1948 TUCKER # 10 Drager's International Classic Sales

This is the "barn find" of the year. The Tucker has been sitting in the garage for over 40 years. Last Licensed in California in 1965. As you look at the photos you will see front end damage. Seems the Tucker rolled down the driveway through the garage door. This was in California. The Tucker was bought in Aug 1956 in Cal from a Motor Trend ad! Was last driven in 1957, only 603 miles & parked. Now has 9,819 miles. Flat towed to Auburn down the grapevine in California. The Tucker was heavier than the vehicle towing it! Historical data from Alex Tremelis, tucker designer, claims the car #1010, went 134 mph at Bonneville in 1952, also has a special 431 gear ratio. The bumpers were off the car, I do not know why. Maybe to repair the Tucker? It is a very solid car. The mice, as you would think, made a home in the Tucker. It was crusty on the underside. The owner would run off anyone trying to see the Tucker. Harold LaMay, the largest collector car owner in the world, tried to buy it but was not even allowed to see it. I'm not sure how he found out about it. A photo of the rear end made it out, not sure who took the photo. So how did this Tucker come out of hiding? Very interesting story. Now you know the Tucker has been sitting for 40 years and people tried to see it, but the owner would chase them away. The whole family was sworn to secrecy. No one was allowed to talk about it. Brian Pain grew up in Auburn, Washington. When he was a kid he saw it. But again, the owner chased him away. His sister was and still is friends with the owner's daughter. The owner died 2 years ago. Brian made contact with the family. Brian and his friend Gary Savage came out from Colorado and put together the sale of the Tucker. I have to tell you they did a great job for the family and new owner. The new owner wanted the bumpers installed. I think every part was found except the left front turn signal. How did I get involved? The owners accountant wanted an appraisal. Brian and Gary called me to do the appraisal. They prepared the car for shipment. Now this was a family affair, 4 generations were on hand to see the Tucker rolled out. Charlie, the owner of Classic Car Courier, came with his roll back to pick up the Tucker. He took it for shipping to the east coast and the new owner. It will be neat to see it when it's finished. This is one of the fun parts of being in classic cars. Jeri Drager, Drager's International Classic Sales 206-533-9600

[@e-racer4673]

Bless her heart. She probably wasn’t given much for the car and it was a major part of her life. It’s sad how something like an automobile can trigger a thought of how your life is almost gone. Really a piece of American history..

[@williamhumberhawk8187]

I don't blame the owners who stored it away. It was theirs. No one has the right to tell them what to do with their possession.

[@claytonbouldin9381]

Great video, Jerry! I have always been fascinated with Tuckers and this story was a joy to watch too! Thanks for posting!

[@DougGurley-vv4pt]

Thank God it was preserved. Piece of history.

[@bcfairlie1]

I have been fascinated by Tucker since I was a little kid in the 70s. Such a fantastic car. So wish it had proven successful.

[@metalmoto]

What a wonderful story. Just glad it was saved for future history.

[@donmeister9948]

Preston Tucker had a foresight for the American auto industry that surpassed the major auto manufactures of the time considering safety,comfort and convenience which made Him a threat to the big 3.....simple enough.

[@KrunchyKaine]

Fascinating story! Growing up I was always fascinated by the Tucker story. Ultimately very sad though... I'm in Vancouver, WA. Kinda crazy to think at one point is was that close to me... I'd love to see one in person.

[@dewder74]

I don’t understand why nobody was aloud to talk about the car. Maybe the owner knew that the Tucker was worth something and didn’t want to be bothered with unwanted offers. Keeping the car well hidden would ensure that the owner wouldn’t be bothered. Glad to see that the car was restored.

[@KrunchyKaine]

Awesome! Thank you very much for the information! I should take a drive up there one of these sunny days!

[@genoski999]

the unrestored Tucker No. 1010 sold at Gooding & Co.'s Scottsdale, Ariz., auction Jan. 22 for $797,500.

