The 48 Tucker

[loknload]

I was in the presence of three of these great automobiles all under the same roof today. This has been one of my most favorite automobiles even before the movie came out. I just love'em and the story behind them and Preston Tucker the man who made them.
The three automobiles represented here were different revised models as they were produced. If you know this story there was only 50 of these cars produced and the government pulled the plug on them.
If you get to Hershey PA. Stop in at the auto museum them to see them,they are now there on permanent display along with a lot of other stuff from the Tucker factory! Check out Hershey's web page for the pics.
Sorry but I can't get the pictures to copy

 

[rwsmith]

Amazing innovations,

Variable transmission, crash safety, disc brakes, independent suspension, fuel injection, directional headlight and more. It was way, way too far ahead of its time.

 

[Qball]

Got to love a face like this.

 

[olcop]

I've asked this before, but I've always wondered if some of the designers from Tucker went on to Studebaker, to me anyway, the Studies resemble the Tucker in a lot of ways.
olcop

 

[loknload]

Qball thanks for posting the picture!
Oil cop if memory serves me correct yes some of them did go to Studebaker.
The main designer Alex Tremulis either went to Ford or GM, I don't remember which.

 

[Qball]

Some info here

Tucker 48 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[snowman]

Educate me on the rationale for a third headlight.

Andy

 

[HorizontalMike]

Andy,
The headlight turns in sync with the steering wheel... Turning right, the center headlight points to where you are actually going.

 

[Stubborn Dutchman]

The article references Chicago However the Preston Tucker home is in Ypsilanti, Michigan. It is/was owned by the owners of a plating plant located next door, where I worked. The central part of the plating plant was apprised of Tuckers auto plant. I was inside the Tucker home several times during its restoration.

I never bothered to learn the timeline between Ypsilanti and Chicago operations but was told that numerous pieces and parts of Tucker autos were still in the plant when my boss purchased the property.

I always thought it was cool to look at the old brick work and woodwork of the old plant versus the newer construction of the expansion areas. Lots of character and old time craftsmanship in the original building.

 

[amazingflapjack]

A flat, horizontally opposed 6 cylinder, kind of like a Subaru.

 

[snowman]

Andy,
The headlight turns in sync with the steering wheel... Turning right, the center headlight points to where you are actually going.

Thanks, Mike.

Andy

 

[smitret]

Tucker

There was one in an auto museum in Sarasota, FL. at one time.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

A flat, horizontally opposed 6 cylinder, kind of like a Subaru.

Or a Porsche.
It seems to me that Tucker's design capabilities greatly exceeded his
Manufacturing capabilities.

 

[LAKOTA169]

Tucker #15 at Stahl's Museum in Michigan.

 

[NeoBuckeye]

I was able to see one in person at the Cleveland Auto-rama a few years back. True was ahead of it's time.
I was surprised how long those cars were.

 

[THEWELSHM]

Way ahead of its time with that aluminum motor. Saw onebthat was used in the movie in stone mountain GA, as a Motörhead I could have spent hours if the family wasn't with me

Thewelshm

 

[Walter Rego]

There is one at the Coppola Winery in Napa valley, owned by Francis Ford Coppola and featured in the movie he produced with Jeff Bridges "Tucker, The Man And The Legend". It's a beautiful machine. Lots of great movie memorabilia from Coppola's career on display if you ever get a chance to visit, and of course great wines.

 

[shouldazagged]

The movie was excellent.

I remember magazine ads for the Tucker. I was fascinated.

 

[loknload]

The engine actually was an inverted helicopter engine converted over from air cooled to water cooled.
The 026 car that they have on display actually has the final refinements in and 1 of only 3 remaining with Tucker's automatic transmission in it, all the other were Cord manuals.
I came very close one time in being able to take a spin in one but as with my life history I was a day late and a dollar short!
I do own some actual stock certificates from the Tucker Corp., I'll never part with them! That's as close I'm ever going to come as to owning anything Tucker!