Came across these photos on Life magazine archive webb site. Thought you guys may enjoy
AL

 

Interesting pictures, thanks.

 

it is amazing how far thinking Tucker was. it is also a total shame at what the big three (along with the feds) did to him and put him through. think where cars would be today if people like him had been able to see their dreams to fruition.

 

Fill me in on what the Feds did. Interested. Very much a history buff when it comes to this kind of thing.
AL

 

I am intrested too i love things like this .

 

because of the power of the big three and their connections with the gov. they managed to "convince" several powerful politicians to push investications into Tuckers finances, the safety of the cars, permits for plants, etc, etc. this and the years of being dragged through the courts defending his car took its toll. the feds did not put him out of business, just made it a bigger burden with little things all due to the pressure the big three were feeling.

 

many things we think of as mainstream in cars today came from Tucker. from the wikipedia site
His specifications called for a water-cooled aluminum block[1] flat-6 rear engine, disc brakes, four-wheel independent suspension,[1] fuel injection, the location of all instruments within reach of the steering wheel, seat belts, and a padded dashboard.

there were others like the center headlight that moved with the steering, something that is now found on high end cars like Lexus and Mercedes. safety glass windshields that would pop out on hard impacts (lots of people were killed in those days impacting the windshield). the big three felt threatend that if his car was well recieved they would have to spend millions to make their cars match his and felt it was cheaper if he just went away. some of his innovations were out right stolen from him after the demise of Tucker cars.

 

pics I took of a Tucker...an amazing car,beautiful lines

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Very believable indeed. Thanks.
AL

 

Here are a few that I took in Chico last year, spent some time with the owner who also has some fifties era Olds in his collection.This car is what we would call a surviver or twenty footer and super rare...Tedd

 

I was at Barrett-Jackson some years ago when a blue Tucker sold for $300,000.00 Three hundred thousand. This year a blue Tucker sold for $3,000,000.00 Three Million. I would like to search the B-J archives and see if it is the same car---just curious. I haven't been there in about six or seven years so the first one sold a while back. Now, if it IS the same car, (the one I saw sell back then was certainly B-J quality)how good a return on your investment is THAT?

 

if you scroll down about half way there is a list of the cars, where they are and history on some. pretty interesting read

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Tucker_Sedan

 

My dream car is a 48 Tucker. IDA Automotive, located about 10 miles from me, has made at least one very nice replica, powered by a Caddy Northstar. I've had the pleasure of seeing a few originals, one at Francis Ford Coppola's Napa winery in 1999, and another (Waltz Blue) at the San Diego Car Museum. Of course, Coppola directed the film that is largely resp. for perpetuating the Tucker myth (the reality of the man and the car are not quite as simple).

If I ever win the lottery, I'll own one. For now, I must settle for my limited (1 of 250) Waltz Blue Tucker cookie car, bought back in the late 90s.



By the way, the tucker prototype was built-up from parts from a '42 Olds (among other cars).

I recommend the following site to those interested to learn more, esp. about the concocted tucker convertible: tuckerclub.org

 

When the big 3 muscled out Tucker they killed one of the best cars ever built. When they had Tucker in court all he had to prove was that he built I think it was 80 cars, and tucker had his guys drive them to the court house. And the judge wouldn't allow the jury to look out the window to see them parked on the street. The automotive industry would be alot different now i think if Tucker had been able to continue.

 

"History" via Hollywood.

 

Remove Hollywood from the equation and read, "The Indominable Tin Goose." I have it somewhere and it's been too long ago that I've read it, but the jury story rings a bell.

The Tin Goose being, of course, the original Tucker prototype. Named because it had hundreds of pounds of lead solder on it to smooth out the rough seams.


Mike

 

It amazes me how many awesome features they used to have back in the 40s-70s that they don't even have on today's modern cars!

 

I agree the big three didn't make it easy for him but he did start the business on a hope and a prayer and borrowed money. He was strung out monetarily and really took on more risk than what was logical for the time. Nash, Hudson and Studebaker were all starting to loose market share,It was a very tough time to start a new automobile company,let alone keep a old established company on it's feet. It's still hard enough in the best of times.... Tedd