Tucker '48 Legacy
The first Tucker ever produced was a prototype sedan, known as the "Tin Goose". Fifty-eight frames and bodies were built at the factory. From these parts, 36 sedans were finished before the factory was closed. After the factory closed but before liquidation of his assets, Tucker retained a core of employees who assembled an additional 14 sedans for a total of 50. A 51st car was partially completed.
In the early 1950s, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida fairgrounds owner Nick Jenin purchased over 10 Tuckers, the original Tucker test bed chassis, numerous Tucker parts, photos and documents. He developed a traveling display called "The Fabulous Tuckers". He hauled the cars and memorabilia around the country for nearly 10 years displaying them at fairgrounds and car shows. His display highlighted the questionable policies and SEC fraud investigation which brought Tucker down.
When the cars appear at auction, which is rare, they command prices attained by only a few marquee cars. In August 2010 Tucker #1045 sold for $1.127 million while Tucker #1043 went for $2.915 million at auction in 2012.
Remaining Tucker '48s today and original configuration:
| Chassis Number | Location | Owner | Engine | Transmission | Front Suspension Version | Original Body Color/Paint Code |
| 1000 (Tin Goose) | Huntingdon, PA | Swigart Antique Auto Museum | Tucker 589 cu in. Direct Drive (Original); Converted to Franklin O-335 by Tucker after first showing. | Direct drive torque converters (Original); Converted to Tucker Y-1 by Tucker after first showing. | Rubber Disc Type | Maroon/600 |
| Tin Goose was the only complete Tucker with Rubber Disc prototype suspension, the 589 engine, and direct torque converter drive (with no reverse gear). After the first showing it was converted to an O-335/Y-1 at the Tucker factory. | ||||||
| 1001 | Alexandria, VA | Tucker Collection/Privately owned | Franklin O-335 | Tucker Y-1 | Rubber Torsion Tube 1 | Maroon/600 |
| 1002 | California | Privately owned | Franklin O-335 | Tucker Y-1 | Rubber Torsion Tube 1 | Waltz Blue/200 |
| Fenders changed from 1003-on to allow rear wheel removal. Rubber Torsion tube front suspension plagued by severe toe-in when braking. | ||||||
| 1003 | California | Privately owned | Franklin O-335 | Tucker Y-1 | Rubber Sandwich | Maroon/600 |
| Front bumper lengthened to protect the center headlight if pulled too close to a wall or barrier. | ||||||
| 1004 | Nagakutecho, Japan | Toyota Automobile Museum | Franklin O-335 | Tucker Y-1 | Rubber Sandwich | Grey(Silver)/500 |
| Car was originally Grey(Silver)/500 but was painted Maroon/600 when it was restored in 1978. | ||||||
| 1005 | Tallahassee, FL | Tallahassee Antique Car Museum | Franklin O-335 | Tucker Y-1 | Rubber Sandwich | Waltz Blue/200 |
| 1006 | California | Privately owned | Franklin O-335 | Tucker Y-1 | Rubber Sandwich | Green/300 |
| 1007 | Tacoma, WA | LeMay Family Collection | Franklin O-335 | Tucker Y-1 | Rubber Sandwich | Green/300 |
| 1008 | Chicago, IL | Chicago Vintage Motor Carriage | Franklin O-335 | Tucker Y-1 | Rubber Sandwich | Beige/400 |
| Car was originally Beige but is now Maroon/600. It is currently located in The Richard Driehaus Collection at Chicago Vintage Motor Carriage. | ||||||
| 1009 | California | LucasFilms, LTD | Franklin O-335 | Tucker Y-1 | Rubber Sandwich | Grey(Silver)/500 |
| 1010 | Washington | Privately owned | Franklin O-335 | Tucker Y-1 | Rubber Sandwich | Waltz Blue/200 |
| After 50 years stored in a barn near Tacoma, WA Tucker #1010 was sent to auction in January 2011 via Gooding and Co in Scotsdale, AZ for a starting bid price of $750,000. Reports and photos indicate the engine was seized, with rust damage throughout the vehicle and some minor exterior parts missing, including original hubcaps. Major restoration is necessary. | ||||||
| 1011 | Montana | Privately owned | Franklin O-335 | Tucker Y-1 | Rubber Sandwich | Beige/400 |
| 1012 | LaPorte, Indiana | Privately owned | Franklin O-335 | Tucker Y-1 | Rubber Sandwich | Maroon/600 |
| 1013 | Huntingdon, PA | Swigart Antique Auto Museum | Franklin O-335 | Tucker Y-1 | Rubber Sandwich | Grey(Silver)/500 |
