Last new Tucker rolls off the assembly line.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Well, sort of.

The last Tucker assembled from original parts makes its public debut

Daniel Strohl at 8:59 am

When Preston Tucker’s automobile factory closed, it left behind the makings of more than a dozen additional vehicles, some of them rather easy to assemble, some a little more difficult. Now, more than 65 years later, one of the latter will soon make has made its public debut and become quite possibly the last Tucker to ever be built.

For the last quarter century, the total number of Tucker 48s built (not including the Tin Goose prototype) has stood at 51: 37 built and sold from the factory in Chicago, 13 completed after Tucker shut its doors, and one built from parts decades later. Yet Tucker enthusiasts have long known of a collection of parts floating around the collector car community that could, feasibly, come together to build one more Tucker. Those parts just needed somebody intrepid enough to put them all together.
....



Photo by Jay Follis.

So in the spring of 2010, {Tucker enthusiast John Schuler of Aurora, Indiana} sent the parts to Tucker expert Martyn Donaldson to have him take inventory of the haul. According to Tucker historians, factory engineers used chassis #1052 as the testbed for the automatic transmission Preston Tucker initially envisioned for the car; the engineers were actually able to get it running and driving around the factory with a dashboard and seats bolted to the chassis. Tucker #1018 had been wrecked in 1948, but its front sheetmetal remained undamaged. Schuler couldn’t likely source another automatic transmission – only one complete automatic transmission car had been built – so he had Gilliland rebuild a Tucker Y-1 transmission for the car.
....



Photo by Jay Follis.

Tucker #1052 debuted this past weekend at the Concours d’Elegance of America in St. John’s, Michigan (where it won its class), and will make a followup appearance at the Red Barns Spectacular at the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners, Michigan, where Follis serves as director of marketing. This year’s 35th annual Red Barns Spectacular will also include a De Lorean gathering to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Back to the Future films, a special display of highwheelers, and a Tin Can Tourist Camp.

[abakan]

1. What a great car

Too bad Preston Tucker was not allowed to compete with the big three.

[OnlinePoker]

9. In the movie "Tucker" they showed the FBI investigating the automaker

I wonder what is in the FBI files about this investigation. Who ordered them to do the investigation and how they trumped up charges against Preston Tucker. Unfortunately, being Canadian, I don't think I can do a freedom of information request through U.S. sources.

[abakan]

17. Being an American I can

What would you like to me to ask for?

[OnlinePoker]

18. I'm not sure how it works in the States.

In Canada, on an FOIA request, you can put down something like: All files related to the investigation of Preston Tucker or Tucker Corporation between January 1944 and October 1949 (the start of the trial). There is also an SEC report that was never made public though was partially leaked to Colliers in June 1949. I imagine a request like this would be massive, though.

[abakan]

19. What the heck!

In for a penny in for a pound. I'll give it a try and we will see what happens.

[OnlinePoker]

20. Nice. Thanks very much. n/t

[Tom_Foolery]

2. She's a beauty. n/t

[olddots]

3. America hates art

N.T.

[LongTomH]

4. Anyone remember: "Tucker The Man and His Dream?"

This was one of The few movies I remember where the audience cheered and applauded. The applause came during Jeff Bridges' courtroom speech.

[Tom_Foolery]

7. Great movie. n/t

[Brother Buzz]

14. I was working in Sonoma during the filming

Every day, there were modified Studebaker stand-ins running errands all around town. They were everywhere!

[KG]

5. You can still get a Delorean. warehouses full of parts that never got assembled

http://thenewswheel.com/you-can-still-buy-a-factory-new-delorean/

[yourout]

8. Any idea where I can get a decent working flux capacitor?

[MineralMan]

6. What a cool project!

[CaptainTruth]

10. Beautiful! One time when I went up to Lucasfilm, aka George's "ranch" ...

I saw all 3 of his Tuckers parked side by side in the parking garage. No doubt the only time in my life I'll see 3 of them together.

[hibbing]

11. Francis Ford Coppola

Coppola has one in the building of his winery in Geyserville, CA, I have been there a few times. He's also got a bunch of other stuff from Apocalypse Now, the Godfather's desk, his Oscars and a whole lot of other items. It is a fun place if you are in the area, I recommend going to his winery just to look at the memorabilia and enjoy the fantastic views of the Alexander Valley.


Peace

[MindPilot]

13. what a magnificent piece of automotive history!!

the Tucker was advanced way beyond is years. Look at those aero-style doors that wouldn't re-appear until the 1980s, rear/mid-engine, with a design that was so simple that it could be completely disassembled and reassembled with a handful of tools which were included. And to help the driver see in a turn, that center headlight was coupled to the steering. The story is told that the car is so well-balanced that it can be driven with three wheels.

Tucker learned the same lesson as DeLorean; the same lesson that being taught to Musk. You don't start a new car company in the US. Fortunately for all of us Elon Musk is not paying much attention.

[A HERETIC I AM]

15. Very cool!

Nice thread, great subject.

I clicked the link about the transmission and just spent 45 minutes searching 1950's and 1970's Cadillac Eldorado's!


Thanks. Interesting guy, that Tucker.

[awoke_in_2003]

16. We used to make beautiful cars

too bad the were gas guzzlers