[@kitt2000car]

I bet the old lady's kid's felt like they have been screwed. When they found out the car resold for almost eight hundred thousand dollar's.

[@101Volts]

Who knows, I didn't feel that way when someone resold something I sold him. I paid maybe 39 cents for it, sold it for $35 and he probably sold it for more than twice that. To me what he got for it is fine.

[@That_AMC_Guy]

Granny got six figures for something she had $0 invested in. She should be counting her blessings she got anything. What if the garage had collapsed or the house burned down? Then she'd have probably paid to have the worthless hulk taken away.

[@howabouthetruth2157]

I wonder how much money this family got for selling the car in this video. I sure hope they got a fair price, because no matter how much it cost to fully restore, the prices these Tuckers are fetching at auction is astounding.

[@bartonrasmus9309]

In the 1980s a nice running Tucker was advertised in Old Cars Weekly for $50,000. I told my wife that it would be a good investment but she didn’t agree!

[@SEP392]

WOW, thanks for sharing this great story!

[@voicetube]

Over a million!?? Wow, nice find!

[@Vamanaswastika]

Most comical part of this story is not the move of the car. But the old man that was so strict to not let anyone talk about it or see it. Now the old fart died and all that secrecy and tormenting his kids and they got the car moved. Lesson learned. When you have a car fucking drive it

[@howabouthetruth2157]

Wow........it really blows my mind to imagine "nobody wanting a Tucker" in 1971, just because it was broke down. Keep in mind that in 1971, the car would've been 23 yrs old, and anyone who knew anything knew that with only 51 Tuckers ever being built, it was still an extremely rare car.......even back then.

[@waynekaminski5438]

I read that the widow got $400,000 for the car and all the pieces that went with the car. In a way, that Tucker car was a huge burden on this family, so it was probably a huge relief to part with this car. Imagine trying to keep this Tucker car a family secret all those years. The husband rightly knew how vulnerable this car was (countless out of the way storage units get broken into and all the stuff stolen and then get some press after the theft) the way it was stored. Then, the car was auctioned off AS IS, and got north of $750.000. Another post on this video stated the auction price at $797,500. I would like to know if this car ever got a frame-off restoration. The Tucker Automobile Car Club states that #1010 is in owned privately in Nebraska. The picture on that site shows the middle headlight with bezel back on the car.

[@unionrdr]

I remember pop telling me stories about driving one when I was a kid some 50+ years ago. The center headlight turned with the steering. I always thought the design of the cars' rear was very forward thinking for 1948. Rear deck section looked morte 50's or 60's to me. You can see a lot of forward thinking in the Tucker's design. It was shelved asap by the big three who feared such a car. It was a little too good back then...

[@jimmieroan9881]

although i can appreciate that some of todays generation actually care enough to read about rare and almost extinct classic cars it is sad that so much ignorance has to be involved, why make the inane stupid remarks about driving the car, how much she got and she got screwed and how crazy he was to keep it hid, if he didn't keep it hidden what would have happened 30 or 40 years ago, some of the original cobras were sold off car lots for ridiculous prices in the 70 and lost forever, i have had a car stored since 1996 and told all my kids to please not tell their ignorant pissbag buddys about the car, vandal thieves and souvenir hunters have destroyed so many of our classics it sickening, i love the storys behind the finds, and the fact that so many may still be hidden to be found one day. some of these people should just get in their kia's and go to chilis and stay off the sites they don't appreciate.

[@amer-hh6kp]

Great story. Very cool car.

[@mariehansler]

You did a great job on this video. Kind of wondering why it was a family secret, you did not really say in the video. Was there a grumpy old guy who recently died? Was it the little old lady from pasadena who was the grump?Why did everyone feel they had to keep it a secret? It would add a lot to the story. Great job thanks for putting this one up.

[@madfiat8932]

Dang, don't realize how big that thing is till you see how it dwarfs that old silverado.

