Tucker: Genius or Scam?

[@billquantrill4960]

Tucker didn't grease the right palms. They hindered him just enough to trip him up. Pretty common and age old tactic.

[@buzzwaldron6195]

Plus, automakers that buy everything from others don't do much... need to stay small... most items have to be made in house to keep costs down, control costs, and grow a large company...

[@546cowboy6]

Would have made GM, Ford and Chrysler and the rest to shame. The styling and safety features alone was ahead of it's time

[@ErnieStaino]

If I remember correctly: the steering wheels were on "loan" from Lincoln. Push button door openers were from Kaiser/Frazer. The engine was an air-cooled Franklin helicopter unit adapted with water jackets for cooling. The transmission was a Cord unit taken from junkyards and refurbished, although a modern version was developed and an automatic was in the pipeline. Tucker was a genius and a dynamic salesman. He really got boned by the big three.

[@buzzwaldron6195]

Automakers that buy everything from others don't do much... need to stay small... most items have to be made in house to keep costs down. control costs, and grow a large company...

[@reelreeler8778]

Tucker had a good looking car with different ideas, but he was underfunded. He was indeed "a guy who loved cars, but got in way over his head"

[@charlesdalton985]

Incredibly well done as always. A possibly interesting personal story. Among the many reasons I'm typing this is the Tucker. A couple years later Ford adopted the center headlight as an option. A Ford supplier was given the job and they had to hire additional staff. Among those hired were my parents, who met at the company's Christmas party. Thank you as always Mr DeBruhl ~ Chuck

[@rickdebruhlcars]

Raise a glass to the Tucker legacy!

[@don66hotrod94]

Many years ago I interviewed the widow of a Case tractor dealer. I asked her if she had any special stories and she said, "Yes, I do." It seems her husband was approached to become a Tucker dealer. The cost was $1000 and for that you got a Tucker neon sign. She still had that neon sign "from that crook...Tucker."

[@cavecookie1]

Back in the 80's I was friends with the owner of Tucker #11. I wasn't running back then, but I had the rare privilege of actually do a little bit of wrenching on it...VERY little! The car had a few funny little glitches, typical of ANY new concept and design. A real shame he never got the opportunity to compete fairly with the Big 3.

[@paulhelman2376]

Gilmore Museum near Kalamazoo has a fine Tucker display.

[@markgrace659]

Nice to see the facts presented that Tucker being a poor businessman is what actually did him in.

[@davidkastin4240]

Fascinating history of the Tucker. This is an incredible survivor I've seen in person.

[@rickdebruhlcars]

Only 47 out there!

[@davidkastin4240]

@rickdebruhlcars Yes. And Mr Martin dropped alot of greenbacks to aquire this one. I believe it was $1.6 mil.

[@PatandDoopypoopy]

1.6 for a Tucker yet 3 mil for mustang from movie Bullet. Those prices should be reversed at minimum.

[@revvyhevvy]

Let's see....congressional investigation, indictments, fraud charges. Throw in a porn star scandal and he could have a future in politics ...

[@buzzwaldron6195]

Yeah, worked for Jokementia...

[@dogsense3773]

I worked in the presidio army post in san Francisco in the early 80s and would see an old man driving one from time to time, it was yellow in color, but now the new owners now living in Monterey California painted it,Its original color black!

[@paulgracey4697]

I was coming of age in the early 1950s, and my dad bought second hand, one of the first VWs imported. It was part of the first shipment of 156 cars, and dad raved about its rear engine, its being air cooled and having the weight over the driving wheels for traction. I never heard him mention the Tucker, but these attributes were part of car enthusiasts banter in that era, which, along with a quirky advertising campaign, was why so many VWs began to come into the country. Maybe dad had not heard of the Tucker but I am sure the brand new VW dealer must have.

[@buzzwaldron6195]

VWs sold on low price... most Americans were hesitant to buy a HitlerMobile....

