Martin and Marion Bennett's Uncertain-T Recreation

Martin and Marion Bennett's Uncertain-T Recreation of Cambridge, New Zealand. The car is a recreation of Steve Scott's famous Uncertain-T show rod of Reseda, California. The recreation was completed in 2019, and it made its debut at the 2019 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Photo courtesy of www.nzrodder.co.nz.

A photo of Steve Scott with the original Uncertain-T in 1965. The idea for Steve's build came alive in 1960, after seeing a cartoon that a classmate had scribbled down. Steve was 17 years old when he started the build. He completed it five years later, and it made its debut at the 1965 Winternationals N.H.R.A. Custom Auto Fair. Bennett was inspired to re-create the vehicle after he put together a model car kit of the original Scott show car. Copyright Steve Scott.

An early construction photo of the car. A fiberglass company told Martin he should use a buck, but Martin decided to use the wooden buck as a body. Photo courtesy of www.nzrodder.co.nz.

The body, dash, and console on the car were handmade out of wood. The wood was covered in fiberglass and gel-coat to provide a good surface for the paint. Photo courtesy of www.nzrodder.co.nz.

Photo courtesy of www.nzrodder.co.nz.

Photo courtesy of www.nzrodder.co.nz.

The Uncertain T recreation was built in secret. This and a few other photos of it started popping up on Facebook November 4, 2019, the day before it's big SEMA Show debut. Photo courtesy of Autorama - World of Wheels - Cavalcade of Customs.

Photo by Alastair Ritchie courtesy of NZ Hot Rod Magazine.

Photo courtesy of Autorama - World of Wheels - Cavalcade of Customs.

Photo courtesy of Autorama - World of Wheels - Cavalcade of Customs.

Photo courtesy of Autorama - World of Wheels - Cavalcade of Customs.

Photo courtesy of Autorama - World of Wheels - Cavalcade of Customs.

Photo courtesy of Autorama - World of Wheels - Cavalcade of Customs.

Martin and Marion's Uncertain-T Recreation is featured on the cover of the upcoming New Zealand Rodder Issue Number 184. The magazine shot the car prior to it being loaded into the container, and they will have a huge in-depth feature of it with build pictures. Click here to order a copy from www.nzrodder.co.nz.

Photo courtesy of www.nzrodder.co.nz.

Photo courtesy of www.nzrodder.co.nz.

Photo courtesy of www.nzrodder.co.nz.

Martin and Marion's Uncertain-T recreation was featured on the cover of New Zealand Hot Rod December 2019.

In January of 2020 Martin and Marion's Uncertain-T Recreation was shown at the 71st Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, California. Photo courtesy of Charles LaGreca.

Photo courtesy of Howard Gribble.

Martin Bennett with the original "The Uncertain-T" at the 2024 Grand National Roadster Show. On January 23, 2024, the hot rod and custom car community was electrified with the announcement by renowned custom car builder and restorer Dave Shuten that the legendary "The Uncertain-T" had been found and that it now was part of the Galpin Auto Sports Collection. Lost for decades, this iconic show car resurfaced, much to the delight of enthusiasts and historians alike. Shuten's Instagram post revealed the excitement surrounding this discovery, sharing that the Uncertain-T would make its much-anticipated appearance at the 2024 Grand National Roadster Show and the Detroit Autorama. This news marked a monumental moment, not only for Shuten and the Galpin Collection but for the entire hot rod and custom car culture. Photo courtesy of Dave Willis.

Martin and Marion Bennett's Uncertain-T Recreation of Cambridge, New Zealand. The car is a recreation of Steve Scott's famous Uncertain-T show rod of Reseda, California. The idea for Steve's build came alive in 1960, after seeing a cartoon that a classmate had scribbled down. Steve was 17 years old when he started the build. He completed it five years later, and it made its debut at the 1965 Winternationals N.H.R.A. Custom Auto Fair.

Wooden Body

Bennett was inspired to re-create the Uncertain-T after he put together a model car kit of Steve Scott's car. In November of 2019 Alistair Davidson of New Zealand Rodder Magazine told Sondre Kvipt of Kustomrama that Bennet consulted a fiberglass company about the build. They told him he should use a buck, "but Martin said, "why not used the buck as the body?" So, Martin's tribute has a wood body." The body, dash, and console were handmade out of wood. The wood was covered in fiberglass and gel-coat to provide a good surface for the paint.

Approved by Steve Scott

Completed in 2019, the car made its debut at the 2019 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The car was built in secret, and photos of it started popping up on Facebook November 4, 2019, the day before it's the big debut. Sondre Kvipt asked original designer and builder, Steve Scott, about the newcomer, and he told us he was elated, "because it's a gorgeous, very well made tribute car."

SEMA Show Debut

Martin told Alistair Davidson that he was blown away by the reactions the car received after photos were spread online. He didn't originally intend to ship it to the US and do the show circuit but was presented with an opportunity that he just had to take.

The car will be shown at the Autorama – World of Wheels – Cavalcade of Customs booth at the SEMA Show. So just look up stand #23337 if you want to check it out at the show.

Magazine Features and Appearances

New Zealand Rodder Issue Number 184
New Zealand Hot Rod December 2019