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Welcome to Techsurvivors => Community => Topic started by: Texas Mac Man on July 20, 2009, 08:24:23 PM

Title: Ever see a "1948 TUCKER" automobile?
Post by: Texas Mac Man on July 20, 2009, 08:24:23 PM
Ever see a "1948 TUCKER" automobile? As a kid, I remember seeing it at the Texas State Fair. It was so advanced compared to the other '48 models. You may have seen the movie about it's development.

http://www.laubly.com/1948tucker.htm
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
Title: Ever see a "1948 TUCKER" automobile?
Post by: gunug on July 21, 2009, 05:36:49 AM
Isn't that the car that they made a movie about?  Very nice!
Title: Ever see a "1948 TUCKER" automobile?
Post by: chriskleeman on July 21, 2009, 08:28:16 AM
Pretty cool Tom!

Site does take a while to load, even on ADSL, so if you don't have a particularly fast internet connection be advised! toothgrin.gif

Chris
Title: Ever see a "1948 TUCKER" automobile?
Post by: Xairbusdriver on July 21, 2009, 09:46:35 AM
QUOTE
Site does take a while to load
That's the way history is! It takes a while for the unadulterated version to appear...tongue.gif

As for the car, I suspect we have a couple of TS members who can remember seeing their first Model T! rofl.gif
Title: Ever see a "1948 TUCKER" automobile?
Post by: RHPConsult on July 21, 2009, 11:09:03 AM
Speak for yourself, Mr. ABD!

In high school, I had a pal from a farm outside of town, who drove a Model A, well, just everywhere. We all drove that puppy.

Representative factoid: One below-zero winter's night in the early 40s, we (a bunch o' the guys) were en route to a basketball game - our little downstate Illinois town had a championship team. Suddenly, the car lurched a bit and the somewhat surprised passenger assembly observed one of its wheels rolling merrily down the road in the headlights. Too cold to do "much". No spare lug nuts in any hidden recesses. So we did what any red-blooded American boys would do. We 1) stopped laughing and 2) took 1 ea "exrra" nut off the 3 other wheels, installed them, and went on our merry way. Years and years later, on a visit home, I asked my pal whatever happened to that trusty Model A. He said it was still in use on his farm as a "utility vehicle", w/o a body, and still with 3 lug nuts only on each wheel. Memories, memories.

I saw a Tucker on an LA street when I was an undergraduate. "Cool" would not have encompassed its immediate impression, when – say – compared to my maroon, 2-door, Chevy PowerGlide! coupe.

From what I remember about the "real" events of Tucker and his automobile, the "reel" portrayal was typical Hollywood fantasy . . . essentially semi-unrecognizable hyperbole.

One problem, a 1948 automobile, purchased new by a Californian would/should (if memory serves) have a black/orange license plate. The blue/orange versions came later. So that may be a flaw in the writer's memoir. But, that's minor when considering the whole interesting account.

Thanks for posting


PS:

More pics than you can imagine, here . . .Tucker photos

Check especially the one with the open doors in the bottom row on Page 11, of that site.

Preston Tucker was a genius, born 30+ years too soon, apparently.
Title: Ever see a "1948 TUCKER" automobile?
Post by: beacher on July 23, 2009, 06:32:46 PM
Yep, the LeMay Car "Museum" (so far, about 25 years in, I think, it's only open 1 day a year, and it's so extensive that it's held in several different locations.  When LeMay died, a few years ago, a he left if to the city, with the understanding that they would build a display museumin for the cars, but so far, they haven't managed to do it) Tacoma has one, and you're right; it is truly a stunning automobile.  They first showed it a couple of years ago, and I was blown away  by it.  The engine was built by Howard Hughes (sp?), and the rest of the car companies ("Big 3") were terrified that the company would actually get off the ground, and give them a real run for their money. . .  Once again, the forces of capitalism conspired to screw the American public. . . BTW, the movie is well worth watching!