Born, 115 years ago today, Preston Tucker

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Preston Tucker

Preston Thomas Tucker (September 21, 1903 – December 26, 1956) was an American automobile entrepreneur.

He is most remembered for his Tucker 48 sedan, initially nicknamed the "Tucker Torpedo", an automobile which introduced many features that have since become widely used in modern cars. Production of the Tucker '48 was shut down amidst scandal and controversial accusations of stock fraud on March 3, 1949. The 1988 movie Tucker: The Man and His Dream is based on Tucker's spirit and the saga surrounding the car's production.
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Tucker Corporation and the 1948 Tucker Sedan (1944–1947)



Tucker Corporation Christmas Card, 1947. The card illustrates the basic design of the 1948 Tucker, but with non-production trim.

Main article: Tucker 48

After the war, the public was ready for totally new car designs., but the Big Three Detroit automakers had not developed any new models since 1941, and were in no hurry to introduce them. This provided great opportunities for new small, independent automakers who could develop new cars more rapidly than the huge legacy automakers. Tucker saw this as his opportunity to develop and bring his "car of tomorrow" to market. Another small automaker, Studebaker, was first with an all-new post-war model, but Tucker took a different tack, designing a safety car with innovative features and modern styling.

Tucker's first design appeared in Science Illustrated magazine in December 1946, showing a futuristic version of the car with a hydraulic drive system designed by George Lawson, along with a photo of a 1/8 scale model blown up to appear full sized, titled the "Torpedo on Wheels". This was only an early rendering of the proposal, with its design features yet to meet reality, but the motoring public was now excited about the Tucker.'
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I've seen two of them. In the city where I live, there used to be another to on sort of a private display. I never got around to seeing them. Bad choice. They're not in my city anymore.

Tucker collector David Cammack dies

Let's go for a ride! I'd be a nervous wreck driving this. I can just imagine someone pulling out of a parking spot into its side.

Who can resist?

Ooooh: Packard Caribbean at 2:20.

[red dog 1]

1. Back in the 1960s, there was a 1948 Tucker on display at the Sutro Museum in San Francisco

I loved going to that place.
I'd always go over to where the Tucker was and marvel at it.
They had a roped off area around it, so you couldn't touch it, but the front door was left open so you could look in.

A friend of mine was driving down the street in Richmond one day (back in the '60s I think) and he spotted a Tucker parked at Mel's Drive In.
He quickly made a U-turn, went back there, and got out to see it up close.
(He still talks about it to this day).

[gibraltar72]

2. My older cousin grew up in Ypsilanti Michigan

and went to school with Prestons son. As the cars were assembled they were taken to Prestons barn. the boy would tell my cousin they're taking one out for a test drive occasionally. They would be in the back seat waiting and would be allowed to go usually with Preston but sometimes someone else. That was a massive example of abuse of power and government corruption That brought Tucker down.

[Aristus]

3. There's one at the LeMay Car Museum in Tacoma.

I've seen it. It's a fascinating piece of machinery.

To Hell with the Big Three for shutting Tucker down...