History Searching for 1948 Tucker photos

Yes, Tucker #1043 has been restored to its original Waltz Blue and is in a private collection.

 

http://www.russoandsteele.com/collector_car/1948_tucker_48_convertible__/42-6409.html

 

8 door, you didn't read the whole thread, did you?

 

"Anything new?"



Just an article from the September 1947 Popular Mechanics.



Mutt

 

My question is, didn't the Al Pruett who signed the affidavit attesting to the ragtop's authenticity leave himself open to lawsuits and even maybe criminal fraud charges by claiming he saw #57 in pieces and that it was always meant to be a convertible?

And isn't R&S taking a chance by misrepresenting this car?

Just askin'.

Frank C.

 

Unfortunately the link does say that it is from over a year ago and is old news. The car didn't sell at the auction.

Prueitt actually was the one that blew the entire story to bits. After his affidavit came out he was blasted by collectors because it really said nothing. He came back a month or two later and clarified it but then provided the answer to the story by admitting the car was not in Chicago where it was supposed to be and where it had to be in order for the story to be true. Prueitt said the car was in Detroit and from there it was easily proved that it never was a factory convertible. Of course that's the short version and I don't want to waste my time rehashing the story.

 

I'd be shocked if the lawyers haven't latched on to this deal already. Has anyone connected with this project (besides Pruett) recanted?

Frank C.

 

TF48 & FC, thank you for this entire thread. It may have taken three days to read the whole thing, but I've learned a great deal. TF, I will go along with the book idea. There is a similar book going over Ford's GT40 program and a history of each car at the back of the book. I would buy a similar Tucker book. This are definitely unique vehicles, both in style and history.

TF, one other thing. After reading all of this, I can understand why the Tucker Club is rather sore about 1057. Many of us don't know the history and it's an extremely interesting, good, bad or indifferent. It definitely would have been nice to have seen this built as a '49.

 

You are most welcome. There has been a lot of new information generated off this thread and I hope it continues. There are still a few mysteries to solve. I'd really like to figure out the car in Oklahoma. There must be someone in Tulsa that reads this thread. 2'53228 where are you?

 

Finally got a chance to look one over this week. My son thinks i'm a Tucker guru, I didn't tell him I read this thread...[/IMG]

 

here is one that I saw this weekend at the Nethercutt museum in Sylmar Ca

 

That shot of the interior of the Tucker is interesting, as it differs quite a bit from the "production" version. I'm assuming these magazine pics are of the Tin Goose prototype, and if so, that instrument panel, steering wheel and other details, were changed somewhere along the way, as this is not what the Jack Lemmo Tin Goose looks like today. Plus, unlike the car in the PM photos, the Goose now has a 335 Franklin and preselecter 4-speed in it, instead of the 5x5 and torque-converters. I bet that original dash is squirreled away in someone's barn waiting to be discovered.

Frank C.

 

Is this at the Smithsonian Museum?

 

Yes, I was there a few days ago, had a good look at this one, as well as a couple of other significant cars I didn't know were in there, a Miller, and the "Elvis" roadster..

 

Interesting Video about Mr Tucker


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The Old Cars Weekly April 21st issue has a letter to the editor about a Tucker that was spotted in Syracuse NY. The writer hopes to find out which number car he saw and where it is now. I guess he didn't know about our little thread. (see answer below)



The Tucker in the photo is Tucker #1023. Sadly the car was destroyed in a fire on 9/29/1978 in Deland FL. The fire got so hot much of the rear of the car was melted together. The firemen later moved a steel beam which dropped across the front of the car.

One of the Tucker Club founders, Richard Jones of Florida, bought the remains and salvaged the remaining usable parts off of the car. What was left after that was crushed and was buried under his garage.

Here are pictures of the car in 1974 and after the fire in 1978.



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Does anyone know the date those Syracuse Tucker photos were taken? I'm a Syracuse native. My fascination with Tucker began in the early 1950s when I was riding with my father and he spotted a Tucker in a lot and made a big deal out of it, explaining to me why it was special and that the motors were made in Syracuse, etc., etc. I'm wondering if this is the car.

Frank C.

 

I spoke with the guy that took the photos. He estimated they were taken about 1952 or 53. Through my research I found the lot was located at 2442 Erie Blvd E. (there is a McDonalds located there now). The car was on the lot for well over a year and may have been in town longer. I don't believe it was ever sold. At this point I think the guy that brought it to town took it with him when he left and had it until 1978.

 

Thanks! I bet it was the same car that we saw that day. At any rate, it touched off a fascination that endures to this day. Do your records have anything about any Tuckers in Rochester, NY?

Frank C.

 

Yes, that same car was at a dearlership in Rochester NY when the plant closed. It was sold at the Plant Auction in October of 1950.

 

Was it at the 360 East Ave. Tucker dealer?

Frank C.

 

Do you have the records of the plant auction? It'd be interesting to see how what prices were for various items.

Frank C.

 

There's a blue Tucker in the third video, just in case you haven't seen it yet, at the 4:54 and 7:48 marks:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/?p=1836

 

Actually that is a grey or silver color on Tucker #1022 whose owner lived in Norwalk during that period. The car is now part of Dave Cammack's wonderful collection of Tuckers

 

Jusst saw an Interstate Battery commercial with a Tucker in it...Pretty neat.

 

Where?

 

On TV. I don't know what channel.

 

OK, Found it on You tube "interstae batteries gods love" Halfway through the vidio.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ifibwk5o40&feature=related

Animated commercial. It shows up from :08 to :17 seconds

Interesting that it shows a late numbered Tucker with early hubcaps. The only two late numbered Tuckers that color would have been #1028 or #1040 and #1028 actually does have early hubcaps on it.

 

Interesting that they chose a Tucker. They must have used #1028 as a reference.??