The Four Missing Tuckers

[CDB]

I really enjoyed reading the article in our latest newsletter by Jay Follis entitled "Missing Tuckers". It is great to have the information on the 4 missing Tuckers all in one publication easy to review time after time when needed. Tucker 1018 hit a tree broadside and was parted out. Tucker 1023 was destroyed by fire. Tucker 1027 was rolled at endurance testing in Indianapolis. Tucker 1042 is cloaked in rumors as to what happened to it. Fascinating to say the least. When I bought my Tucker radio in January of this year at Shaw's Antique Store in Hot Springs, Arkansas, the owner said he sold a horn button from a Tucker previously to me being there. I speculate it came from one of these four Tuckers. In my mind I am going to highly speculate that it came from 1042, because I love a good mystery! Charles D. Barnette

[Tuckeroo]

(Spoiler alert, sorry):
Actually, the horn buttons were produced in a pretty high volume (how high, I don't know), much like the radios. AND not only were MOST not installed in any of the cars at the factory, but according to the most detailed histories I've read of that specific part, NONE were installed on the cars in the factory (assume we're refering to those buttons with the Tucker emblem on it.) Those horn buttons were awaiting an installation that would never come, until some owners and restorers decided to. Otherwise, Tuckers left the factory with their "temporary" button apparently sourced from a Mills Music jukebox with a plain goldish colored backing. By the same token, Tucker steering wheels were also only supposed to be temporary...they were "rejects" from the Lincoln Zephyr assembly line and were delivered with the stipulation that they be removed when Tucker received their own steering wheels from Schiller...I don't know if any such steering wheels were ever completed/delivered.

[plancor 792]

Tuckeroo,
You are 100% correct. Those emblems were to be installed on the new Tucker horn rings that never arrived. They were not to be placed on the Lincoln units that Tucker was using till their horn rings came through. So none were ever on a Tucker that left the factory.
Richard

[CDB]

I have alot to learn about the Tucker. This is why I love being a member of this club, because I am thus at the right place to learn about the Tucker! It is interesting to me that Lincoln had such a role in the making of the Tucker! Charles

[Natalie]

Does anyone have any opinions/corroboration RE the letter (originally from the 11/04/10 issue of OCW) that was run under the Missing Tuckers piece in Topics about the purchase of the engine & transaxle in Memphis ca. 1969 and the possibility of a car for sale in that area in 1950?

[Tuckerfan1053]

(Spoiler alert, sorry):
Actually, the horn buttons were produced in a pretty high volume (how high, I don't know), much like the radios. AND not only were MOST not installed in any of the cars at the factory, but according to the most detailed histories I've read of that specific part, NONE were installed on the cars in the factory (assume we're refering to those buttons with the Tucker emblem on it.) Those horn buttons were awaiting an installation that would never come, until some owners and restorers decided to. Otherwise, Tuckers left the factory with their "temporary" button apparently sourced from a Mills Music jukebox with a plain goldish colored backing. By the same token, Tucker steering wheels were also only supposed to be temporary...they were "rejects" from the Lincoln Zephyr assembly line and were delivered with the stipulation that they be removed when Tucker received their own steering wheels from Schiller...I don't know if any such steering wheels were ever completed/delivered.

Phil Egan's book seems to indicate (but never specifically says) that the design for the steering wheels wasn't finalized before the company shutdown. Egan mentions that he had a design, but states that Tucker wanted certain elements which Egan's design lacked, and leaves the matter there.

[Tucker Fan 48]

Does anyone have any opinions/corroboration RE the letter (originally from the 11/04/10 issue of OCW) that was run under the Missing Tuckers piece in Topics about the purchase of the engine & transaxle in Memphis ca. 1969 and the possibility of a car for sale in that area in 1950?

Natalie,

We've never been able pin down ANY car for sale in Memphis. The factory auction was not until October 20 1950 so up until that time there were very few cars in private hands. Most of those we have a very good idea where they were. There was an engine sold in Memphis that was alleged to have been from #1042. The problem with that is #1042 was sold without a motor so how could any motor be considered to be from #1042?

There was an automotive writer named Menno Dierksen that first heard the #1042 story in the early 70s. It's been studied every which way and never proved. There are many clues that should be able to be tracked in this "urban legend" but they always come to a dead end.

Personally I lean in a completely different direction on the whereabouts of #1042 but at this point I don't care to start another urban legend without some proof. I think we may solve this in another year or two. We are getting closer every month.