[@paulhelman2376]

Tucker had seat belts.

[@RobertGuidry-f3f]

It wasn't a scam, it was accused to be a scam. He had a product and he met his comtract in building the car he had promissed to. It wasn't perfectly a new car. Excuse me but how many cars have been from Companies that borrowed parts and designs from other Companies. 1950s Mercurys "borrowed" it's design from Hudson. The ribbed structure of the roof that was in 1957 Oldsmobiles and Buicks were "borrowed" from Fraizer-Kaiser. AMC borrowed from every other Company from the United States. The continental red-seal International motor from International, the same thing.

[@rickdebruhlcars]

I agree. Ultimately I think it was his failures as a manager that doomed the production.

[@RobertGuidry-f3f]

@@rickdebruhlcars Failure as a manager, but he successfully built the full run of the First generation of the car itself. Wouldn't it be more of a failure to get a Parent Company that didn't want to see him fail, didn't actually push him to fail?

[@danielbennion80]

I wasn't aware that Buick borrowed from Kaiser - Frazer. I'm not arguing that it didn't; I'd be interested to know how. I know that Walter P. Chrysler had a big hand in buick's success before branching out on his own.

[@ricksaint2000]

Thank you Rick

[@ticnatz]

I have one. Its only 1/43rd scale, but I'm so glad to have it......

[@rickdebruhlcars]

Not as valuable, but easier to work on...

[@MultiPetercool]

Paul Elio is the modern Preston Tucker. A man with a good idea in a marketplace where the deck is stacked against you.

[@roylcraft]

Do you highlight the T-Bird next to it?

[@johnclements6852]

Regardless of the various issues, Preston Tucker was a "success" in that he wanted to build a car, and he achieved that. Maybe it's a good thing they only made 37 (50) , which makes them special and desirable. And, of course, we're still talking about him and his car 76 years later. RIP Preston Tucker, thanks for your distinctive and unique car.

[@rickdebruhlcars]

Imagine what the automotive world would have been like if he'd had a little more funding, fewer legal problems and a little more management skill!

[@ralphabreu5022]

Tucker's steering wheel was from a Lincoln.

[@andy41417]

My dad, a machinist, and uncle a corporate lawyer had diner with Tucker and friends in DC over getting a plant. They did not go any further. Neither was big on the big talker and some of his business practices.

[@rickdebruhlcars]

He was definitely a salesman.

[@jwelchon2416]

Tucker ran afoul of the SEC. The government loved Kaiser but had the long knives out for Tucker. Ford copied the Tucker interior in the 69-70 full size Ford's. Everything was wrapped in front of the driver and just empty space in front of the passenger.

[@meeshker]

They were called suicide doors because the door opened into traffic and a person could be crushed because the door was pushed into them and you couldn't see the car coming for the door.

[@paulhelman2376]

Subaru has done well with boxers.

[@madmike2624]

All 3 of the above happened with Trucker!!~

[@rickdebruhlcars]

I agree.

[@johnrobinson5156]

He should have kept the aviation contracts and built the engines, held off auto production until he found a transmission supplier. You can't do it all.

[@rickdebruhlcars]

He learned that the hard way.

[@chrisjeffries2322]

It is nice to see something older than I. 💋

[@rickdebruhlcars]

Me or the car?

[@chrisjeffries2322]

@@rickdebruhlcars lol. Rick, I was talking about myself!

[@georgeOswald-j6o]

still a beautiful piece of rolling Art

[@MrDdaland]

A old joke..... 3 servicemen returned from Germany in 1947...... As they were waiting on theiir train at NY Grand Central Station the first one looking at a copy of Life magazine stopped and said "Guys, I'm gonna surprise her with a Kaiser!" 2nd looks over the ads- "Boys, I'm gonna amaze her with a Fraser" 3rd one looks through the whole magazine, and somewhat dejectidly says "So, when do y'all think those Tuckers will be out?"

