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Jan 28, 2010 · The car started its film career in 1955, but the 1958-1963 TV show “77 Sunset Strip” made it famous and inspired LIFE magazine to do a hot-rod-themed issue that featured the Kookie Kar.
Apr 9, 2010 · The popularity of the TV series and the teen idol status of Edd Byrnes' Kookie character made the car famous and gave it the nickname that it, and every replica, has worn since.
- Ford
- 2 min
- 1922
May 1, 2018 · But he was never one to be satisfied with his rides, constantly modifying it until it splashed on the national TV screen in the series, 77 Sunset Strip in 1958. There it earned the nickname of “Kookie’s Kar”; as it was the ride of car valet Gerald Kookson, aka Kookie.
- Mark Bach
- The Lightning Bug
- The Kookie T
- Life Magazine Appearance
- 77 Sunset Strip
- Peter Gunn - Sisters of The Friendless
- The Skonzakes Iteration
- Dual Headlights and Superchargers
- Out of Storage
- Clones
- The Car That Ate My Brain
In 1952 Norm bought a fenderless 1931 Ford Model A V-8 roadster for $100. The A body was swapped for the front half of a 1922 Ford Model T touring with a shortened Model A pickup bed. 20 some inches were removed of the rear framerails, starting six inches forward of the cross member. Up front, Norm installed a Ross steering box from a milk truck. A...
By November of 1956, Norm had added a four deuce manifold and a wild flame job to the car. Valley Custom Shop gave the car its 1956 Dodge Royal Blue paint job, while Dean Jeffries applied the flames and pinstriping. Later on, Norm told Richard Noblethat he made the grill for this version of the car out of heavy gauge wire that was woven. He took it...
A photo of the Kookie T appeared in Life Magazine April 29, 1957. It was taken under the lights at Bob's Big Boy in Toluca Lake, with Norm wolfing down dinner. Posters were later made showing the car on the cover of that magazine.
This version of the car was the version that appeared as the car of Beatnik-lingo valet Edd "Kookie" Byrnes on the TV series 77 Sunset Strip. This is the car that launched the T-bucket craze, as well as Grabowski's long career as a character actor, usually playing good-natured oafs named "Moose" or "Bronko."
Norm and the Kookie T appeared in an episode of the show Peter Gunn in 1958. It was on TV for three seasons, and Norm and the Kookie T appeared in episode number 13 in season one, in an episode entitled "Sisters of the Friendless."
In 1959 Norm sold the roadster to Jim Skonzakes of Dayton, Ohio. Jim purchased the car for $3,000. After buying it, he brought it to Larry Watson at Watson's House of Stylefor a cosmetic makeover. Larry gave the car a Rose Pearl paint job with Candy Red flames. The flames featured black tips and white pinstriping. Inside it received a white pearl-b...
After touring the car for a while, Jim had it fitted with dual headlights, dual superchargers, dual slicks, and zoomie headers as tall as the windshield. In 2017 Norm's bucket was still owned by Jim Skonzakes, kept in storage next to The Golden Sahara.
In November of 2017 Jim passed away. In March of 2018the Kookie T was pulled from storage in order to be sold at an auction in May. Recent photos of the car surfaced on Instagram March 13, 2018.
Several clones of the car have been built over the years. Von Francohas built two perfect clones of both Grabowski versions of the car. Ron Kregoski's Kookie T
In 2008 Piero DeLuca created a documentary movie about the famous Model T Roadster called The Car That Ate My Brain. In the movie Von Francotells the history of Norm’s car along with never before seen home movies and pictures.
I didn't care anything about the detectives but sure liked "Kool Kookie" and his hot rod. Several years ago I got interested in '50s TV reruns after seeing Perry Mason and tried to find 77 Sunset Strip but it was not offered at the time. But now it's on and of course I watch it.
Jun 4, 2010 · Sacramento Vintage Ford is selling models of Kookie's kar from 77 Sunset Strip. I have to say they are fairly expensive for a model, but I know a bunch of you guys grew up on this show and were inspired by his hot rod, so I figured I put this link up for you model enthusiast! $150 for a 1:24 scale model, $195 if you want one signed by Norm ...
People also ask
Was Kookie Star based on 77 Sunset Strip?
Who played Kookie on 77 Sunset Strip?
What happened to Kookie T?
Did Ross Myers restore a 77 Sunset Strip Hot Rod?
This Danbury Mint Die Cast 1:24 scale Limited Edition Kookie's Kar (also spelled Kookie's Car, Kookies Kar, and Kookie Kar) in Box with Original Packaging is a must-have for hot rod collectors, fans of the TV show 77 Sunset Strip , car collectors… you get the idea.
