1007 at Portland Art Museum

[Prototype]

I went to see 1007 at the Portland Art Museum today. There were 16 of some of the most beautiful and rare cars on display. One thing I noticed that the cars were spread out among 4 large rooms on the main floor. Right in front was Steve McQueen's 1957 Jaguar Racer, some rare and expensive Bentley's and Bugatti's on platforms with 360 degree access.

Backed into a corner, with only the front, left side and a portion of the rear visible was none other than 1007.
I made a bee line to get a good look..the holy grail...or so I thought. I read the placard on the wall...still being purported as painted "Waltz Blue" from its original green. It is actually a nice shade of dark Metallic Navy Blue. If they know this is wrong, why do they still do this? Museums are supposed to promote history, not re-write it. Am I wrong?? They went to great lengths to provide historical accuracy regarding technical facts, but overlooked the paint? Seriously.....

Another thing, with a car of such value and historical signifigance, I could not believe the amount of white wax residue that was in every crack, crevice and shut line on the car. In my opinion (and a few overheard whispers) it looked awful considering the company it was in. The detail job was amateurish to say the least.

Now, I'm not trying to be picky (okay a little)or blast the owners of such a fine automobile, but I expected more from Lemay and its handler's. This was not the only rare car worth in excess of $1 Million, but the rest looked as if they had been rubbed with a diaper and there was not spec of fly poop anywhere (or wax for that matter)on them at all.

I know, I know.....I'm sure I'll catch flak for being "too critical", but I've seen better detail jobs on cars at show & shines or in the local 4th of July parade. A castaway toothbrush and an old rag would have done wonders!

Now, don't get me wrong, it is still an awesome car, as are the rest of the surviving Tucker's, but I was just more than a little disappointed in its presentation, border line disgusted.

I'm having a problem posting pics, so I'll put this up and try to clear the issue with the pics in another post.

[TuckerCar]

We had a convention a few years ago at a privately-owned museum. The plaque on the car said it was 1 of 2 real Tuckers featured in the movie. One of our late (and notoriously feisty) Tucker owners brought the issue up with the owner and the two got into a pretty good argument. So yes, misinformation is rampant as we all know. Disappointing that organizations that you would expect to be authorities are among the worst offenders.

[Prototype]

It is a shame, to say the least. Perhaps they got their information from A.R.! The mis-information about the paint really didn't bother me as much as how the car actually looked. Very poor presentation, which did nothing for what the car really is: A fine specimen of a rare car that should be shared with all. It was just displayed in a bad light.

It looked like it was detailed by Mr. Magoo, after a few cocktails!

[Prototype]

I spoke with a woman at Lemay Museum today. She passed the buck, saying the car belongs to the Lemay family trust, not the museum itself. She also says that the condition the car is in, is how it is displayed at Lemay and they have no control over how the car looks and that the position it was in at the Portland Art Museum was not their choice either.

When I mentioned the paint, she got a little defensive and said, and I quote: "The Lemay family has worked closely with the Tucker club people over the years to ensure accuracy regarding the authenticity and historical correctness of the car". She then directed me to convey my questions to the Lemay foundation itself, since they (the museum) take no responsibility as to how the car is displayed and/ or maintained. She also said that the current owners are quite confident that the car is as close to original as possible considering being restored several times...?? She also said the car looks as it did when it was used in the film about Tucker.

She seemed a bit taken aback that I would even inquire about the car in the first place, but nonetheless thanked me for the comments, since they "try to ensure a positive experience at not only their facility, but when any part of their collection is loaned out for display elsewhere".

I tried in vain to speak to someone at the foundation, but no one has returned my calls as of yet. I'm not trying to be a pest, I'm just more curious than anything.

Any thoughts?

[TuckerCar]

It is discouraging that members go to great lengths to criticize other club members and the way that some cars are displayed. As for the Lemay Tucker, one does not know why there was polish residue on the car. The car could have left LeMay in absolutely perfect condition and the Portland Art Museum may have taken it upon themselves to do a wax job and thus the car may not have appeared perfect as it may have been when it left LeMay.

We will have spent a week at the Lemay Family Collection which is totally separate from the LeMay museum. Our Fascination is the featured vehicle at the annual LeMay event this weekend. The Lemay Family Collection goes to great lengths to have the entire collection in very presentable condition. We have been joined by approximately 50 other volunteers cleaning and polishing every car and getting everything in tiptop shape for the Saturday event. Do not be quick to say that the Lemay Family Collection does not present their cars in the best light. Since the Lemay museum is a totally separate entity, we have no idea of how they present their cars.

