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- View of a 1948 Tucker Torpedo, with Press Release on Preston Tucker's Award from the Museum of Science and Industry - After unveiling his prototype Tucker 48 in June 1947, Preston Tucker took the car on a nationwide publicity tour. At New York's Museum of Science and Industry, thousands of visitors paid 48 cents each for a chance to view the car. Thousands more saw the prototype in Los Angeles, Chicago, and other American cities.
- circa 1948
- Collections - Artifact
View of a 1948 Tucker Torpedo, with Press Release on Preston Tucker's Award from the Museum of Science and Industry
After unveiling his prototype Tucker 48 in June 1947, Preston Tucker took the car on a nationwide publicity tour. At New York's Museum of Science and Industry, thousands of visitors paid 48 cents each for a chance to view the car. Thousands more saw the prototype in Los Angeles, Chicago, and other American cities.
- Side View of a 1948 Tucker Sedan - Preston Tucker's futuristic Tucker 48 was unlike anything else on the road in the late 1940s. The final body design was by Alex Tremulis who, in a long career, also produced designs for Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg, American Bantam, Packard, Ford, and others. Tucker hallmarks included its three headlights, rear fender vents (for the rear-mounted engine), and doors cutting into the roof.
- June 23, 1947
- Collections - Artifact
Side View of a 1948 Tucker Sedan
Preston Tucker's futuristic Tucker 48 was unlike anything else on the road in the late 1940s. The final body design was by Alex Tremulis who, in a long career, also produced designs for Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg, American Bantam, Packard, Ford, and others. Tucker hallmarks included its three headlights, rear fender vents (for the rear-mounted engine), and doors cutting into the roof.
- Back View of a 1948 Tucker Sedan - Preston Tucker's futuristic Tucker 48 was unlike anything else on the road in the late 1940s. The final body design was by Alex Tremulis who, in a long career, also produced designs for Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg, American Bantam, Packard, Ford, and others. Tucker hallmarks included its three headlights, rear fender vents (for the rear-mounted engine), and doors cutting into the roof.
- June 23, 1947
- Collections - Artifact
Back View of a 1948 Tucker Sedan
Preston Tucker's futuristic Tucker 48 was unlike anything else on the road in the late 1940s. The final body design was by Alex Tremulis who, in a long career, also produced designs for Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg, American Bantam, Packard, Ford, and others. Tucker hallmarks included its three headlights, rear fender vents (for the rear-mounted engine), and doors cutting into the roof.
- Stock Certificate, "One Hundred Shares of Tucker Corporation Class A Common Shares," 1948 - It was a seller's market for automakers after World War II, and Preston Tucker used the opportunity to launch his sleek, rear-engine Tucker 48. He raised over $20 million selling stock, dealer franchises and accessories for his cars, but ran afoul of the law in the process. Charged with fraud, Tucker was found not guilty after a lengthy trial.
- May 04, 1948
- Collections - Artifact
Stock Certificate, "One Hundred Shares of Tucker Corporation Class A Common Shares," 1948
It was a seller's market for automakers after World War II, and Preston Tucker used the opportunity to launch his sleek, rear-engine Tucker 48. He raised over $20 million selling stock, dealer franchises and accessories for his cars, but ran afoul of the law in the process. Charged with fraud, Tucker was found not guilty after a lengthy trial.
- Tucker Corporation Employee Badge, circa 1948 - The Tucker Corporation based itself in Chicago in a war-surplus factory that had produced engines for B-29 bomber airplanes. At its peak, Tucker employed some 1,600 people. The company anticipated having 35,000 employees once it reached full production. But it wasn't to be. Financial and legal problems closed Tucker in 1950 after only 51 cars were built.
- circa 1948
- Collections - Artifact
Tucker Corporation Employee Badge, circa 1948
The Tucker Corporation based itself in Chicago in a war-surplus factory that had produced engines for B-29 bomber airplanes. At its peak, Tucker employed some 1,600 people. The company anticipated having 35,000 employees once it reached full production. But it wasn't to be. Financial and legal problems closed Tucker in 1950 after only 51 cars were built.
