V16-Powered Ford T-Bucket

This Ford T-bucket was built by Al Mathon of Hicksville, New York, and is powered by a 700ci V16 constructed from two Chevrolet small-block V8s. Breathing through two Holley four-barrel carburetors, the powerplant features a single crankshaft and is backed by an automatic transmission. The car is fitted with fiberglass bodywork and rides on a custom frame. Acquired several years ago by the Petersen Automotive Museum of Los Angeles, California.

Al Mathon was a welder and instructor from Long Island who built this roadster and its engine with his son. The V16 was constructed by cutting and welding two 350ci Chevrolet V8 engine blocks back-to-front to form a single unit with nine main bearings. Cylinder heads were combined in a similar fashion, and each side features a finned valve cover emblazoned with “Mathon V16.”

Two crankshafts were joined with a 45-degree offset into a single unit, as were two camshafts, so that each revolution delivers eight sequential power strokes. Induction is through dual Holley four-barrel carburetors, and two sets of exhaust headers run in parallel on each side, exiting in front of the rear wheels. The fiberglass body is mounted to a custom-fabricated tubular steel frame. The tubular front axle features a transverse leaf spring and radius rods. The distributor was custom-fabricated and is connected to a Mallory HyFire ignition box. 

The Ron Sturgeon Collection