The saying goes, "don't judge until you have walked in their shoes."

We would strongly recommend that you purchase the next Tucker that comes up for sale and then you can show the world how a Tucker should be displayed.

[Prototype]

Point well made, but I was just sharing my observation. Nothing more, nothing less. It is anyone's right to opine on any given subject here. Like I mentioned before, I mean no ill will towards anyone, just asking, venting and sharing what I saw.

The curator of the exhibit, told me the car is exactly how it was delivered to them, they only dust them and asked owners/ agents to ensure only a 1/4 tank of fuel remained and disconnect and/ or remove the battery.

Perhaps I can speculate as to why the long time owner of 1010 would never let anyone see it; embarrasment in its condition? Only he knew the answer....that's the great thing about this and other forums...we can converse, groan, moan, complain and ask questions. Sometimes we don't like the answers to some of them, but that's waht makes this a great country!

As for buying a Tucker, Swigert isn't budging on my offers for the Tin Goose and I seriously doubt Ricardo will part with his creation......

As the saying goes, "You catch more flies with honey than vinegar"....I chose vinegar!

[Clem]

Thank you very much for a very polite reply. I am not used to such courtesy.

[Tucker Fan 48]

I know Nancy and Doug LeMay personally and I can assure you that they not only love this car but want the history of #1007 told correctly. They invited me out several months ago and allowed me to crawl all over it in an effort to find out everything they could about the car. It was spotless at that time and I was told that it gets regular maintence to keep it that way. Hard to say what happened in Portland. Maybe it was waxed in the dark after a long day moving it there. Who knows?

After I met with Nancy and Doug they totally revised the history that they have on site for #1007. At this point they have the most up to date history available on the car. As Keith will tell you, Tucker histories constantly change as we make new discoveries. Unfortunately we can't erase old postings on the internet so a lot of wrong information is out there that is outdated.

The LeMays are well aware that #1007 is not the original color, the interior is not original, and yes, the hubcaps are not original. They also have a huge collection of other cars to take care of and upkeep on a aging site that I'm sure requires a lot of money to operate. They made a large donation to get the Americas Car Museum started in Tacoma. It will be completed next year. After it opens the LeMay Family Collection will continue to be shown at the present site. That all takes cash to operate so as much as some people might think they should just drop $300,000 into restoring the car it isn't going to happen and the car really doesn't need it.

I saw over 30 Tuckers this summer and many are not in any better shape than #1007. Also after seeing them I see that every car is different in some way. Since Tuckers were all prototypes it is impossible 63 years later to say what is original and what is not. Clearly there are things we know are not original but many things verie from one car to the next. #1007 has seen so many different colors and changes over the years it would be impossible to determine what was on it in 1948.

Besides does it really make sense to return every car to its original state? Look at #1041. It has been yellow for over 40 years. It is by far the most photographed Tucker of all the cars. Originally it was black but it was only that color for a little over 20 years. Would it make sense to paint it black now or leave it the color that it is instantly recognized as being #1041? Only the owners can make those decisions.

All of the owners I met truly love their cars. As members of the Tucker Club we need to remember that we are only guests in their homes. If we aren't respectful of the owners and their cars they can simply put them away or sell them off to Saudi Arabia and we'll never see a Tucker again. Several owners I met are frustrated about how they are treated by Tucker Club members. It will be pretty tough to get cars at the future conventions if they feel like the only thing Club members do is gripe about their cars.

[Larry Clark]

Tucker Fan 48 has provided a great post. The making of the Tucker movie permitted Richard Jones and others to be able to get a very good look at a large number of Tucker automobiles. We have continued to benefit from their reports and recollections.

Since then, only Tucker Fan 48 has managed to again see so many Tucker automobiles in a short period of time. Mike has an incredible perspective from this accomplishment. I fully concur with his thoughts about the color of both 1007 and 1041. Bev Ferreira, who painted 1041 yellow, regularly drove 1041 on the highways to car meets, including TACA conventions. Bill Hamlin, another legendary car owner, called 1002 "Goldie" and showed her with pride. Goldie began life as a Waltz Blue car. It is great that we have fine examples of the original Tucker car colors to see and appreciate. However, deviations in color and even in extra "options," as 1048 received some years back, will never keep me from getting in line to see a Tucker car.

I am pleased that 1007 is getting a new description. Tucker Fan 48 is providing great support for owners in helping them know and be able to better tell the stories of their cars. Good descriptions best help keep the legend alive.

