Have a Tucker on Brazil?

[MatheusC20XE]

Hello Tucker Fans!

Im from Brazil, at south america, and would like to know if was exported a Tucker Torpedo to Brazil. I was know that Preston Tucker was traveled and was dead on Rio de Janeiro trying develope a new project here on Brazil, then, i was think that maybe have some Torped imported here.


Cheers,


Matheus S. Almeida

[Tuckerfan1053]

Welcome to the boards!

There was a Tucker in Brazil until recently. It's exact whereabouts are unknown at the moment, but the club is trying to trying to locate the car. It is thought that the car is now in Europe. However, the exact means by which the car left Brazil is a mystery. Richard Jones has some of the details on where it was. Hopefully, he'll check in soon.

[danbike]

When I sold my collection of Tucker material, included was a decent file on the Brazil car, including a number of photos. It was near Sao Paulo, but I have no idea where it is now. Jay F should know what happened to the material I sold and might be able to find the photos

[Tucker Fan 48]

The car is at The São Paulo Museum of Antiquities Mechanical in Caçapava, also known as Museu de Caçapava. I believe that is located on Avenue Roberto Eduardo Lee just off of Brazil Highway 116. Maybe someone can comfirm the address or location. There have been rumors that the car left Brazil, however it may have been put into storage there. People in the area have been urging the local government to take control of the collection. Over the past several months, looting of the building seems to have increased. Many cars and parts have disappeared. The Tucker was still intact as of July 2009.

I would love to know more about the history of this car, prior ownership to Lee, and when Lee acquired the car if anyone has it.

The story of this cars owner is interesting. The Museum belonged to businessman Roberto Lee, who married an heiress of the family Matarazzo. The museum was created in 1963 in the capital, and the following year, moved to a farm in Caçapava. Visitors from around the country would come to see the collection of 150 cars, pictures and miniatures. With the passing of Roberto Lee in 1975, began the decline of the museum and the museum closed due to a family dispute.

The death of Lee, on the evening of June 16, 1975, earned months of headlines in local newspapers and magazines. It would all be the result of a romance started because of a black 1954 Cadillac Fleetwood. Lee added the 1954 Cadillac Fleetwood to the Museum of Caçapava in April 1973 and was enchanted with the blonde who sold him the car. The Cadillac belonged to the first husband of Elza Leonet do Amaral who also died in tragic circumstances. His body was found in the bedroom of the couple, with a bullet in the head in October 1966. In his hands was the same Colt 32 later used by Elza to kill Roberto Lee. The coincidence was exploited by the newspapers of the time, who treated the woman as "the blonde assassin" in the headlines. Lee was in his office when he took two shots from a Colt 32, from his mistress, Elza. She told police he had killed Roberto because he did not acknowledge Andréia Cristina, his daughter of 1 year. When he was murdered, Lee was living with his second wife, Yara Smith. Hence his embarrassment at the time to recognize a child with Elza Leonet.

She was sentenced to eight years in prison for the murder. Roberto Lee's case also drew attention because it involves big names of society. The wealth of Roberto’s father, Fernando Eduardo Lee, who won fame in São Paulo, as a national pioneer in the use of wind and solar. In addition to being born with a silver spoon, Roberto married in 1960 with Maria Pia Matarazzo, youngest daughter of Italian Francisco Matarazzo, who built in Sao Paulo one of the biggest industrial empires in the country at the beginning of last century. Count Matarazzo, as he was known, amassed a huge net worth which would have placed him sixth on the list of the richest men in the world by Forbes magazine at the time. Roberto and Maria Pia had a daughter, Mariângela, but the marriage was brief.

Roberto’s father clashed with his granddaughter Mariângela when she started selling part of the collection. Models such as the 1911 Hispano-Suiza were sold abroad. Mariângela split the money with another heiress, Andréia Cristina, who was eventually recognized as legitimate daughter of Roberto after the murder.

Today the cars are piled up, covered with rust and dust. Some totally damaged by time and the buildings damaged roof. The collection has also been destroyed by many people who stole parts, cars, and bikes.

There are reports that there is still pending litigation regarding the assets of the families involved. A representative of the family Matarazzo said only that the area is private and that they will not comment on the matter.

Here are the most recent photos of the car and building. The car is in the same place as previous pictures but notice the memorabilia that was near the car has been stolen:

IMGP1934.jpg (31.47 KiB) Viewed 950 times

museu_automovel_cacapava2.jpg (56.6 KiB) Viewed 948 times

[TuckerLoverInTucker]

Wonder if they want to sell.

[Tucker Fan 48]

See recent update here:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1793