Turbine Cars, Wings & Tuckers - The Podcast

"SteveLehto" (stevelehto) 06/16/2016 at 09:00 • Filed to: None

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This will come as a surprise to most people but I’ve written a few books. Hey, even I was surprised when I stopped to think about it. And three of them are about really cool cars. Turbine Cars, Wings and Tuckers.

My podcast usually focuses on cars and the law seeing how I am an attorney specializing in automobile law. But my writing tends more toward the automotive and/or history angle of my interests. So, I talk about the cars at the heart of my three car books in this week’s podcast.

Chrysler’s Turbine Car is one of my favorite automotive topics and the book I did on it has a foreword by Jay Leno. Many people are unaware that Chrysler started building the jet cars in 1953 and worked on them into the 1980s. While researching the book I even got to drive Jay Leno’s Turbine Car.

The winged cars - the Daytona and the Superbird - are also favorites of mine. I’ve driven Bobby Isaac’s K&K Daytona and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , all in the name of research, of course. But I also got to interview many of the men who designed and built the cars. And I’ve gotten to see quite a few. The book is chock full o’ pictures. Oh, and I explain why that “The wing was so high so the trunk would open” thing is nonsense. Not everyone will believe me but I’m used to that.

And, of course, my latest book is about Preston Tucker and his ill-fated car company. From the childhood farm in Capac, Michigan, to the factory in Chicago, there were a lot of twists and turns along the way. And 51 cars got built - 47 of which survive. I’ve jokingly called myself the Patron Saint of Low Volume Production Cars. Know of any other cool cars that were built in low numbers? Maybe I’ll write another book.

Meanwhile, here is the audio:

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And the video:

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Steve Lehto has been practicing law for 24 years, almost exclusively in consumer protection and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! He wrote !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

This website may supply general information about the law but it is for informational purposes only. This does not create an attorney-client relationship and is not meant to constitute legal advice, so the good news is we’re not billing you by the hour for reading this. The bad news is that you shouldn’t act upon any of the information without consulting a qualified professional attorney who will, probably, bill you by the hour.

XJDano > SteveLehto 06/16/2016 at 10:50

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I listened this morning and was wondering, how accurate was that movie about Tucker?

Wil Haginen > SteveLehto 06/16/2016 at 11:42

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I always thought the story of Preston Tucker was so tragic. And a bit of conspiracy-theorish. That is, I have conspiracy theories of why his company failed, nothing substantiated. The real events just seems so preposterous that there almost HAS to be some prime mover behind the scenes trying to sabotage Tucker.

SteveLehto > XJDano 06/16/2016 at 11:42

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For Hollywood, it was pretty good. They had to condense a bit and crunch some stuff together. But the real hostility toward Tucker was not displayed by congressmen (or senators) it was the SEC.

SteveLehto > Wil Haginen 06/16/2016 at 11:43

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There clearly were. The SEC set out to ruin him. We just don’t know if they did it on their own or if they were directed to do it.

PartyPooper2012 > SteveLehto 06/16/2016 at 11:43

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Steve, I am more than certain Turbine cars and tuckers are plenty awesome. My issue is that I have never seen one in person. Never saw it drive by, or parked some place. As far as I am concerned, you may as well be discussing Unicorns and Sasquatches. I see your articles, I go cross-eyed, and I go on to read Doug DeMuro’s article about sliding doors - THOSE I have seen.

-sorry?

Wil Haginen > SteveLehto 06/16/2016 at 11:45

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Right, that’s exactly what I mean. Who or what drove the SEC to do what they did? I suspect The Big Three, but again, I have no proof, these are just the wild ramblings of a crazy internut person.

SteveLehto > PartyPooper2012 06/16/2016 at 11:46

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Well, you are living an empty, soul-less existence. As noted, I have DRIVEN a Turbine Car, AND Bobby Isaac’s K&K Daytona. I’m sure you can understand why I feel the need to talk about it.

PartyPooper2012 > SteveLehto 06/16/2016 at 11:47

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My life is empty and soul-less indeed.

If I witnessed a Sasquatch or Unicorn, rest assured, I too would be talking about them non stop.

SteveLehto > Wil Haginen 06/16/2016 at 11:47

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There was a connection to Detroit with the SEC - the main guy there who was persecuting Tucker was Harry McDonald, who was from Detroit. Surprise, surprise!

SteveLehto > PartyPooper2012 06/16/2016 at 11:48

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Seeing them is not enough. You’d have to RIDE them.

PartyPooper2012 > SteveLehto 06/16/2016 at 11:52

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Take me with you next time you go ride one... I promise I have all my rabies shots and I don’t own a chain saw.

SteveLehto > PartyPooper2012 06/16/2016 at 11:54

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Hey - there is a Tucker convention in Ypsilanti (MI) in the Fall. There will be FIVE (5) Tuckers there. I suspect getting a ride in one of those will be a possibility for those who play their cards right.