[@Polara.]

These are such amazing cars! I keep seeing a ‘64 Thunderbird in the back of these videos. Any cool history on that car?

[@rickdebruhlcars]

I just shot a video about the 64 Thunderbird yesterday! I should have that finished next week. Subscribe and you'll know when it hits!

[@Polara.]

@ Awesome! I have a ‘64 coupe so that one caught my eye right away. Look forward to seeing the video!

[@Iconoclasher]

If Preston was a con man he wouldn't have to build 50 cars to prove it. All the guy knew was engineering. He didn't know how to finesse the financiers and politicians like the other companies.

[@rickdebruhlcars]

Good point. He definitely wanted to build cars. On the other hand, he was also willing to stretch some of the legal limits.

[@HarrisonJBounel]

The only negative aspect of the Tucker design was the suspension. Instead of coil or leaf springs they used rubber balls. It may have sounded like a good idea back then but not so much nowadays. Still if you offered me a Tucker I'd jump on it in a heartbeat!

[@rickdebruhlcars]

The torsilastic suspension was a big reach. Still used on busses and motorhomes, but too complicated for a car.

[@Imnotyourdoormat]

*Who was ... *"Navin Johnson"

[@Aztec73]

The front signal lights look like they are from a 47 Ford

[@chrisjeffries2322]

1948 Mercury?

[@Aztec73]

@@chrisjeffries2322 47 Ford

[@chrisjeffries2322]

@@Aztec73 I was close!

[@Aztec73]

@chrisjeffries2322 yes you were,the two are practically the same car.😊

[@chrisjeffries2322]

@@Aztec73 Thank you.

[@bullettube9863]

Tucker was a very good inventor but a lousy businessman! Canceling the engine contract just as helicopters were becoming popular was a HUGE mistake. The front headlight was a gimmick and not needed, The front trunk was too small which prospective customers didn't like and they also noted how hard it was to lift the spare tire out of the trunk. It was also hard to get to the gas cap! All of these problems would have surfaced if Tucker had done some customer research plus he should have known the middle light would not be legal in every state. Also some states had already passed regulations about tail lights that Tucker would need to revise.

[@smokey2459]

If “THEY” don’t want you to succeed, then you won’t. Poor John DeLorean faced supply problems when U.S. manufacturers wouldn’t deal with him forcing him to rely on Europe. The results were a woefully underpowered car with quality control issues that doubled his initial anticipated delivery price. Keerplunk…it sunk.

[@rickdebruhlcars]

There's an interesting academic paper that was written about the Tucker troubles. It lays a lot of the blame on Tucker himself. He wanted to control every aspect of production. That created lots of delays and confusion when everyone was waiting for answers.

[@markgrace659]

He spent and spent and spent. Did it to himself.

[@papamike9866]

Curious how you would turn an air cooled engine into a water cooled one. I would think an air cooled engine wouldn't have a water jacket in the engine block.

[@andreabonneteauc6839]

Rick why didn't you say how very collectable they are and they are worth over 1 million dollars and very seldom come up for sale.

[@rickdebruhlcars]

Good point. This one was purchased for the museum at the beginning of 2024 for $1.8 million!

[@kevinbarry71]

The hood ornament is a split infinitive. Not a good start

[@johnrobinson5156]

And no seat belts? You get tossed out the front safety windshield too. Really safe

[@rickdebruhlcars]

Well, he didn't think of everything...

[@MrDdaland]

You have to remember the guy that did the most research on restraint systems (Stapp) was really just getting started about this time

[@jamesheina6952]

It reminds me of the Tatra 87 and 603 mixed together with some American flair if only he had seen those vechiles and studied them along with a better money stratiegy he would have made great cars but to me he just put the cart before the horse

[@ScottTaylor-ru3hi]

Nothing new here. Just a repeat and not done very well.

[@meta2016]

Scam