Tucker #1059

[Tucker Fan 48]

This recently discovered photo shows there was more than 58 cars. You can clearly identify the 4 men in the pictures.
Preston Tucker is at the door of #1059, Joe Lencki is adjusting the wing, Directing the project in the lower right corner of
the photo is Robert McClellend. Accountant Mel Koeppen is near the tail counting the revolutions of the propeller.

tucker #1059.JPG (12.58 KiB) Viewed 2416 times

photo identifying Mel Koeppen.JPG (1.47 KiB) Viewed 2405 times

This car was built off the books and was known to only a few by its code name, "Project Homer". It was meant to be
a gift to Sen. Homer Ferguson to repay him for all his help to the Tucker Corporation. The thought behind #1059 was
that it was a full functioning Tucker automobile that turned into an airplane. Preston had ordered Lencki to build in
a special feature just for Sen. Ferguson. When #1059 got to 5 thousand feet, the wings would automatically break
away, thus allowing Sen. Ferguson to experience all the safety features built into the Tucker upon impact. This
automatic feature was known to those on the project as the Tuckermatic.

Unfortunately the plant closed before Preston was able to give #1059 to Sen. Ferguson and the car was taken home
by a Lencki employee where it sat under cover for nearly 62 years. The car has recently been discovered and will be
fully restored by a company in Wisconsin (believe it or not). Once completed the car will be offered for sale at a price
of 5 million dollars. A bargain for the only 1948 Tucker Car/Plane in existance.

#1059 has been certified authentic in an affidavit from Master Restorer Ima Lyon that says: "in early 1966, I saw the
chassis and many sheet metal parts for the Tucker Car/Plane. I also saw that the wing was stamped # 1059 and its frame
was reinforced at that time. I have also recently seen and inspected the Tucker Car/Plane and verified its authenticity."

There is also a letter from accountant Mel Koeppen saying he planned to fly out and visit his relatives over the holidays.
This of course proves that he knew about "Project Homer".

Here is a close up photo that shows the #1059 stamped on the wing which proves it was a real project started at the
Tucker Corporation plant in Chicago.

tucker #1059 wing number.JPG (3.37 KiB) Viewed 2404 times

[Tuckeroo]

LOL, but I'm going to have dispute your claim! This is the only flying Tucker:

http://www.nasm.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?id=A19610156000 (Aka Waterman Aeromobile #6, it has the authentic Tucker engine in the rear...I need to get the serial number.) Think of it, an aircraft engine converted to work in a car converted to work in a car/aircraft. Oh! The irony!

OR this is the only flying Tucker (but only on paper):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tucker_XP-57

[GMguy74]

Aren't you a day EARLY???

[Tuckeroo]

Maybe Tucker Fan 48 is. I was being totally serious. So I'm still on schedule, lol.

[Natalie]

LOL, but I'm going to have dispute your claim! This is the only flying Tucker:

http://www.nasm.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?id=A19610156000 (Aka Waterman Aeromobile #6, it has the authentic Tucker engine in the rear...I need to get the serial number.) Think of it, an aircraft engine converted to work in a car converted to work in a car/aircraft. Oh! The irony!

OR this is the only flying Tucker (but only on paper):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tucker_XP-57

You think someone named Waterman would have designed the Amphicar not the Aerobile...

[Tucker Fan 48]

Wait just a minute before you go all "Esch" on this. Sure there is more than one Tucker Car/Plane just like there is more
than one Tucker Convertible. But #1059 is the only one started by the Tucker Corporation. The photos and affidavits
prove so.

Waterman Aeromobile #6, it has the authentic Tucker engine in the rear...I need to get the serial number

I hope they wrote that serial number down somewhere. It appears to be hanging above a Concorde.

Waterman 6.JPG (213.52 KiB) Viewed 2368 times

[Tuckeroo]

I shouldn't have take a turn for the serious so soon. "Counting the revolutions of the propeller" ha! Priceless!

[Tucker Fan 48]

You can tell from this enlarged photo that this is without a doubt Tucker Accountant Mel Koeppen

positive id of Mel Koeppen.JPG (2.7 KiB) Viewed 2334 times

[Tuckeroo]

You can tell from this enlarged photo that this is without a doubt Tucker Accountant Mel Koeppen

positive id of Mel Koeppen.JPG

In all of his pixalated glory. That's about the squarest accountant I've ever seen!

[plancor 792]

Engine number in the Aerobile is 33549. I got this number when it was in storage in Suitland Maryland prior to being restored and put on display in the Smithsonian Museum.
Richard

[Tucker Fan 48]

Richard you are amazing !

[Phantomrig]

Here i was thinking it was somethiong seriouse and it would change the history of the Tucker as we know it, but no.

Happy April Fools day everybody

[Tucker Fan 48]

Of course don't confuse the Aerobile with the Airomobile which was powered by an air-cooled engine developed by former Franklin
engineers Carl Doman and Edward Marks who organized their own firm following the closure of the Franklin Automobile Company
in 1934. Doman and Marks later became involved in building the 335 engine that went into the 1948 Tucker.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1609&p=6265&hilit=Carl+Doman#p6265

Paul Lewis of Denver, Colorado conceived the idea for this futuristic car in the early 1030's and in 1936, contracted with Doman
and Marks to build this prototype.

1937 Airomobile 2.jpg (166.75 KiB) Viewed 2208 times

1937 Airomobile.jpg (140.64 KiB) Viewed 2194 times

The car never went into production but years later Paul Lewis took another shot a building a car with the introduction of the
Fascination in the late 60s. Lewis built only 5 of the vehicles but today they all survive. To put a Kevin Bacon twist to all of this
3 of the only 5 Fascinations ever built are owned by the owner of Tucker #1017 !

Fascination 2.JPG (92.5 KiB) Viewed 2186 times

[Tucker Fan 48]

yet another flying Tucker......it just flaps its ears..... Happy Easter Everyone !!!

tucker bunny.jpg (31.37 KiB) Viewed 2098 times

[Prototype]

Project Homer. I haven't laughed so hard in my life! I nearly wet myself! That is some seriously hilarious writing. My Wife came all the way downstairs to ask me if I was okay! I don't care who you are, that is some funny stuff right there. Mel Koeppen counting the rotations on the propellor was by far the funniest line in there, but the whole story is just ingenious. Bravo! Bravo! Tucker Fan 48, My hat is off to you! And all these years I thought the Burger King April Fool's ad from years ago, advertising the left handed cheeseburger, was the funniest thing I have ever heard! Except the person who bid on the Con-Vera-tible will be very dissapointed when he finds out that the reserve will NEVER be lifted on that albatross! Oh to be a fly on that wall! Provided that those are even legitimate bids.............