Have you seen this T-bucket???

[GZM2024]

Hello,
Do you happen to know if this car is owned by someone in your community? My dad built this car in the '70s, and I have been searching for it for over 15 years in hopes of buying it back. Please see my story below and pictures attached.

PLEASE HELP ME FIND MY DAD’S T-BUCKET

My name is Zack Methvin (Longview, Texas). I have been searching for my Dad's T-Bucket that he hand-built from scratch for some 18+ years now. It is a 1923 T-Bucket Roadster that he started building in 1975 and completed in 1979 when we lived in Jackson, MS. For those familiar with Jackson, MS, in the 1970s & '80s, my dad (Lonnie Methvin) owned Northside Texaco on Northside Drive & IH-55N, next to John Bennett’s Union 76 station. In 1975, he bought the Briarwood Gulf at Canton Mart Road & I-55N and later acquired Briarwood Texaco at Briarwood Drive & I-55N.

Dad showed the car at the Jackson Trade Mart building in 1979 at the “World of Wheels” and won two classes with it. Later that year, he sold the car to Joe Speed, who at the time owned North Jackson Honda-Yamaha located at the corner of State St. & Briarwood Drive in Jackson. Around 1988, Joe sold the car to Gary Elliott, who lived in Brandon, near the reservoir. I tracked down Gary a few years back. He said he sold the car in 1991 to an elderly man named John Conner, who he recalled lived in Dallas, TX. He said Mr. Conner bought the car to drive his grandkids around in. I have followed up on every lead I have received, but no luck. I also had a lady call me a few years ago. She explained she saw the car at a at something called a “Black & Gold” car show in Dallas. She and her husband spoke to the man who owned the car who she described as an older gentleman who told her be bought the car to drive his grandkids around. So, it is my belief that Mr. John Conner could be the last known owner of the car in the DFW area. 3-4 years ago, a friend of mine who lives in the Frisco, Texas area said he saw the car on the DFW area Craigslist but he nor I could locate the ad or confirm it.

If you know of anyone with a car like this or if you know John Conner, please let me know, as I would like to check into it. I've researched the last known license plate (MS Antique #1196) with the DMV but have had no success. I do not have the VIN number or any other official documentation on the car. I've also searched for old insurance records and car clubs without success. I would be extremely grateful to anyone who might know anything about this vehicle or offer advice on how I can track this car without a VIN number.

Here are some very distinct characteristics that would identify this car:
1. Hand-cut walnut dash with centered gauge cluster (Stewart Warner Gauges)
2. Steering column is from an old VW bus, coming up through the floor and almost straight up and down
3. Custom made 6" dropped "T" style steering wheel with four brass spokes and wood ring (purchased from Florida Rod Shop in 1975/76)
4. Naugahyde tan color diamond style tufted and pleated interior
5. Brass radiator
6. 1976 Cadillac "firethorn" red paint color
7. Brass carriage lights on the cowl
8. 70's style Mustang/Pinto automatic floor shifter
9. Pin striping on the body sides in the door area and on the tailgate, with a big letter "T" on the cowling at the center base of the windshield
10. Originally had an LT1 350 engine with an Offenhauser cross-ram intake
11. TH400 transmission
12. Side "wind wings" attached to the sides of the windshield frame
13. Headlights from a 1931 Chevy

Note: The pictures showing the car with Cragar S/S wheels and a cross-ram intake were taken when Dad still owned it. After selling the car to Joe in 1979. He added the wire wheels & blower in 1980.

To be clear, I am ONLY searching for this car with hopes of buying it back—nothing else. The car is NOT stolen or anything like that. Dad passed away in 2017, and I would love now more than ever to buy the car back. I’ve been actively searching for this car for over many years. I had hoped to find it, buy it back, and surprise my dad with it, but unfortunately, that day will never happen. Even with him gone, this car is still EXTREMELY important to me with hopes of still getting it back.

If you could please spread the word around that would be greatly appreciated. I have posted all over Facebook, car clubs, and all kinds of various hot rod publications. Again, please share this with as many people as you can. I don’t know exactly what state the car could be in, but I feel it is still in the DFW area. There have been a couple of verified sightings of the car in the Dallas area over the last 6-8 years.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT! If you have some info, please email me initially, we can communicate via phone afterwards.

Thanks,
Zack Methvin

Email: methvin2020@gmail.com