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| TUCKER (US) 1948 | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jan 24 2009, 02:45 PM (2,980 Views) | |
| DaWeber | Jan 24 2009, 02:45 PM Post #1 |
Station Wagon
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TUCKER (US) 1948 The Tucker Corporation in Chicago was founded by Preston Tucker in 1946. His previous experience in the automotive world gave him the desire to produce a very radical and streamlined car following the end of WWII . Designs for the "Torpedo" were introduced but were given major modifications before the finished product appeared two years later . This production model was called the "48" . Tucker emphasized passenger safety. He provided a popout windshield and padded dashboard where all guages were situated only in front of the driver's steering wheel. The most unusaul feature was the center cyclops headlight situated between the front of the sloping hood and the grille. This light was designed to move in the direction the car was turning. The cars were powered by a rear mounted six cylinder aircooled engine previously used to power wartime helicopters. Only 51 cars were assembled before production ceased due to a Federal Government investigation. By the time the hearings were over and Tucker was found innocent of being charged with fraud, the company closed due to lack of finances. According to the official register maintained by the Tucker Automobile Club of America (TACA), 47 cars still exist. Many are now preserved in various museums in the US. At last count two of the cars had been shipped to collectors in Japan and one was stored in a "chicken coop" for quite a few years in Brazil. One car , now owned by the Smithsonian Museum in Wash DC was surrendered to the Federal Government in a major drug arrest! TACA maintains an archive library at the Gilmore Museum in Michigan . This is a most intriguing atomobile company and has as noted above had a very unusul existence. The most recent model was issued by Hot Wheels in their Classics 5 Series. Previous models of varying degrees of accuracy and detail were produced by Johnny Lightning, Summer and Lion Models . This latter product was casted by Baron von Dobeneck in Germany in white metal and sold in kit form. These are reportedly still available. In my opinion the most realistic model of the Tucker to date was made by Johnny Lightning . Edited by DaWeber, Mar 2 2009, 06:55 PM.
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| ChFalkensteiner | Feb 1 2009, 12:40 PM Post #2 |
Subcompact
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I intend to continue posting pictures of real cars which I have taken myself to these threads, if nobody objects. In many cases (such as this one, for sure) better pictures can be found on the web, but the fact that these pictures document cars I have seen with my own eyes makes them special to me. Since we have hardly any Tuckers over here in Europe, I only ever spotted some during my various US trips. This picture was taken at the Petersen museum in Los Angeles in 2005. Edited by ChFalkensteiner, Feb 1 2009, 03:15 PM.
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| James | Feb 1 2009, 01:06 PM Post #3 |
Mr.Bowtie
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Hmmmmm, lost the pic somewhere in quantum space. I have never seen a Tucker in real like, Movies yes, real life NO :o( |
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| accobra64 | Feb 1 2009, 01:26 PM Post #4 |
Minivan
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Thanks Dave for doing this topic on the Tucker. I enjoyed reading it. Cheers. Cobra |
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| Swifty | Feb 1 2009, 07:02 PM Post #5 |
The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
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No objections at all! It's always good to see what the real cars look like! But I'm not seeing the Tucker picture? |
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| DaWeber | Feb 1 2009, 08:00 PM Post #6 |
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Station Wagon
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FYI ( For Your Info) www.tuckerclub.org is the official site for TACA (Tucker Automobile Club of America) now headquartered at the Gilmore Museum in MI. As I recall Preston Tucker's nephew was the curator for many years and may still be involved. I think they also have a few of the fibreglass copies ther that were used in the movie in 1989 also. This site does list all 51 cars plus the Tin Goose prototype . According to their list there are 21 cars on display to the public to be seen . But unfortunately the list does not ID the specific museums by name - just sometimes a city , but always a state or country. As I previously stated 2 are in Japan. #1004 is on display in Nagakutecho JA . # 1020 also in JA is not available. The one in Sao Paulo Brazil i# 1035 is still there but not on display. Now # 1049 is in Old Oxted Surrey, England. States where the cars are displayed are CA (4), FL, IN (2), MI (2), MS, NE, NV, PA (2), TX, VA (3), WA and WI . The 2 from PA are at the Swigart Museum in Huntingdon PA. The AACA Museum in Hershey is supposed to receive 3 in a donation sometime in the future. When I was somewhat younger ; almost 20 years ago, I joined TACA to try to find out what small scale models wer available. There were none at that time. |
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| Swifty | Feb 1 2009, 08:15 PM Post #7 |
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The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
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When the three arrive in Hershey, Pennsylvania will have 10% of the Tucker production run! I hope the AACA will loan them to other museums as well. |
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| STUTZ | Feb 1 2009, 11:16 PM Post #8 |
Diecast junkie
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Brooklin Models made a 1/43 scale Tucker in 1974. While 1/43 scale isn't small, it certainly isn't large either. The Tucker was model #2 for Brooklin. Many old time collecters call 1/43 scale "International Scale" because it is a scale popular all over the world.  This Brooklin Model was made for the Tucker Automobile Club of America Convention (June 26th-28th 1992).    