[@jimmieroan9881]

i have some advice for all restorers or mechanics that have rusty bolts and nuts to remove, i wouldn't be without my wd40 and have used it for years, but when it comes to a hard job you need to use kroil, if you have never heard of the product it would be to your advantage to type it in and check it out. antique and classic restorers have been using this product for years, as far as i know you can only buy from the company that makes it, or maybe from a hagerty website, compared to any other product it simply can't be compared. they also have other products for rust etc.

[@Gadumpski]

Totally awesome. I would love to know how much the gentleman in this video paid for this car when he bought it out of the garage. Greát video!

[@72SeasonsGone]

Nice video. Any news on what its looking like these days? If it sold for a million I imagine it had a lot of work done.

[@Idolmakercat]

It is too bad the children didn’t restore the car themselves. I bet the kids got the belt over this car. I hope the lady got a fair amount of money. I think she had a check in her hand. Thanks for filming this.

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

That car was way ahead of its time! And what a beautiful car that was and still is! Is a find of a lifetime wow!!

[@jayez2007]

this is my dream car

[@sgtpepper1138]

thesantiso so is it supposed to sit in the damp garage until the end of time? Like a previous poster said, that car caused them a lot of grief growing up, sounds like the dad was one of those guys who has the "I have something extremely rare, I don't have the means to maintain it, but I'm going to hide it from everybody. Oh, and if you say anything about it to anyone, you'll regret it".

[@That_AMC_Guy]

Mental instability does weird things to people. Joe Biden is a great example.

[@clintonbeckway4171]

Nice piece of history

[@pixnstix]

It is nice that it sold for just under $800,000.00. But that was by the second owner after the widow. So how much of a pittance did the widow get?? I think she may have gotten the shaft on this one.

[@dragersclassics]

They paid $400,000 and last sold for almost $800,000

[@jasoncarpp7742]

I know that not many Tucker cars were ever made, 50, 51 cars were completed. It's understandable that you'd want to protect it from vandals and anyone who would want to steal such a rare car. Still, it hardly seems right that a car like this would simply be allowed to sit there as long as it has, not being driven, even around the block, to keep the engine, everything on the car working.

[@senatorlou]

I bet those kids are glad to see that thing go! That car cost them alot of grief growing up lol

[@turowat]

I don't live in the Us, but on a business trip I drove to Tupelo Mississippi to the auto museum just to see a Yellow Tucker in diaplay. After 15 years of wanting to see one with my own eyes!!!!

[@042452]

3 of them in Hershey Pa

[@reneandre1174]

So, this one sold at auction for nearly $800,000 in 2011. At that price, it was purchased by someone, or perhaps a group, who'll invest in a full restoration to Concours de Elegance condition. It'll be interesting to see where it shows up next.

[@mafcawebmaster4237]

Great story; nice video, well done.

[@smk11685]

very cool story i live in tacoma right down the road from auburn

[@dukesgrill]

@Auggie56 I guess that is something that the new owners will find out. My understanding is it sold un-restored.

[@jasoncarpp7742]

If I had a car like that, no matter how rare it is, I'd drive it. Whether it's once a week, or every other week. It'd be driven. I've always believed that it's better for a car to wear out than to rust out. The only things I'd have changed would be to have the electrical system upgraded to 12 volt and to have radial tires installed.

[@BillCesavice]

Did you notice at around 8:38 he has pads on the rollback to catch fluids dripping from the car ? Not going to help in this case.

[@JG40061]

Great Story!

[@dallaspolo]

Even $800.000 sounds cheap. I'm sure most of the Tuckers are setting in museums. I'm sure the insurance would be crazy if driven on the streets. Their are so many kit makers in the country I wonder why they never produced a aftermarket version like the Cobra And Lambo?

[@madpogue]

So I wonder if Francis Ford Coppola knew about this car back in '87 when he made the movie. If so, must've been frustrating knowing that he couldn't have one more car for the famous final courthouse scene.

[@my31and37]

@dunn98632 Ida Automotive made a fiberglass tucker body...Might see if they still make it.

