1042

[Tucker Fan 48]

Tucker,

You mentioned back on Thu May 14, 2009 2:14 pm that the back hood of 1042 along with a door from 1042 sold on ebay some time ago. Do you have any pictures from the listing or any idea where they came from or went? Just curious because if someone had the parts, they would have had to get them from somewhere and knowing the answer to that could lead to the rest of the car, or at least what happened to it.

[Tucker Fan 48]

Does anyone know for a fact where this photo was taken? Is that #1027 in front of the #1018 dash and firewall?

[Tucker Fan 48]

Is Les Sheaffer still around or are he and Preston chatting about how ANYONE could ever think there was a Tucker convertible made?

[Tommy]

If I remember right that is the Tin Goose in the background (unrestored). I dont remember where it was said to be taken. I could guess but I don't want to say the wrong place when I'm not 100% sure. I am sure someone can confirm or correct me on this.

[Coach_B]

I think you are right and that is the Tin Goose. That picture isn't the greatest but it looks maroon to me. The Tin Goose was also the only one to have traditional opening doors (non suicide). The door handles look to be both in the rearward positions rather then both in the center.

[Randy Earle]

I would say that's the Tin Goose.

[Tucker Fan 48]

You guys are good. I never noticed the door handles. I'd guess the picture was at Les Sheaffer's in Steelton,
PA. since he was known to have owned both the Tin Goose and the front half of #1018. A Mr. Lemmo owned the Tin Goose and #1020 but I haven't ever seen anything that said he had the front half of #1018. Swigert Museum owns the Tin Goose and #1013 but I haven't ever seen anything that said they ever had the front half of #1018. Richard Kughn owned the front half of #1018 but I haven't ever read that he had the Tin Goose. Stan Gilliland may have owned the the front half of #1018 as RM Auctions stated that parts Lot #684 was purchased by Kughn from Gilliland who bought it from Wayne McKinley who bought it from Les Sheaffer, but again, the only person that it seems had both was Sheaffer unless Stan Gilliland or Wayne McKinley owned it.

Al Reinert admits he bought 3 motors, including 33539 (which now has zero miles on it and is in the convertible), and the front half of 1018 from Les Sheaffer but I don't know if Reinert ever had the Tin Goose, but then what can anyone believe when it comes to Reinert?

[Tommy]

I think it was said the red frame from #1042 was sold to Mr. Esch from Mr. Reinert along with a door from #1042 and the trunk lid and hood from #1027 and the partial body #55. The body #55 was later returned to Mr.Reinert. Then the #1027 trunk lid and hood and #1042 door was sold (on eBay?).

Mr. Esch made his convertible fiberglass Tucker replica from a Corvair frame and running gear and probably made the molds for the body from these parts. I don’t think I have read that it has any actual Tucker panels. Someone may be able to confirm or correct me on this but I think the photo of the red frame pictured in “see a Tucker” #1042 may be taken at Mr.Esch’s home.

Mr. Cammack has the #1042 transmission.

I think the end conclusion is that Mr.Reinert stripped and parted out #1042. It would be a real treasure hunt to track down all the #1042 parts available at this point. I am sure some have been used on the other Tucker restorations over the years.

[Tommy]

It may be worth noting that if the story in "see a Tucker"of #1042 is true then that makes Mr.Reinert the reffered to "junk dealer", am I right?

[Preston]

I haven't posted in quite a while but there was a thread while back, during the discussion of the convertible... something about a trailer of parts, someone owning several cars and 42 was brought up... I was wondering if 42 may have been parted out? Looking at the grouping of 27 Which to me looks
like there are a lot of NOS or at least undamaged parts and a couple of smashed/rolled doors from 27 and the front clip from 18.... I feel that's more car 18, just fabricate a top and they'd have a complete car...Are those black parts/pieces NOS from the 1950s auction? Where did those pieces come from? It seems someone had a list of what was sold... just wondering if there are really that many parts still out in collectors hands.. I've seen hoods, doors, grills, from time to time on ebay... Guess I'm just hoping that 42
is still around in some form and wasn't destroyed or dumped into a river.
Any thoughts if the backend of the real 57, with modified window may still be laying around?