Larry

[plancor 792]

Tucker Serial Number 1007 was not one of the Tucker's in Richmond, CA when the movie was made. The factory paint when it left the plant was Metallic Dark Green with a Paint Number of 300. Though posted elsewhere I will repeat that the following Tucker's were there for the movie.
They were:
1004,1005,1009,1012,1013,1014,1015,1017,1019,1020,1021,1022,1025,1026,1029,1031,1034,1037,1039,1041,1050 and a partially built vehicle(1051?) sent by Chick DeLorenzo that he latter claimed was in the movie. It was in the same area as all other Tucker's but was not used. Also Tucker's 1020 and 1039 were not used in the film.

Richard

[Preston]

I believe Chick said his car was used in shots of the assembly when “Tucker and his skeleton crew” put
the remaining cars together so they “wouldn't loose the plant” It was supposedly the maroon car shown
on the line they were putting parts on (no hood) etc.
I think at that time his wasn't complete. And I think one of its front fenders are fiberglass... Can't
remember the reason for this... anyone know?...
But wow... when was the last time 12, 13, 14, 15 sat beside each other... some great shots...
Lucky that movie was made... or no telling what the conditon of some of these cars would be in... or price.

[Tucker Fan 48]

Richard is the expert on what was used in the movie. He was there and was in charge of keeping the cars going. He can pretty much tell you which car number that was in every scene.

In my notes from him and others there at the time, #1051 was never used except they did borrow the hubcaps to use on another car. The maroon car that was used in many of the build shots was Coppola's own #1037.

As for the fiberglass fender on #1051, I understood he could not find a NOS left front fender anywhere so he had to put a fiberglass one on the car to complete it. I don't believe there are any NOS fenders floating around. They were pretty rare and were made from at least four pieces of metal welded together. You can see all the seams on the back side of the fenders.

DSCN0444a.jpg (83.52 KiB) Viewed 1246 times

[plancor 792]

I do not know where Chick came up with this idea. Russ Brownell and I were the only two hired by Lucas to look after the Tucker's and to have the proper color vehicles available for lineups. The Tucker Chick is calling his, is actually Curtis Foester's Tucker 1050. Chick's vehicle sat in the back of the plant the entire time. After making the movie we noted Chick mentioned in a newspaper that his car was in the movie. I wrote him a letter telling him it was not and never received a reply from him.

Richard

[Prototype]

I appreciate the responses to this thread. I kind of figured there would be some backlash, good and bad, from commenting on 1007, while in Portland. Just to clarify, I was not knocking the Lemay family in any way or judging how they display their cars, I just wanted to see how everyone felt on the issue.

I'm what you might call a bit of a history buff, so it does bother me to a degree when I see facts either distorted or twisted in the favor of the persron(s) involved. Not that anyone in this case would benefit either way, displaying the wrong information or purporting it as something it is not. The convertible comes to mind, but that's for another topic/ thread altogether, so I won't go there.

I have come to the conclusion that people will believe what they read or are told, depending on who the source of the information actually is. Facts can be misconstured from one person to another, as well as embellished (take the media, for example!)

I apologize if I struck a nerve with anyone, that was not my intention.

Now, back to the origins of why I posted this in the first place; I was just dissapointed about how the car looked, considering the company it was in while on display. The other cars had nary a speck of dust on them. The hair stood up on the back of my neck, when I spotted Steve McQueen's Jag Racer, as well! I think it was spectacular, but if it was covered in dust, with some exhaust carbon around the tail pipes and dead bugs on the front from just finishing a race, would have been fitting for a car once owned by the King of cool!

That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing 1007 up close and in person, that is a fact! I just wish I could have sat in it or gone for a ride. That would have made my day! Hopefully someday I will have the opportunity to ride in one or perhaps even drive one...and I won't say a word about how it looks, I promise!

[Tucker Fan 48]

It is unfortunate how much bad information there is on the Tuckers. Over the past couple years I've collected just about every magazine article written about the Tuckers in the past 63 years. A lot of the information is just plain wrong BUT it was what was known at the time. There are a great many old posts even on this website that are incorrect. The problem is each time one gets read it gets repeated and the cycle of bad information keeps going.

No one has ever put all the information in one place to be researched. Richard Jones and Larry Clark are two people who probably out in the most time studying the cars over the past 20 - 30 years and they were able to find a lot of clues but also hit a lot of deadends. In the last few years the internet has made research a little easier but time has worked against us. Those who were involved in 1948 are at least in their mid-80s by now and most have moved on for a personal visit with Preston Tucker. With them went the answers to a lot of questions. Hopefully someday we'll get the history of all the cars sorted out. It would be fun to see where they all went over the last 63 years.