[@dallaspolo]

@Rawego Im wondering about that myself?

[@garryhatchett775]

Any update on this one?

[@poedog58]

could i ask --what was the apraised value of the car--and what will it be worth when restored ?

[@tyrssen1]

Wow! Just ... wow!

[@ClassicNintendoShow]

Wait, was this the one that sold for $2,650,000 at Barrett-Jackson?

[@donmeister9948]

Without disclosing payment information upon the payee's part.....It is undisclosed and no matter of public disclosure.

[@douglashammer7793]

How. is. Tucker. 1010. doing. Today. Is. there. a. update?

[@sting64az]

I wish I did!!..I heard for many years ago that a small count of engines nevered installed and still in krates somewhere around?..I wish I knew where and of this is true?..

[@waynekaminski5438]

125 crate engines were built.

[@dragersclassics]

Well the good thing it's now getting a complete frame off restoration.

[@That_AMC_Guy]

I see this time and time again where some crazy old man will lock something away and then die never having enjoyed anything. Look at the family here having a blast with the car! Why couldn't the old man have just brought it out and enjoyed it with his family instead of stashing it away? That makes no sense to me.

[@styldsteel1]

Alfred Neuman just another crazy geezer. Like a horder. No reason whatsoever why they stash things away. Suggests deep mental problems

[@dezznutz3743]

@@styldsteel1 That "crazy geezer" has now set-up his widowed wife for the rest of her life, while also possibly leaving something for their children. Do you have an asset worth $400K to leace anyone?

[@larryhullinger8103]

@@dezznutz3743 my sentiments exactly

[@belle2571]

I am the granddaughter of the "crazy old man" you speak about. He was a man of great nobility and a great grandfather to me before he died. It was a matter of protection; people are greedy, and they know that car was worth a lot of money. Some people are so greedy it can even be your own family who can take advantage of you in a split second. Money makes people do crazy things-- even your own flesh and blood. My grandmother was highly taken advantage of in this situation--even by family. She didn't get anywhere near the amount she could have for this car. Imagine having to sell the prized possession of your true love who recently died? You cannot imagine the grief that surrounded this situation. Tell me, if you knew you had something that was worth a fortune would you let people roam freely around it? Would you not protect it? Hide it? Be cautious? I encourage you to have some sensitivity towards behaviors of people you do not know and situations you do not understand. You truly never know what is going on behind the scenes of a stranger's life. I hope that you, and many of the other people who wrote hateful comments here can find love and compassion within yourself even towards people you don't know. Have a blessed day.

[@That_AMC_Guy]

@@belle2571 LOL. Granny got six-figures and should be happy. $0 invested, and gets a fortune on the back side. What most people fail to grasp is that FINISHED/RESTORED cars are worth major bucks. Rusty hulks that need hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of restoration are not worth much. You can't just go buy Tucker parts. If things are missing, worn out or destroyed, you have to MAKE the parts. Do you know what that entails? Obviously you don't because you think the six-figure payout granny got wasn't enough. Methinks you're the greedy one for even suggesting that the car was worth more.

[@leefowble6333]

If that Tucker was in storage for 60 years, I suspect that there's another one in the Washington area that isn't in the best of shape either. In the mid '90s I saw one the freeway entering Seattle. It was being driven by a couple I'd judge t be late middle age, The car was far from pristine, and was obviously well used. It had Washington plates. It exited before I could get close enough to get a better look at it. I thought that George Lucas has supposedly tracked every Tucker ever made when he was making his movie "Tucker". I went to grade school with a friend whose Dad bought stock in the Tucker Company. When it all went south, I was told all he got from it was a Tucker radio, which would be worth a lot more today than he paid for the stock ay the time.

[@That_AMC_Guy]

The Tucker Auto Club also has a list. All the Tuckers are accounted for be they destroyed, restored or simply dilapidated. People do occasionally build their own replicas though.

[@MichiganMan1985]

No way that the odo. didn’t roll over 100,000. Obviously got an Earl Scheib respray too.