| 1014 | San Francisco, CA | Privately owned/Francis Ford Coppola | Franklin O-335 | Tucker Y-1 | Rubber Sandwich | Waltz Blue/200 |
| 1015 | St. Clair Shores, MI | The Stahls Collection | Franklin O-335 | Cord 810/812 | Rubber Sandwich | Green/300 |
| 1016 | Dearborn, MI | Henry Ford Museum | Franklin O-335 | Tucker Y-1 | Rubber Sandwich | Black/100 |
| 1017 | Colorado | Privately owned | Franklin O-335 | Tucker Y-1 | Rubber Sandwich | Green (300) |
| 1018 | Grand Rapids, MI | Incomplete/ Remains are privately owned | Franklin O-335 | Tucker Y-1 | Rubber Sandwich | Beige/400 |
| This car was wrecked/damaged beyond repair in 1953, broadsiding a tree in South Wales, NY. The remnants of the frame are located in Grand Rapids, MI and some body panels are in Roscoe, IL with the owner of Tucker 1027. The engine and Y-1 transmission from #1018 are located at the Tucker Collection in Alexandria, VA. | ||||||
| 1019 | California | Privately owned | Franklin O-335 | Tucker Y-1 | Rubber Sandwich | Black/100 |
| 1020 | Japan | Hani Corporation | Franklin O-335 | Tucker Y-1 | Rubber Sandwich | Maroon/600 |
| 1021 | California | Privately owned | Franklin O-335 | Tucker Y-1 | Rubber Sandwich | Black/100 |
| 1022 | Alexandria, VA | Tucker Collection/Privately owned | Franklin O-335 | Tucker Y-1 | Rubber Sandwich | Grey(Silver)/500 |
| 1023 | Florida | Destroyed in Fire | Tucker Y-1 | Rubber Sandwich | Maroon/600 | |
| In 1978, while in storage awaiting restoration in a Deland, FL warehouse owned by Allied Van Lines, #1023 was destroyed when the huge warehouse burned to the ground. Remains of car after fire were crushed and buried under the garage of the owner, a TACA founder. | ||||||
| 1024 | Lincoln, NE | The Smith Collection | Franklin O-335 | Tucker Y-1 | Rubber Sandwich | Waltz Blue/200 |
| 1025 | Frankfort, IN | The Goodwin Collection | Franklin O-335 | Cord 810/812 | Rubber Sandwich | Waltz Blue/200 |
| Rubber sandwich front suspension abandoned due to severe stiffness | ||||||
| 1026 | Alexandria, VA | Tucker Collection/Privately owned | Franklin O-335 | Tuckermatic R-1-2 | Rubber Torsion Tube 2 | Maroon/600 (Repainted in Bronze during restoration) |
| From #1026-on the fuel tank was moved to the front of the car and the Rubber Torsion Tube 2 style suspension with improved toe-in was used. Arguably the most valuable Tucker, #1026 is the only remaining complete Tucker with the Tuckermatic transmission. | ||||||
| 1027 | Roscoe, IL | Historic Auto Attractions | Franklin O-335 | Unknown | Rubber Torsion Tube 2 | Waltz Blue/200 |
| Car was rolled in testing at Indy by Tucker Corp, 1948. The engine/trans were removed at the factory, the chassis was sold at the Tucker factory auction after its closure. Museum also owns some body panels to wrecked Tucker 1018, other parts were either lost or used in restoration of other Tuckers. | ||||||
| 1028 | Tupelo, MS | Tupelo Automobile Museum | Franklin O-335 | Cord 810/812 | Rubber Torsion Tube 2 | Beige/400 |
| 1029 | California | Privately owned | Franklin O-335 | Tucker Y-1 | Rubber Torsion Tube 2 | Grey(Silver)/500 |
| 1030 | Los Angeles, CA | Petersen Automotive Museum | Franklin O-335 | Tucker Y-1 | Rubber Torsion Tube 2 | Black/100 |
| 1031 | Los Angeles, Ca | Breslow Collection | Franklin O-335 | Tucker Y-1 | Rubber Torsion Tube 2 | Waltz Blue/200 |
| 1032 | Reno, NV | National Automobile Museum | Franklin O-335 | Cord 810/812 | Rubber Torsion Tube 2 | Grey(Silver)/500 |
| 1033 | Maine | Privately owned | Franklin O-335 | Tucker Y-1 | Rubber Torsion Tube 2 | Maroon/600 |
| 1034 | Tucker, GA | The Cofer Collection | Franklin O-335 | Tucker Y-1 | Rubber Torsion Tube 2 | Waltz Blue/200 |
| 1035 | Caçapava - SP, Brazil | Privately owned | Franklin O-335 | Unknown | Rubber Torsion Tube 2 | Black/100 |
| 1036 | Nevada | Privately owned | Franklin O-335 | Tucker Y-1 | Rubber Torsion Tube 2 | Maroon/600 |
| 1037 | Rutherford, CA | Privately owned/Francis Ford Coppola | Franklin O-335 | Tucker Y-1 | Rubber Torsion Tube 2 | Maroon/600 |
| 1038 | Unknown | Privately owned | Franklin O-335 | Cord 810/812 | Rubber Torsion Tube 2 | Green/300 |