[Tucker Fan 48]

Sounds like you've been away for awhile. Hard to tell where to start with your question but I'll try.

The car without a roof in Madison WI is body #1057. All that is left of it is what you see. You can
go back and read through other threads to see how that was FINALLY proven. I'm not going
to open up that stupid can of worms again.

The parts that were sold in Lot #684 back in 2002 have been sold to a Tucker Club member that
is currently building it into a car complete with a roof, THANK YOU ! It includes parts from #1018,
#1027, and the firewall from #1052. It will have one of the factory test frames under it. My
understanding is the car will be presented as what it is, a collection of Tucker factory parts and
not as a restored #1018, #1027, or a secret car sneaked out the back door of the plant. It will
take more than slapping a roof on it but it is in the right hands and in a couple years we should
see a really nice car.

Most of the parts you've seen on e-bay, Lot #684, or in other collections have come from the 3
car that were destroyed, #1018, #1023, and #1027, and the bodies that remained when the plant
closed. Many parts were used restoring other Tuckers. Some went into the car without a roof. The
remainder is now going into the #1052 car (for lack of a better name).

There are very few other parts remaining. There is the front of the #1018 frame (red frame), a
left front drivers door, a engine compartment lid, and a few trunk lids. There were several trunk
lids at the factory that were bought up. They tend to bend at the hinge point so several owners
have a spare.

As for #1042, it was actually researched very well in the early 70s. Unless several people told
outright lies the car is long gone. There is no reason to doubt that. I've spent many many hours
researching the car as have our Tucker Authorities and they all agree the car is gone.

Hope that answers your question(s)

[cicero]

Sounds like you've been away for awhile. Hard to tell where to start with your question but I'll try.

The car without a roof in Madison WI is body #1057.

It is? I thought we proved that 57 was the car seen with the modified back window sitting in the factory in the LIFE magazine photos and we could see where it had been pulled out of the line in the same pictures. I followed that thread pretty carefully and don't remember us saying that the owner/fabricator of the convertible's claims that it was body 57 was accurate. I remember us using this fact to disprove that the vert was a secret factory project, but not that his car was indeed that shell. That and combined with the fact that the rear portion of the inner fender wells were from an earlier car since they didn't have the reinforcement pressings in them, I thought that the conclusion was that it was a combination of parts from several cars and maybe even the frame from the other test chassis. Guess I need to go back and re-read the thread.

[Tucker Fan 48]

I vote we shoot the webmaster !!!

First, the above posts are all old and while they are somewhat related they are WAY outdated
and so much new information has been posted since that time they are no longer relevant.

Second, after spending 20 minutes reseaching all the proper information and links to answer
Cicero's question I went to post my reply and found the topic no longer existed because our
webmaster moved it all around and added all this crap to the thread !!!!!!!!

Third, all my information was lost because the post was moved.

So I'll just sign off now and go waste my time somewhere else.

[TuckerCar]

Well I can't please anyone.

So, the webmaster position for TACA is now open. Please inquire with Jay if you are interested. Also seeking Vice President at the expiration of my current term.

[Preston]

Guys I was just wanting to get some answers and was running through old threads... and couldn't remember
which they were in... as like most threads they sometimes get off the original topic and I thought you guys
that have been around had mentioned parts that had popped up from #1042. which made me wonder if it could have been parted out... which with these answers it looks like it may have.... I thank Tucker Fan for sending me a PM and talking with me.. I thank the website guy for find the threads I had read...
Just wanted to get some clarity on the 42 story... be nice to find images of it.

But still....how sweet it would be to think its setting in a garage somewhere
which leads to another question... first this is what I remember hearing which may be wrong.... but it was found
by a officer abandoned?...was taken to his home... he becane very ill.... was in a hospital... when he recovered
and went home it was gone... was thought to have been picked up by the city and junked/used for shoring up the river bank?.... Is that really the correct story? Could a car just sitting abandoned be taken as their own car... could the city just take a car from someones driveway without getting in contact with the owner.... While I'm sure I'm way off from the correct story. lets say someone took the car... it shows up in a auction now in a garage
can it be bought...