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > SteveLehto 06/16/2016 at 11:56

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Steve got your Tucket book can’t wait for my vacation at the end of the month to read it.

As for another low production car may I suggest the Davis or Dale.

Wil Haginen > SteveLehto 06/16/2016 at 11:56

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...I’m going to have to buy your book, aren’t I? Yes, yes I think I do.

PartyPooper2012 > SteveLehto 06/16/2016 at 11:59

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Is Tucker same as turbine car? I am more interested in taking a ride in something unconventional. Steam car, First Mercedes car Bertha drove to her sister’s or something akin to it. Turbine car. Amphicar.

Not trying to negotiate the cars I am dealt. Just trying to figure out what’s what

SteveLehto > My X-type is too a real Jaguar 06/16/2016 at 12:00

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The sad part is that Davis went to prison, right?

I’ve seen those cars and I find them kind of creepy. Not sure why.

SteveLehto > PartyPooper2012 06/16/2016 at 12:02

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No, you are right: the Tucker was more conventional as far as configuration goes. But they are worth a TON of money and are quite rare. As far as that goes, they are on the shortlist of cars I’d like to drive.

PartyPooper2012 > SteveLehto 06/16/2016 at 12:06

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yeah... Mclarens are also expensive and rare. I’ll just stay true to my name and continue being a partypooper. I’ll pass on conventional cars.

Le Monstre > SteveLehto 06/16/2016 at 12:10

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Two part question here Steve. I myself have wanted to write/have a book published, either about Watkins Glen Grand Prix from 48-54, or the first three years of Le Mans. What steps does one gave to take to get a hold of a publisher and get the ball rolling? Secondly, not sure how much insider you have with Chrysler, but would love to see a real in depth look at a car that makes me say what if more then any other shhould it of been raced, the Chrysler Patriot, I’m talking never before seen photos and specs. Could you get info/ make a book or a blog post?

ToastedTires > SteveLehto 06/16/2016 at 12:11

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Low volume production cars? GT40

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > SteveLehto 06/16/2016 at 12:11

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Yes he did, as did the creator of the Dale.

SteveLehto > Le Monstre 06/16/2016 at 12:15

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Publishing a book is a process. Non-fiction is sold (most often) by a proposal. You write a proposal and do a sample chapter or two and then see if you can get a publisher to put it out. It helps if you have an agent (I do) but can be done on your own. The hard part is finding a topic which is interesting, book-worthy but has not been written yet.

As for the Patriot, I don’t know much about it. I know some people who worked on it but I am not sure if there is enough there to sustain a book. I’ll look into it.

SteveLehto > My X-type is too a real Jaguar 06/16/2016 at 12:17

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Oh, I forgot about the Dale. That thing was an abomination. I don’t think they got terribly far with it but if they had, villagers would have stormed the garage and killed it with fire.

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > SteveLehto 06/16/2016 at 12:34

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The Davis would be interesting as you could bring your Legal expertise into the fall of the company part of it. I would find it interesting, of course I’m weird and have tried to see every Tucker built in person, (Only up 20 though)

SteveLehto > My X-type is too a real Jaguar 06/16/2016 at 12:47

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The hard part about seeing them all is that many are privately owned and there are a few in other countries (England, Australia and so on). A friend of mine just bought one that had spent quite a bit of time out of the public eye. I hope to write a piece on in one of these days. A very cool story.

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > SteveLehto 06/16/2016 at 13:17

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Fortunately my father and I have been searching them out for 25 years, so we’ve seen a number that were on public display and now are not. The one that was on display at the now closed Stone Mountain Museum comes to mind. It was auctioned and went into a private collection.

Way-too-much-time > SteveLehto 06/16/2016 at 16:22

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Steve I am Interested In buying the Preston Tucker book. My son is due in 3 weeks. I was pushing for either Preston/Turck First/Middle name combo. My family is from Chicago and has original stock certificates in Tucker Automobile. Is this rare? How valuable would you think it is?

SteveLehto > Way-too-much-time 06/16/2016 at 17:21

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Email me at Lehto@kennon.com about the book.

The stock certs are collectible but I don’t think they are worth a ton. I have seen them sell in the $50 to $100 range, depending on condition.

Mercedes Streeter > My X-type is too a real Jaguar 06/17/2016 at 09:13

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I vote Dale!!!! It’s like a much weirder, much more screwed up Elio with an equally screwy backstory!

scottcom36 > PartyPooper2012 06/25/2016 at 20:11

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I drove 1300 miles each way to go to the Curbside Classic meetup in Nashville and I saw a Turbine at the Frist Museum. So if you’re in the US it is possible to find one to see. I’d seen a zillion pictures like a lot of car guys, but there are things you can only pick up on and appreciate in person.