Projects Creating New Tucker 48s and a Tucker Torpedo

Being a third generation Tucker fan, my families connection to Tucker started in 1947. My grandfather owned a dealership for Tucker in NYC. Even though the car company died, my grandfathers love for the car and the faith in Preston Tucker never did. He lived the rest of his life wanting a Tucker but never did get one. My father and I decided to create a car for him from scratch when he was in his early eighties. Unfortunately, my grandfather passed away just as we finished the car. He never took delivery of the car as he was in Fla when we finished the car in NJ. He planned to come up soon and see the car but it didn't go that way. We used the Handmade Tucker in his funeral.

Our family has maintained a relationship with the Tucker family. We are now working on a few Tucker related projects with the Tuckers. Every week, Sean Tucker (Preston's Great grandson) comes to my shop and we work on my new handmade Tucker. Sean not only brings the Tucker name to the project but also experience and knowledge. He is an Automotive Engineer currently working for Volvo and Mack Truck.

Below is a wooden buck that we made of the Tucker Torpedo. The Torpedo is the car that was designed but never built. It was the style that generated the interest and fueled the Tucker 48 sedan that we all know of. It has never gone beyond renderings and a scaled model. We are currently building this car from aluminum and want to bring it to life.

 

that will look nice!!

 

Whoa... very cool!!

Any pics of the rendering? I've never seen the torpedo?

 

i am a tucker fan

 

This was one of the many versions that were shown of the Tucker torpedo. Notice the center drive, steerable fenders, butterfly doors. Some of the ideas made it to the production cars in on form or another. I can post other version too.

 

Very cool!!!! This the version you're building?

 

we are making kind of a composite of the best of each style design. Petersen Museum has the actual 1/4 scale model that George Lawson designed for Preston Tucker. Even it is different from side to side. We took what we liked most from each and put it all together.

 

This is going to be an awesome build.. will it be true to tucker form with an engineering stand point or will be a modern interpretation? What will power this beast? Bell helo turbines sound cool!

 

Got a pic of the one you made?

 

it has a German pancake six cylinder with two turbines to create added power. It also has power driven to all four wheels.

 

This is one of our New Tucker 48s. Just finished recently and is currently being used in the making of a major motion picture.

 

Always liked the Tucker and been interested in the Tucker story.
Looking forward to more on this build.

 

I saw you & your twin on the spike's Hudson build. i was offered a Tucker back in the early 80's DAMN- did i miss the boat on that one!

 

I was the guy in the blue cap, The Tucker twins were there with me both wearing the green Tucker shirts.

 

How will the turbines be coupled to the drive train? Gas turbines or kerosene/diesel/jet?
Cool project.

 

That was just a HAMB friendly way of saying that Im using a twin Turbo Porsche AWD driveline.

 

Damn. That was my first thought, but turbines.....I was hoping!
Sorry your Grandpa never got to see he finished car. I'm sure he was proud.

 

Very interesting, good luck with the project.
subscribed

 

Holy crap. This is way over on the other end of the spectum from most of us hot rod builders! This thing should be awesome!

 

Amazing! That is really going to be something when you finish it. And that Tucker 48 is WOW!

 

Wow!

 

This is just too cool!!! What an awesome project and great, family history!! Thanks for posting this !!!!!!

 

I assume you are Rob Ida? Thanks for posting this here. I'm looking forward to watching the progress!


Malcolm

 

Thanks Guys, yes Malcolm I'm Rob. Check out the video my friend made about starting the Tucker Torpedo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-0K5KNFGIw

 

Just a curiousity thing, but why didn't you use the Franklin Flat 6?

Parts are still available through aviation connections.

Preston Tucker was yet another visionary laughed at by the establishment and vindicated by history.

 

I may use a helicopter engine in one of my cars, but I'm really into modern technology, Turbos and stuff. I'll not talk too much about that here because this site if for traditional Hot Rods so I'll keep my posts consistant with the theme of the forum. But I may power one with an aircooled Franklin engine in the future. My cars are built to be driven and customized however and not meant to be a wannabe of an original.

 

This is just to cool...Will be watching.

 

a few of my New Tuckers in my shop. The second car back is #51 original Tucker

 

This is amazing, I subscribed to the thread (first thread I've done so).

Best of luck and I cannot wait for more progress.

 

Hand Fabricated Bumpers and Trim.