Edited by STUTZ, Feb 1 2009, 11:36 PM.
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| STUTZ | Feb 1 2009, 11:48 PM Post #9 |
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Diecast junkie
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The Harold LeMay Auto Museum has an awesome 1948 Tucker. It's evening gown blue and has the original engine and suspension. Does anyone know were the filler for the gas tank is located? It's hidden. http://www.lemaymuseum.org/vehicles.php?vid=1829 |
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| STUTZ | Feb 2 2009, 01:27 AM Post #10 |
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Diecast junkie
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Here the movie trailer for Tucker...The Man And His Dream. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL-AFSAIln0 |
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| Swifty | Feb 2 2009, 01:57 AM Post #11 |
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The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
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The Tucker is likely the easiest of the orphans to gain information on, and a lot of it has to do because of this movie! |
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| ChFalkensteiner | Feb 2 2009, 02:23 AM Post #12 |
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Subcompact
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Another attempt to post my picture...
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| DaWeber | Feb 2 2009, 04:53 PM Post #13 |
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Station Wagon
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That looks like the Peterson museum car. If so, it carries body # 1030. I specifically omitted the 1;43 models as I do not consider them to be small scale. Brooklin was not alone in 1:43Yat ming, Solido and Matchbox/ Dinky as well. Edited by DaWeber, Feb 2 2009, 05:09 PM.
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| Swifty | Feb 2 2009, 09:51 PM Post #14 |
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The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
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Micro Machines did one in their range back in the late '80s/early '90s, and since they're much smaller than 1/64, I guess they'd technically be small scale.  Yat Ming did a 1/18 also if memory serves me. |
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| AQUA XK8 | Feb 3 2009, 07:52 AM Post #15 |
Fullsize
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It appears that none of us know where it's located. It seems like a cool piece of trivia to know. |
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| STUTZ | Feb 3 2009, 01:52 PM Post #16 |
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Diecast junkie
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It's on the driver's side on the rear fender (the chrome part on the fender behind the passenger door). |
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| AQUA XK8 | Feb 3 2009, 02:28 PM Post #17 |
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Fullsize
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Thanks for that info. I spent a long time on the internet trying to find that out, but it was an interesting topic for me to pursue. |
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| STUTZ | Feb 3 2009, 05:18 PM Post #18 |
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Diecast junkie
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I bought a box set with 4 car DVDs in Vegas last year and one DVD showed where the gas filler is for the 1948 Tucker David. Truthfully, I never gave a thought where the gas filller was.  A little over two weeks from today I'll be in Vegas for 7 days and look forward to attending the Super Convention (diecast). There is so much going on at the 4 day Super Convention! I hope I can get some special Johnny Lightning and Greenlight convention cars. |
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| Sak | Feb 3 2009, 06:06 PM Post #19 |
Ezekiel 25:17
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There is nothing like seeing the Tin Goose in the fl- uh...SHEET METAL  It's as beautiful a car as there is.
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| DaWeber | Feb 3 2009, 06:51 PM Post #20 |
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Station Wagon
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Even the unusual placement of the gasoline filler cap reflects on the personality of Tucker and his "dreams"!
Edited by DaWeber, Feb 3 2009, 06:56 PM.
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| STUTZ | Feb 11 2009, 07:55 PM Post #21 |
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Diecast junkie
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Here's where the gas filler is for the 1948 Tucker Torpedo. JL put a gas door on the front fender (WRONG!) on the 1/64 scale 1948 Tucker Torpedo. 
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| Swifty | Feb 11 2009, 09:33 PM Post #22 |
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The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
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Wow, you're right! I never even noticed that glaring detail on the JL before. How could they get that one wrong?!? |
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| Stangfreak | Feb 11 2009, 09:48 PM Post #23 |
Convertible
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One amazing car and story, if ya ask me !!! 
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| Stangfreak | Feb 11 2009, 09:54 PM Post #24 |
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Convertible
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They also put the gas filler tube in the front fenders on some !!! 
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| Swifty | Feb 11 2009, 09:56 PM Post #25 |
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The Mustang II is a Mustang too!
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So JL wasn't wrong. Interesting... I guess Tuckers were works in progress.
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