"Boxer_4" (Boxer_4)
12/23/2014 at 09:00 • Filed to: None
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"Boxer_4" (Boxer_4)
12/23/2014 at 09:00 • Filed to: None | 9
| 17 |
I recently visited the AACA Museum in Hershey, Pennsylvania. For those who don't know, the AACA Museum is a Smithsonian Affiliated museum with over 100 cars, 30 motorcycles, and a full floor of historic buses on display. They also host several rotating displays every year.
The AACA museum opened a new permanent display in October of this year housing The Cammack Collection, considered the world's largest collection of Tucker 48 automobiles. The Cammack Collection also includes engines and other assorted mechanical parts, a significant number of engineering drawings (not currently on display), and other Tucker memorabilia.
There are three complete cars in the collection. Chassis # 1022 (lead photo, grey) is the least remarkable of the collection, if there is such a thing. It's a pretty standard Tucker, with a Franklin O-335 flat-6 engine and Tucker Y-1 manual transmission.
Chassis # 1001 (maroon) is the first production Tucker. Other than a different front suspension design, it is fairly similar to chassis # 1022.
Chassis # 1026 (bronze, originally maroon) is by far the most interesting of the is collection from a mechanical standpoint. This Tucker is the last know to exist with the Tuckermatic R-1-2 automatic transmission. Other differences from earlier chassis numbers include a front mounted fuel tank and another modified front suspension design.
Besides complete vehicles, there are many pieces from the development of the Tucker 48. Prototype chassis # 2 (above) details the early design history of the Tucker 48, including the odd transverse mounted flat-6 engine. Instead of a transmission, the prototype chassis used a direct drive system with two torque converters. It did not have reverse.
The Cammack Collection also includes an extensive collection of engines, both prototype and production versions. The collection does a good job of showing the progression from the Tucker 589 flat-6 found in test chassis #2, to the Lycoming sourced flat-6, and finally, the air cooled (later water cooled) Franklin flat-6.
The exhibit does a great job of detailing the story of Preston Tucker, the Tucker 48, and David Cammack, the original curator of this collection (much better than I can convey here). If you ever find yourself in Hershey Pennsylvania, you really should check out the AACA museum and the Cammack Tucker collection.
SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
> Boxer_4
12/23/2014 at 09:07 |
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Dat control arm!
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SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
> Boxer_4
12/23/2014 at 09:10 |
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Is there anything in the pic I can use for scale? I've always been curious about just how big the engine is.
Scary__goongala!
> Boxer_4
12/23/2014 at 09:12 |
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I live 25 minutes from Hershey. Still haven't been to the museum.
What is wrong with me.
Sn210
> Boxer_4
12/23/2014 at 09:13 |
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Tucker's are so cool. I finally saw one in person this year
Justin Hughes
> SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
12/23/2014 at 09:27 |
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I think that's worth a trip sometime. Thanks for the tip!
JEM
> Scary__goongala!
12/23/2014 at 10:32 |
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It's the local syndrome. I've lived in Mass. almost my whole life and just made it to the Larz Anderson musuem in Boston for the first time this summer.
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JEM
> Boxer_4
12/23/2014 at 10:33 |
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OOH..... and I just happen to be taking a trip down to Lancaster County Jan 1st-5th :-)
Thanks for the head up!!
BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
> Scary__goongala!
12/23/2014 at 10:35 |
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I also live 35 minutes away and have never even *heard* of this place. Amazing what locals never get to see.
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Scary__goongala!
> JEM
12/23/2014 at 10:47 |
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what do they have there?
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Scary__goongala!
> BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
12/23/2014 at 10:49 |
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I'll have to make a trip this summer. Maybe on the same weekend as an autocross at the Giant Center.
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JEM
> Scary__goongala!
12/23/2014 at 11:06 |
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Not a lot of vehicles, but some amazing pre 1930 cars left in their original as used condition. What's really cool is every other weekend or so in the warm months they sponsor really cool car/bike shows.
RallyWrench
> Boxer_4
12/23/2014 at 14:23 |
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There are many car reasons I need to go to Hershey, but this is the winner by a country mile. I've only ever seen one in the metal, a silver one at the Blackhawk maybe 15 years ago.
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Boxer_4
> SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
12/24/2014 at 16:11 |
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It's basically a water-cooled Franklin O-335. The basic dimensions for the air-cooled original are:
Length: 37.4 in (950.0 mm)
Width: 30.8 in (782.3 mm)
Height: 21.6 in (548.6 mm)
Dry weight: 307 lb (139.3 kg)
I would imagine the dimensions would remain fairly close to that. Hopefully that helps.
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Boxer_4
> JEM
12/24/2014 at 16:13 |
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It's too bad your trip isn't later in the month. You are going to miss the temporary Lotus exhibit that opens ~Jan 24th. Even so, the Tucker exhibit alone is worth going, not to mention the rest of their permanent collection.
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Boxer_4
> Scary__goongala!
12/24/2014 at 16:18 |
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The same thing that's wrong with me. I live ~5 minutes away from the plant where most of the Mack Truck chassis trucks are built, yet I have never gotten around to touring the facility.
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JEM
> Boxer_4
12/24/2014 at 22:05 |
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Oh a Lotus exhibit sounds awesome. Any other suggestions around there? Open to breweries, brewpubs, museums, hiking, anything cool.
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Boxer_4
> JEM
12/26/2014 at 00:54 |
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I'm actually fairly new to the area myself, so I'm not too familiar with a lot of the local attractions.
However, the Tröegs Brewing Company is right down the road from the AACA musuem. They offer a self-guided tour, and a pretty nice tasting room.