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A Rare Look at Tucker Cars
Collector David Cammack owns three of the 47 remaining cars in existence designed by Preston Tucker, which he puts on display in a secluded museum in Virginia
Editor's Note: David Cammack passed away on Sunday, April 7, 2013 at the age of 84.
(04:30)
Video: Austin and Meredith Bragg
Related:
The Tucker Was the 1940s Car of the Future
Visionary inventor
Preston Tucker risked everything when he saw his 1948 automobile as a vehicle for change
December 2012 |
By Abigail Tucker
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Comments (5)
Xmas of 1955 I went to Orlando to be with the wife and daughter of my boss and close friend who had just died in the crash of an AF B-47. The contractor who had recently built their house took us for a ride half way down the Keys for a diversion. Although I was a kid at the time I remember seeing pictures and the story of the Tucker in 1945. So when I saw one in a used car lot I yelled for the driver to stop. There was a Tucker, dirty with cobwebs looking like a derelict. It was really a sad sight. No one else with me knew what it was. I wish I had asked the price but I had no money and don't know what I would have done with it anyway. I hope it was one of the restored ones.
Posted by Frank L. Simmons on March 11,2013 | 02:04 AM
Both of my grandfathers had direct connections with Preston Tucker. One taught at what is now Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti MI. He related how he would see Preston downtown at the drugstore or whereever and Preston would excitedly tell him about his ideas and plans for the car. His enthusiasm and big plans were something to behold. My other grandfather actually worked for Tucker in designing and building the twin assembly lines in the old Dodge plant in Chicago which would have been the center for mass production. All that fell through with the court case which left Tucker bankrupt. I have a copy of the letter my grandfather wrote in application for the job. My family is rather proud of our connection with this unique auto and person. Mr Cammack was very kind to give me a tour of his collection many years ago. We met again in Ypsi in 1998 for the 50th anniversary event of the Tucker '48. Is there a list somewhere of the location of every Tucker auto still around? I have only seen Cammack's three, the one in the Smithsonian collection, one in the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan and the one brought from Minnesota for the 1998 reunion. The one and only time many of the autos were brought together was for the filming of the movie. That final scene of the parade of cars outside the courthouse was most impressive. Thanks to the Smithsonian Magazine for featuring this amazing part of American and automotive history.
Posted by David Brundage on February 13,2013 | 07:02 PM
Thank you for your article and video!! In 1948 my dad owned a used car lot at 639 Van Ness Ave.(Auto Row) in San Francisco. One half block to the South at the corner of Golden Gate Ave. there was a tire and muffler shop that my dad did a lot of business with. I cannot recall the names, but the owner had invested in a Tucker agency , which never came about, but he had a silver metalic blue Tucker which he always parked prominantly in front for all to see and admire It was a thrill for those of us in the business there to actually be able to get our hands on one. I recall that this one had a three speed manual transmission, but were not most of them built with an Oldsmobile hydromatic ?. I was also priviledged to demo the three wheel Davis car in it's process of introduction to the automotive community .Fun trips down memory lane.
Posted by Roth Brashear on February 4,2013 | 02:34 AM
Through work I used to go into LA and meet with the manager for the Company we both worked for, a Mr. Mitch Tucker, son of Preston Tucker. His office had the poster of the feature film about the Tucker and his cars. Fascinating to see this video of the collection. Interesting to have met the son. Interesting to watch the film of Preston's struggle to produce the cars so ahead of their time. Great piece of history.
Posted by Clive Gifford on March 22,2012 | 05:39 AM
I really enjoyed listening and seeing this article! I take Smithsonian and the stories and articles are just as informative as this "Tucker Cars" short movie really made my day! I was raised in Cincinnati,Ohio and got to know alot about the "Crosley vehicles"/trucks" and appreciated Mr. David Carmacks hobby and his sharing of his thoughts!
Thank you Mr David Carmack for sharing!
Judith Hughes
NC
Posted by Judith Hughes on September 17,2011 | 01:16 PM