[@tedwalker1370]

I would like to see some body replicas. Maybe on a Tesla chaise. That would be cool. Nothing could say screw the establishment more than a Tesla powered Tucker car. Right??

[@dragersclassics]

The roll back was needed to get it out of the back yard and taken to the big enclosed trailer.

[@randy12345557]

they are the luckiest guys in history to get their hands on a tucker

[@dragersclassics]

$400,000. They just sold a Tucker beging of the year for 2.6 Million and what will the next one sell for ??????? Jeri Drager

[@six-pack1332]

3 million

[@haroldsteptoe6402]

I hope the family got a fare price for it as we all know how extremely rare these are? I hope you didn't rip them off??

[@zxtenn]

Why was it sitting for so long with only 9900 miles??

[@bobbyjoehaskins2216]

And that lady better got paid at least 200,000 for that car

[@dragersclassics]

You can see one in Tacoma at ether LeMay's. Just google LeMay and you will find both. The Tucker belongs to the LeMay family but can be on loan to the museum both are worth seeing

[@dallaspolo]

Im not trying to bad mouth this transport company, but If I bought a classic car like this. I wouldn't want it on a open truck. I have bought many cars out of Florida and had them placed it closed trucks to make it to Dallas

[@karmachanix]

This one is 1010. The one sold at BJ was 1043

[@desertmulehunter]

Wow, didn't know these cars were that rare! My old man has one in his barn under a tarp. He always bragged about the number being 23 the year he was born. He loved that car but he's gone now and I own the farm. Guess I better check that out. Been under a tarp so long I forgot what it looks like.

[@christopherscott6435]

#23 was destroyed in a fire in Florida and then the remains were crushed and buried under the owners garage.

[@desertmulehunter]

Christopher Scott where is the number on these cars? The car is still here but I have no idea what to look for.

[@rareblues78daddy]

Since all these cars have been accounted for, and all the owners names are *well* known, I find your story to be worth it's weight in horse shit. Even if there is a miracle car in your old man's barn, it's probably an old Studebaker. If it *is* a Tucker, the only possibility is it being the wreckage of #42... and that's a stolen car if you have it. So, either your story is total bullshit... or your old man belongs in jail. Take your pick.

[@desertmulehunter]

rareblues78daddy thanks for the heads up! I have found out a lot of info on this car since I posted.

[@TheRMSAndre1]

gone fishin How about sharing some pictures or whatnot, telling which nr it is...we might not believe you otherwise.

[@sting64az]

Wow,if a 1948 Tucker sold for 2.6 million,I wonder what a 1948 tucker engine NOS in a krate if worth?..

[@waynekaminski5438]

Tucker crate engine is $150,000 - $200,000.

[@silvernail6]

As kids in early '60's Calumet City we were smitten withe the story of the car and how the PTB put Preston out of business. This is a universal case of Americans capabilities to fix problems w/o being encumbered by bean counters.....The engineers behind GM's EV-1 are in the same category.....likewise the scientists who brought forth cold fusion.....we CAN fix problems...

[@mikevanek4853]

How much did it sell for

[@FloridaManRacer]

you guys arent related to marvin are u? my dad worked for him and got to c his massive private collection in the 80's in all the garages he has at his home in NC

[@tootall5559]

I'll ask again. There were 51 made, the whereabouts of 48 were known, is this one of the three that was missing? Also the rollback driver had a clue on another one. Oh, the 48 were known to be roadworthy the last I heard. Too bad the big 3 drummed him out of business. Think of where the company could have gone with innovations like they had then, way ahead of their time. I have seen one up close, tho I wasn't allowed to touch it. Funny, it now belongs to the government via the Smithosonian they literally handle it with white gloves. they never start it though its only pushed on and off haulers into display, then pushed back on the hauler when the show is over. I don't know that it will run... tho I'm sure it wouldn't take a lot to get it running. Just for giggles. If you had a rare car, and knew it was going to be stored for an extremely long time, and had some money to give it whatever it needs, how would you preserve it, think of the best possible methods. For instance, I would set it up on jack stands, take off the tires, empty them and refill with either nitrogen or helium, or one of the other noble gasses. If you then vacuum sealed them it would preserve the tires... who knows if tires for such a car would be available in 50 or 100 years? So preserving them would be a good start. Maybe put away another set as well, simply vacuum packed off the rims?

