, 2012 Filed Under: Motor Vehicles


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Comments

  1. JP says

    July 17, 2012 at 10:56 am

    I’ve seen “normal” drag racers run dirt track tires. Especially the DOT carcass tires. I bet with him it was size issues. Not many wrinkle walls in those sizes he has there.

  2. gary says

    July 17, 2012 at 12:01 pm

    Harley sells a reverse option for the big cruisers or either way, companies like baker offer them aftermarket, so it’s probably got something to that tune. looks like a hoot, but i agree with you about the wing etc.

  3. GuitarSlinger says

    July 17, 2012 at 12:17 pm

    I’m not sure what you’d do with this if you owned it but it sure looks like a hoot and a half to drive !

    As to the tires I’m guessing he made due with the best he could find in the appropriate size . It kind of looks a bit like Wild Willy Borsch’s AA/FA back in the day .

  4. Rom says

    July 17, 2012 at 12:28 pm

    You’ve really got to be american to put a Harley engine in a performance vehicle… XD

    • Harold says

      July 18, 2012 at 2:19 am

      If that was a Buell engine, or an S&S 100 ci Sportster mill, (130 hp,) it would move fairly well…
      Who needs reverse, it probably weighs less than a Ghoul Wing or an FLH dresser?
      I see a rear sprocket (it has looong chain, or 2 chains and a jackshaft, but no differential; could get interesting if cornered fast. I hope that roll bar isn’t made of muffler moly…

  5. B50 Jim says

    July 17, 2012 at 3:29 pm

    I’ll bet it’s tons of fun to drive! Looks like an amalgam of several classes of dragsters — I’m not conversant with ’em so I can’t say what. It should scoot pretty well, though; I wonder if it’s for exhibition, “real” racing or just fun? Yeah, Rom, only an American would think of it; we didn’t invent the V-twin but we sure embraced it as our own, and this Sporty engine looks right at home in a T-bucket. Glad he didn’t turn it sideways, even if it needs a lo-o-o-o-ong chain to the rear axle. Wonder if it has a differential? Looking closely behind the engine, I think that’s an electric motor separate from the starter; could be an electric reverse drive.

    By the way, that’s a nice-looking frame; very strong but light in weight. And the car is totally impractical but that’s the idea.

  6. todd says

    July 17, 2012 at 5:36 pm

    Those have got to be 13″ (or smaller?) wheels. I’m thinking it’s one of those Mini-T’s like:
    http://www.eastcoastminiclassics.com/galleries/BucketTs/Largerf_with_Joanne_2.jpg

    -todd

  7. Bigshankhank says

    July 17, 2012 at 8:04 pm

    I hope the front cowl is open in some way which allows air to get to directly the cylinders. Ya know, heat issues and all.
    Otherwise, I think it looks pretty cool.

  8. Paulinator says

    July 17, 2012 at 8:36 pm

    At first glance I thought it was a riding mower. But after studying it closely I’ve come to the conclusion that it needs more ground clearance and a PTO.

    • c.k. says

      July 18, 2012 at 12:54 pm

      Nope. You were right the first time. It’s a riding mower.

      Although, It would be hilarious if Harley’s new business plan is to roll out fuel-efficient Eco-friendly 1100cc economy car a.k.a. BMW MINI 🙂

      Oh wait… they might actually do it… oh sh*t…

      • Rob says

        July 23, 2012 at 2:39 am

        Something for the local Indian market perhaps? Go up against the Nano.

  9. Rasmus says

    July 18, 2012 at 6:17 am

    It looks like half quad bike half lawnmower to me. No diff, small lawnmower-sized ball joints for front suspension, and rigid rear suspension. But probably a lot of fun to drive. I thing the wheelie bar will serve its purpose, if punished on new hot tarmac. 🙂 Cooling could be a problem though, with the gas tank and grill shielding off the wind..

  10. Mean Monkey says

    July 18, 2012 at 11:03 am

    Oh wow! This looks like serious fun!
    I can just see my ol’ woman jumping into it, too.

    Last night (07/17/12), PBS aired its Frontline program that profiled the West Philly High School automotive shop class’ attempt to the 2010 Progressive Automotive X PRIZE. They used Harley V-twins as their gasoline engine in the hybrid cars they built. Very inspiring.
    http://www.evxteam.org/

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