In it's "pre-Kookie" days, Norm Grabowski's influential T-bucket graced the cover of Hot Rod sporting a blower on the Cad engine and black paint without flames. 

Norm

Here's Norm's car in it's first incarnation when he ran a blower with a single 4 barrel and before flames appeared on the body.

My original T-bucket inspiration

Norm Grabowski's "Kookie" car from the TV series 77 Sunset Strip got me hooked on the T-bucket hot rod 47 years ago.

Norm Grabowski's T-bucket, which was likely one of the most influential cars in hot rod history, met its end with this desecration. "Hmmm, I'll just add two more headlights, two more rear tires, two blowers, two high-back bucket seats and, oh yeah, the most hideous exhaust stacks ever seen on a rod." I can see a clueless ten-year-old building a model car with this "more is better" attitude -- however, for an adult to do this to a car that was inherently so visually perfect is absolutely shameful!
 

The Norm Grabowski-built "Kookie Car" from 77 Sunset Strip. 

The wealth of chrome gracing the March, 1962 cover of Hot Rod was found on the Highland Plating Special, which had its roots as Dick Kraft's T-bucket. 

While Dick Kraft may be most famous for his pioneer rail job, the "bug", his T-bucket which was built for dry lakes racing in the 1940's later morphed into the Highland Plating Special. 

Ivo's Buick powered T-bucket also appeared in the movie, "The Choppers." 

TV Tommy Ivo's T-bucket appeared in several movies, including the Ghost of Dragstrip Hollow. 

Ivo's T-bucket

"TV" Tommy Ivo's Buick "nailhead" powered dual-threat T-bucket was another great inspiration for me. Not only did it look great, but it was a consistent winner at the drag strip.