- Driver Controls, 1948 Tucker Sedan in Henry Ford Museum, December 1964 - The Tucker 48's driver controls were underdeveloped compared with the car's exciting exterior. The steering wheel, in fact, was secondhand. Ford Motor Company supplied Tucker with steering wheels from its Lincoln Zephyr line. That cooperative gesture seemingly undercut the argument that Detroit's Big Three -- or Ford, at least -- were out to destroy Tucker.
- December 22, 1964
- Collections - Artifact
Driver Controls, 1948 Tucker Sedan in Henry Ford Museum, December 1964
The Tucker 48's driver controls were underdeveloped compared with the car's exciting exterior. The steering wheel, in fact, was secondhand. Ford Motor Company supplied Tucker with steering wheels from its Lincoln Zephyr line. That cooperative gesture seemingly undercut the argument that Detroit's Big Three -- or Ford, at least -- were out to destroy Tucker.
- Section of The Sunday Bulletin, Philadelphia, from April 18, 1947, Showing 1948 Tucker Automobile Advertisement - Preston Tucker previewed his all-new Tucker 48 sedan with a massive marketing campaign. Articles and advertisements appeared in newspapers across the country, like this one from Philadelphia's <EM>Sunday Bulletin</EM>. The ad emphasized the Tucker Corporation's seasoned management team, which included veterans from General Motors, Chrysler, Ford, and Borg-Warner -- in addition to Mr. Tucker himself.
- April 18, 1947
- Collections - Artifact
Section of The Sunday Bulletin, Philadelphia, from April 18, 1947, Showing 1948 Tucker Automobile Advertisement
Preston Tucker previewed his all-new Tucker 48 sedan with a massive marketing campaign. Articles and advertisements appeared in newspapers across the country, like this one from Philadelphia's Sunday Bulletin. The ad emphasized the Tucker Corporation's seasoned management team, which included veterans from General Motors, Chrysler, Ford, and Borg-Warner -- in addition to Mr. Tucker himself.
- Engine of 1948 Tucker Sedan in Henry Ford Museum, December 1964 - After problems with their own engine, Preston Tucker and his engineers selected a 334-cubic-inch, six-cylinder unit originally designed for helicopters. Once converted from air to water cooling, the flat-six engine performed beautifully in the Tucker 48, producing 166 horsepower. To ensure a steady supply, Tucker bought the company that built the engine: Air Cooled Motors of Syracuse, New York.
- December 22, 1964
- Collections - Artifact
Engine of 1948 Tucker Sedan in Henry Ford Museum, December 1964
After problems with their own engine, Preston Tucker and his engineers selected a 334-cubic-inch, six-cylinder unit originally designed for helicopters. Once converted from air to water cooling, the flat-six engine performed beautifully in the Tucker 48, producing 166 horsepower. To ensure a steady supply, Tucker bought the company that built the engine: Air Cooled Motors of Syracuse, New York.
- Tucker Corporation Business Card, circa 1948 - Preston Tucker took advantage of the postwar seller's market to launch his all-new Tucker 48 sedan for 1948. The company operated out of a war-surplus aircraft engine plant in Chicago, described by Tucker as the largest factory in the world at the time. Legal and financial problems brought an early end to the Tucker Corporation in 1950.
- circa 1948
- Collections - Artifact
Tucker Corporation Business Card, circa 1948
Preston Tucker took advantage of the postwar seller's market to launch his all-new Tucker 48 sedan for 1948. The company operated out of a war-surplus aircraft engine plant in Chicago, described by Tucker as the largest factory in the world at the time. Legal and financial problems brought an early end to the Tucker Corporation in 1950.
- Front View of a 1948 Tucker Sedan - Preston Tucker's futuristic Tucker 48 was unlike anything else on the road in the late 1940s. The final body design was by Alex Tremulis who, in a long career, also produced designs for Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg, American Bantam, Packard, Ford, and others. Tucker hallmarks included its three headlights, rear fender vents (for the rear-mounted engine), and doors cutting into the roof.
- June 23, 1947
- Collections - Artifact
Front View of a 1948 Tucker Sedan
Preston Tucker's futuristic Tucker 48 was unlike anything else on the road in the late 1940s. The final body design was by Alex Tremulis who, in a long career, also produced designs for Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg, American Bantam, Packard, Ford, and others. Tucker hallmarks included its three headlights, rear fender vents (for the rear-mounted engine), and doors cutting into the roof.