Movie Cars

[ebres63081]

This may have been asked before so forgive me... Is there a list of which cars were in the movie?

Thanks

[Tuckeroo]

I think I've got it:
1004, 1005, 1009, 1012, 1013, 1014, 1015, 1017, 1019, 1020(unrestored), 1021, 1022, 1025, 1026, 1029, 1031, 1034, 1037, 1039(unrestored), 1041, 1048, 1050(unrestored), 1051(unrestored). For the cars that were unrestored at the time, only parts were used in various factory shots. Plus there were 4 replicas based on Ford LTD chassis in Maroon, Gold, Pearl Gray, and Green and a Studebaker based replica in Green (the crash car). I may have over-counted though, but I'm pretty sure those are correct. Maybe Rich could back me up on those numbers? I know he was on set, whereas I was only 7 when the movie was being made...

[Tuckerfan1053]

1003 was used in the movie as well, as that's when Lucas decided to buy the car (and then promptly let it rot).

[plancor 792]

This is the second time today I have attempted to reply to this question.
Tucker 1003 was not in the movie nor was it in Richmond, CA for the making of the movie. Lucas did not purchase it till after the movie was made.
The following Tuckers were in the movie. Tucker 1004, 1005, 1009, 1012, 1013, 1014, 1015, 1017, 1019, 1021, 1022, 1025, 1026, 1029, 1031, 1034, 1037, 1041, and 1050.
While Tuckers 1020, 1039 and 1051 were sent to Richmond they did not appear in any scenes and sat in the back of the building.
We did find it necessary to take the hub caps from 1051 and use them on another vehicle. The owner of 1051 has long said his Tucker was in the movie. Well, his hub caps were and I know. I was hired along with Russ Brownell by Lucas Films to make sure we had runnable automobiles for the various scenes and we put in some pretty long hours getting them set up.

Richard E. Jones

[plancor 792]

Tucker 1003 was already in a sorry state when Lucas purchased it so they were not responsible for the condition. I might add that in my opinion they paid too much for what they got. I saw this car many years ago and at that time noted severe frame rust and body rust. Also 1048 was not in Richmond, CA for the movie. Tucker 1020 was in the process of being restored and was beautiful and it was decided that since it was still not runable we not use it. Also 1039 was in a sorry state. Had they needed scenes of a junk yard then 1039 would have been a good shot.1050 was incomplete and had fiberglass or plastic parts and other than the hub caps it was not used.

Richard

[TuckerCar]

I thought they used 1051 for the scenes were the car was incomplete (front end was missing). No?

[plancor 792]

No, they did not use 1051 in those scenes. They used 1050 for those scenes and they repainted it 3 different times with the 3 different paint colors. They used something they called "pealpaint". It was very easy to remove and paint a new color.

[SuperFleye]

While working on the movie car replica used in the race track scenes of the movie, we discovered that under the green paint, there was a dark grey metallic cover, does anyone know why? Has the car also been used in other scenes of the movie maybe?

[John K.]

Maybe Richard Jones can comment on this, but I've heard that since there were only 4 "replicars" made, and many different scenes to shoot, these 4 cars were painted then re-painted in different colors as production went along. They also had full-size photos of Tuckers made, which were put far in the background to fill out the factory shots.

[TuckerCar]

The chase scene used a silver car...

[plancor 792]

The four replicars were Maroon, Gold, Grey and Green. At the racetrack for those scenes Tucker 1005 was used as the vehicle making the runs. They then changed to the StudeTucker that Buuddy Joe Hooker rolled. They then switched to one of the replicars they had put the damaged parts on to show the damage from the roll. No idea as to when or why the gray car ended up painted green. Tucker 1013 was used in the chase scenes that ended up at the Police Station.
Richard

[SuperFleye]

Thanks alot for all the information so far! I keep learning all the time. It would have been fun if someone could help me with my question

[Larry Clark]

Now that it is clear where the grey car ended up (painted green, now in Europe), perhaps Richard or someone else can clarify which color car of the remaining three movie cars was donated by Frank Tucker to the Ypsilanti car museum (that today is painted Waltz Blue). Anyone know?

If my recollection is correct, I believe Frank Tucker's estate still has one car and he sold the fourth to a private party.

Larry

[plancor 792]

The Tucker movie car in Ypsilanti was originally green, however John Tucker, Jr. had it repainted Walz Blue. Mrs. Tucker's favorite color.
Richard

[tuckerfan1941]

I have wondered about how the movie was made ever since I saw it. thanks very much for all this information. One question, what became of the replicars?