| #1038 was, for a time, owned by Bernard Glieberman. It was on display in Shreveport, Louisiana while Glieberman owned the Shreveport Pirates. Creditors moved to seize the car due to Glieberman's financial problems, and Glieberman's lawyer attempted to steal the car and hide it from authorities, only to run out of gas. Glieberman was eventually allowed to keep the car. The car was sold at auction in August 2006 for $577,500 ($525,000 plus fees) and sold again in August 2008 for $1,017,500 ($925,000 plus fees). | ||||||
| 1039 | Washington, DC | Smithsonian Institution | Franklin O-335 | Tucker Y-1 | Rubber Torsion Tube 2 | Grey(Silver)/500 |
| After years hidden in Smithsonian storage, Tucker #1039 was finally placed on public display in the Museum of American History in 2011. Tucker #1039 was acquired by the Smithsonian through the U.S. Marshall Service which had previously seized the car in a 1992 narcotics arrest. Instead of selling the car, the U.S. Marshall Service decided to donate the car to the Smithsonian. Currently on loan as of February 2012. | ||||||
| 1040 | Sylmar, CA | San Sylmar Museum | Franklin O-335 | Tucker Y-1 | Rubber Torsion Tube 2 | Beige/400 |
| 1041 | California | Privately owned | Franklin O-335 | Cord 810/812 | Rubber Torsion Tube 2 | Black/100 |
| Tucker # 1041 sold at the Clars Auction on June 7, 2009 for $750,000 ($765,000 with fees) | ||||||
| 1042 | Memphis, TN (Last seen) | Abandoned/Destroyed/Lost | Franklin O-335 | Tuckermatic R-1-2 | Rubber Torsion Tube 2 | Maroon/600 |
| #1042 was sold at the Tucker auction without an engine. Rumors exist that it was used in a "Bash a Tucker" fundraiser in the 1950s or may have been hauled off from its storage location by a disgruntled renter. Its location was unknown until 1960 when it was reportedly found abandoned along the banks of the Mississippi River in Memphis, TN, totally destroyed. A Memphis policeman took possession of the remains, but they were later stolen from his property. Most of the Tuckermatic transmission was found and is currently located at the Tucker Collection in Alexandria, VA. | ||||||
| 1043 | Arizona | Privately owned | Franklin O-335 | Unknown | Rubber Torsion Tube 2 | Waltz Blue/200 |
| 1044 | Ohio | Privately owned | Franklin O-335 | Cord 810/812 | Rubber Torsion Tube 2 | Green/300 |
| 1045 | Melbourne, Australia | Privately owned | Franklin O-335 | Tucker Y-1 | Rubber Torsion Tube 2 | Grey(Silver)/500 |
| 1046 | California | Privately owned | Franklin O-335 (original) / Oldsmobile Rocket 88 / Mercury 390CID | Unknown | Rubber Torsion Tube 2 (Original)/Removed for front engine conversion | Maroon/600 |
| This car was converted to a Front-Engine Oldsmobile drive-train in the 1950s by Nick Jenin for his daughter. It was converted again in the 1960s to a 1964 Mercury Monterey chassis with 390 CID front engine. Sold on eBay for $202,700 (8/20/07). | ||||||
| 1047 | Hickory Corners, MI | Gilmore Car Museum | Franklin O-335 | Cord 810/812 | Rubber Torsion Tube 2 | Waltz Blue/200 |
| 1048 | Hartford, Wisconsin | Privately owned | Franklin O-335 | Borg-Warner 3-speed automatic | Rubber Torsion Tube 2 | Green/300 |
| 1049 | Old Oxted, Surrey, England | Privately owned | Franklin O-335 | Tucker Y-1 | Rubber Torsion Tube 2 | Waltz Blue/200 |
| 1050 | San Marcos, TX | Dicks Classic Garage | Franklin O-335 | Cord 810/812 | Rubber Torsion Tube 2 | Maroon/600 |
| Lowest mileage Tucker with 0.4 miles on the odometer. | ||||||
| 1051 | Butler, New Jersey | Privately owned | Franklin O-335 | Unknown | dark red | |
| Tucker 1051 was not completed at the Tucker factory, so it is not technically considered one of the original 51 cars (Tin Goose + 50). The car was purchased at the Tucker auction in an incomplete state, and was finished in the late 1980s using leftover Tucker parts and fiberglass replica doors. | ||||||
Read more about this topic: 1948 Tucker Sedan
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Dating from World War I—when it was used by U.S. soldiers—or before, the saying was associated with nightclub hostess Texas Quinan in the 1920s. It was the title of a song recorded by Sophie Tucker in 1927, and of a Cole Porter musical in 1929.
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