History Searching for 1948 Tucker photos

That was the Chicago Historical Antique Automobile Museum in my hometown, Highland Park. They also had a bunch of other cars of the stars there. We visited frequently. The building still exists:



Alex had come to visit on one of his many visits and he autographed one of his Tucker blueprints for the museum. That blueprint, and the Tucker car that was there, ended up with Speedy Bill Smith in Lincoln, Nebraska. The number is 1024. We paid him a visit a few years ago, and he truly loved that car! It's being taken very good care of with the best of mechanics. A fitting place, The Museum of American Speed. It's well worth a visit...

 

^^ Thank you for helping my memory on the Chicago museum. Does anyone know the story about the Tucker in Prescott AZ that's was sold cheap by the son of the owner of the car. Third hand rumor so I don't know if any truth to it.

 

The Arizona Tucker was #1046, the one that had the front engine. Here's part of the story:
When the Tucker factory was shut down several employees came in on their own time and completed or nearly completed 13 cars. Tucker #1046 was one of these last cars built.
In the 1950's a man by the name of Nick Jenin started to purchase anything Tucker he coud find. He ended up owning 10 Tuckers, several engines, test chassis, and assorted memorbilia. He took these cars around the country and displayed them at fairs, armories and civic halls.
He wanted to have a Tucker that he could drive all the time so he removed the chassis and engine and used it in his show. He then place the body of Tucker #1046 onto an Oldsmobile chassis with a front engine. Remember that the car was only 16 years old and considered a novelty rather than a collectible.
In the early 1960's he decided to sell his collection and offered it "complete" for $38,000. That was for 10 cars! Today that is nearly 10% of what you would pay for a Tucker. He could not find any buyers. The famed Harrah's collection in Reno thought it was, "far too much for a bunch of cars that will never amount to anything". They apparently changed their opinion because they have owned 3 Tuckers over the years.
In 1963 Jenin sold Tucker #1046 to a Oregon Mercury dealer who decided to place a new 1964 Mercury chassis and engine under the car. They used it to promote his dealership for years. Later they became very involved with preserving the Tucker story by being a member of the Tucker Automobile Club of America.
Due to health problems the car was offered for sale in June 2002 at the Las Vegas Kruse Auction held at the Mandalay Bay Casino. This rare car was offered at "No Reserve" meaning the highest bidder would own it. The car sold at a bargain price to a couple from Arizona.

I thought it sold at Kruse for around $50,000. It then went on Ebay around 2007 (there is a story there, but I don't know the details) and sold for $202,000. It's now fully restored back to original and it should be making the rounds later this year.

 

My mother just told a story about the one she saw. She was 8 in 1948 and at Ketchum auto parts store at 119 st and vincennes which was at Chicago and Blue Island city limits. The red tucker was parked on the side of the building. She recalls seeing it a couple times.
My dad lived in Wenona il. And had a tucker drove through on main street with a radio add being played. Also 1948 he believes

 

http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/...from-original-parts-to-make-its-public-debut/

 

Awesome that one more was built from spare parts, the shop did a great job fabricating all the pieces that were missing. Building the roof and back doors from scratch had to be tough!

 

Tuckerfan- Could you email me? I have a question for you. Don't know how to send PM's on here.

Thanks,

Chad

[email protected]

 

The Tucker #1024 that is in the Bill Smith collection at the Museum of Speed in Lincoln, NE actually came from the Gast Museum in Lancaster, PA. I have followed the history of this particular car since it was new and to my knowledge it was never in this museum in the Chicago area.

 

Here is where that photoshopped pic with Henry came from. I hate when something is trying to be passed off as fact. My dad did work on a Tucker a while back. I'll see if I can get some info and pictures.

 

Both Henry and Edsel had already passed away when that photo would have been taken.

 

Notice the shoes on the person on the right are the same in each pic.
And, the suitcase is the same in both. "Henry's" grip looks very awkward as well.

#1024 in Smith's Museum (might have posted this before...)

 

This was quite a number of years ago at a car museum in TX. I was bad and touched the Tucker when they were not looking.

 

^^^^Another cold case file that can be finally closed.

 

LOL... Tucker Toucher! Tucker Toucher! Tucker Toucher!

And you haven't washed that hand ever since... ?

 

Tucker_1949 by 91Bear posted Feb 19, 2016 at 10:19 AM

I found this in the San Antonio (TX) Light newspaper from March 25, 1949.

 

http://www.hemmings.com/magazine/hcc/2012/03/Racing-Rarity/3709361.html

 

Any history or info on whereabouts of this car?

 

That is a movie car from Sin City 2. Owned and created by Rob Ida....see more on Instagram (search
rob_ida)

The same designer was on the Tucker and X1: Alex Tremulis.
Addition Tucker design info: http://www.gyronautx1.com/live-updates

 

I have been gone from the Shenango Valley for over 50 years, but distinctly remember a Tucker sitting on the left side of a garage on East State Street in Sharon in the mid to late 60's. I just did a Google Earth "walk" and the garage is still there, now called Pete's Garage. I bet this was the Tucker you spoke of in it's later years.

 

Here's a pic of the Tucker in the Coppola Winery in California.

 

Hi,

I have a strong feeling this photo is of Car #1018 given the date of August of 1948 and its location of Hamburg, NY - can anyone confirm this for me?



Thanks,

~ Brian