RIP John Tucker

[Tuckerfan1053]

Just saw this: http://www.mlive.com/news/annarbornews/ ... xml&coll=2

John Richard Tucker loved to tell stories about his family's glory days in the automobile industry - although his own passions centered on boats, not cars.

But like his famed father, the Tucker automobile entrepreneur, John Richard Tucker had a gift for salesmanship.

Tucker, who lived in Ypsilanti for about 20 years and whose family still has roots in the community, died Sunday in California at the age of 78.

He was the youngest son of Preston Thomas Tucker, who designed the legendary 1948 Tucker Torpedo in his home and workshop on Park Street in Ypsilanti. Only 51 of the cars were ever built before a lack of money and a federal probe for fraud - which was eventually dropped in his favor - forced Tucker out of business.