A hot ride

Mike Sciacca

It’s not everyday that you see a 1923 Ford Model T rolling down the

street.

But for those who live in the same friendly, Huntington Beach

neighborhood as Chris Hanson, the throwback to yesteryear is a common

site: a four-seat classic, painted black with a baby blue pin stripe, and

a removable top.

Hanson gave free rides to the neighborhood kids on the Fourth of July,

a free holiday pass of sorts, all in the name of fun, he said.

But for Hanson, it was just another exciting excursion for this

self-proclaimed adventurer -- a man who said he has sailed around the

world and flies hot air balloons.

His new venture is renting out vintage hot rods, and his “baby,” as he

has called it, is the ’23 Model T.

“It’s hot-roded out with headers, a high rise manifold and lots of

chrome,” he said. “It’s an automatic with a Mustang transmission. It’s an

awesome site.”

Hanson is renting out the ’23 Model T through Buckets of Fun, a

company he formed just nine months ago.

“A lot of people see these classic cars drive by and wonder what it

would be like to drive one,” said Ralph Cedillo, the mechanic who works

on the hot rod. “People who come to my shop see the Model T sitting

there, and inquire about driving it. Now, they actually have the chance

to drive their dream car.”

Although the plan is in its infant stages -- the ’23 Model T is his

first car -- he hopes to have a fleet of 10 hot rods.

“That’s my ultimate goal,” he said. “I moved to Huntington Beach from

Santa Barbara almost a year ago, just to get this adventure off the

ground.”

He chose Surf City based on reputation.

“I thought Huntington Beach was an ideal place to cruise the beach in

such a classic car,” he said.

Hanson cultivated his love of the automobile from his 86-year-old

father, who paid $25 for his first car, a 1925 Buick.

He has, by his own account, owned at least 50 cars in his 47 years. He

got his first hot rod while in high school, an American Motors AMX

two-seater. Later, he drove a 428 Cobra Jet Torino -- the same make that

won the 1969 Daytona 500.

Hanson, who has never raced a car, said he got the idea to rent out

vintage hot rods from attending numerous car shows.

“I used to get annoyed when I saw a sign on a classic car that read,

‘Please do not touch.’ Of course you want to touch it, to experience what

makes it special. With my hot rod, not only can you touch it -- you can

drive it, too,” he said.

After two years of research, Hanson claims he is the only person in

the country to rent out hot rods.

His hands-on approach to driving the hot rod, which he refers to as a

“beach buggy,” is indeed unique.

His Model T is available to rent for any special occasion or function.

The price to cruise around town in style is $200 for half a day, and

rates go up from there.

“I put the finishing touches on the car when I purchased it, like

adding new brakes and such, the things that make it a safe and legal

car,” Hanson said.

* MIKE SCIACCA covers sports and features. He can be reached at (714)

965-7171 or by e-mail at [email protected].