[@rizzlerazzleuno4733]

www.tuckerclub.org/

[@Gypsielectro]

@rancheroman1961 Disagree, look at the condition of the carpet by the drivers feet, the bench seat has almost zero wear + sag and the #1 giveaway is the condition of the steering wheel + pedals, hardly touched

[@johncritch6812]

How much did you pay the old lady for it ?

[@inkey2]

what I don't understand is how such a unique car, probably purchased by someone with money.....how they just let it just go to hell like this

[@donmeister9948]

Where did You receive that disclosure from? As it is false. The vehicle's status remains in question as it's whereabouts has not been disclosed .

[@59ranger]

it just sold for close to $800,000 at auction

[@dragersclassics]

Do you have one to sell?

[@dallaspolo]

I would like to know what they paid her for the car?

[@DoughboyPathyUSA]

I've seen that jeep around here in auburn lol

[@michaelnunes5129]

most people do not know why they are called " suicide doors ".

[@dragersclassics]

She got $400,000 Jeri 206-533-9600

[@mysterytour5983]

That's a good invesment the man paid $1100 for it!

[@incognitotorpedo42]

@@mysterytour5983 That's an 11.5% rate of return, without taking inflation into account. A pretty good investment.

[@ClassicNintendoShow]

You'd be the only guy period around with one.

[@sushanthsuresh]

why did they sell it!!

[@ForkliftJoe]

Lot of old car guys are like that... Dementia and Hoarding. It only makes sense to THEM!

[@WarlordATF]

Barn find of the year? More like barn find of a lifetime. Such a sad story about the Tucker Automobile Company.

[@donmeister9948]

I would think that there would NOT be one HERE to sell.....only 51 built and one on You Tube to sell??.....good grief.....seriously????

[@c300g]

i would love to take that car for a spin. i'd be the only teenager around with one!

[@michaelnunes5129]

I was visiting the auto museum in Las Vegas, as I was looking at the Tucker, I realized there was nobody in sight. I stepped under the velvet rope to look inside, as the window was already rolled down. I was surprised to see the keys were in the ignition. I believe the car may have been a red wine color?

[@whyme3286]

$11 for car registration fee, ha ha!

[@CEOkiller]

Someone please restore this... Jay Leno, are you listening???

[@bobordewald1367]

what did the little old lady sell the car for?

[@dragersclassics]

$400,000

[@bobordewald1367]

dragersclassics I would have thought that this was worth more than that or did she just want it out of her life? Thanks for the quick response

[@dragersclassics]

That was the best offer they got at the time. It was sold and got sold again to Dave Gooding Gooding auction co. He sold it in their AZ auction for $700,000+ and it's now getting a total restoration it may be done now????

[@ariscorbettis722]

+Bob Ordewald very good condition and the rest of the day of your choice

[@dragersclassics]

I was just recording time. It was very interesting and yes the owner was a very private and did not want any one to know about the Tucker. He died and now the car has been sold 3 times and the new owner is doing a complete restoration.

[@dunn98632]

This might be blassfamy to others but do they make a body that I can put on as chassis like A REPOP TUCKER BODY OF SOME SORT?.

[@dragersclassics]

No we have always been in Washington state.

[@inkey2]

wow.....a tiny 1 barrel carb ?????

[@bigbadwood279]

wow!

[@simondaddy1]

Fantastic Story. Id never sell her. Entropy sucks.

[@donmeister9948]

SeattleCarNut.....the vehicle had advances far beyond the vehicles at the time. Safety and driveability beyond GM , Ford , and Chrysler.....they forced It out.....simple.