Tucker In Reverse!

"SteveLehto" (stevelehto) 01/29/2016 at 10:00 • Filed to: None

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When Preston Tucker launched his car company, a rumor persisted that the cars he was making could not back up. The production cars could - as seen in this video I shot of #46.

The oddball notion got started when a Chicago reporter went for a ride on a test chassis at the plant and the engineer told him that the chassis was incomplete. Among other things, it had no body. But, the transmission was likewise a work-in-progress with no reverse gear. When the story hit the papers, many people did not catch the nuance and soon, critics were claiming that “Tuckers can’t back up!”

I wrote a book about these cars and the man who made them and that book will be out in July. If you want to see more footage of #46 and me and a Tucker expert discussing it, check this out.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! will be out in July.

Follow me on Twitter: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

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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.

The-Ever-Socially-Apathetic TBAL > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 10:10

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Weren’t these originally designed to have a turbine engine (if I recall correctly)?

I could be wrong. I’m probably wrong. But I do remember a helicopter-type of engineering incorporation taking place somewhere along the development cycle.

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 10:11

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Love the engine noise from that, I can’t wait for the book Steve, too bad you can’t include the start up noise when you open the cover.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 10:11

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It sounds like a trivial thing that it was reported as having no reverse, but there’s a reason it was believable and the rumor persisted. The original planned engine was mounted transversely in the prototype and drove a wheel from either end through a torque converter setup, sort of like a mix between the old dynaflow transmissions and how the Ferrari FF achieves AWD with two transmissions.

Any view of that drivetrain which made it to an even vaguely literate consumer would have given reason for pause - because to even have reverse would have required something bonkers like a planetary reverse gear set in both hubs linked together. In short, it didn’t really look like it was ever meant to have a reverse. The production models ended up with a more standard transmission, of course, but I’d have liked to see where the original could have gone.

SubieNate > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 10:11

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Such an awesome piece of history. It saddens me that so many of the innovative car makers from our past have been so forgotten. How great would it be to have at least a few more options on the market from domestic companies instead of just the big 3? Maybe we could have avoided the whole malaise era if there had been a bit more competition left.

Gary Yogurt > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 10:11

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Curious to see which Preston Tucker shows up in your book, I hope it’s even-keeled. It’s hard to not romanticize his efforts, especially as a fan of the automobile. But...there’s an undeniable shroud of mystery and conspiracy around the man.

SteveLehto > The-Ever-Socially-Apathetic TBAL 01/29/2016 at 10:12

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The engine that was used was from a helicopter - modified for auto use. The company DID have a turbine guy on staff but they never got very far along with that idea.

SteveLehto > My X-type is too a real Jaguar 01/29/2016 at 10:13

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What a fantastic idea! (We should patent that. With modern tech, it would be fairly easy to do).

SteveLehto > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/29/2016 at 10:15

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And that is exactly what happened. They were still ironing out the bugs in the fluid drive when they moved on to the more standard trans. One of the big problems WAS how to make it back up. But critics presented it as if Tucker wasn’t going to bother with a reverse - as if that was a decision someone might actually make at that stage.

dave1827 > The-Ever-Socially-Apathetic TBAL 01/29/2016 at 10:16

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I believe they originally intended to use a traditional automobile engine developed in-house, but development was going poorly so they looked for other options.

Per Wikipedia: The company first tried the Lycoming aircraft engine, but it would not fit in the car’s rear engine compartment.

SteveLehto > Gary Yogurt 01/29/2016 at 10:16

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I am pro-Tucker. While I agree he had faults, there is no question that the gov’t treated him unfairly and shut him down. We just don’t know WHO - if anyone in particular - was behind it initially.

BurnsJackson > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 10:17

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The timing of this article is perfect. I have been researching these cars this week since I found a complete Tucker radio and heater, brand new in the box in my attic. The story of this car is very interesting. I’m not sure if I want to get rid of the Tucker parts or keep them for the cool story they come with.

From what I have read, Tucker wanted to design his own transmission (which may be the one that was in the test chassis), and ended up having to put a different trans in the full prototypes that were produced because he was in over his head.

SteveLehto > BurnsJackson 01/29/2016 at 10:19

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There are a lot of those parts floating around but they do have value. They also sold Tucker luggage.

Yes and no on the trans. He was under a time-crunch. He was always a bit too optimistic on how long these things would take.

Caddyman > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 10:19

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they have $2 birthday cards that do it, i don’t see why not!

Birddog > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 10:20

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You might be stepping on the toes of greeting card cartel with that one.

SteveLehto > Birddog 01/29/2016 at 10:22

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Maybe we can join forces.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 10:24

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So, your book is out in July?

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 10:24

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It was probably more believable with a couple of microcars with no reverse on the road and the fact that Tucker spent so much time selling the car as unique and unfamiliar that customers were wondering how grounded he was. Something like the following train of logic: “I just saw that thing... but it doesn’t have a real transmission in it!” “Yeah, he said this prototype only goes forward.” “You know, he’s been saying it’s really light, though. I wonder if...” “Well, I saw this little foreign car once that was like a motorcycle and didn’t... oh, God.”

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 10:26

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Oh, question. How true was the movie to the Tucker story? Just on a scale of 1-10. Your book looks interesting. I committed to reading 12 non-fiction books this year, so maybe this is my July or August book.

SteveLehto > xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 01/29/2016 at 10:27

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The Tucker book, yes. The Winged Car book is out any day now.

Takuro Spirit > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 10:27

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Hallmark for Gearheads. I can see it now..... send your buddy a get well card with an STI on the cover and a BRAPBRAPBRAP when he opens it.

SteveLehto > xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 01/29/2016 at 10:28

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Hard to say. For a Hollywood production it was OK. The basic elements were correct but they overplayed the Big Three role in the demise of the company. Someone WAS out to get him - we just don’t know who.

Rusty_Jaguar > The-Ever-Socially-Apathetic TBAL 01/29/2016 at 10:30

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They were initially slated for a 589 cubic inch monster with fully hydraulic valves, and fuel injection. Engineers couldn’t make it work. They tried a Lycoming aircraft engine. Wouldn’t fit. The Helicopter motor was converted from air-cooled to water-cooled...and worked.

Rusty_Jaguar > The-Ever-Socially-Apathetic TBAL 01/29/2016 at 10:31

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And, the “Tuckermatic” never did get its reverse gear. A Cord transmission was used in the production models.

Aetost > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 10:35

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Irrelevant question: Are only two out of the six exhaust tips real? I can see exhaust gasses coming out from the middle ones only.

BurnsJackson > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 10:39

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Working in the auto industry on a Tier 1 and 2 level, I can tell you that most OEMs are “a bit too optimistic” on how long most anything will take.

Looking forward to the book by the way, should be interesting.

SteveLehto > Aetost 01/29/2016 at 10:40

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I noticed that too. I’ll have to check.

Max > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 10:40

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Juat an unbelievable design for the day.

Übel > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 10:42

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Lovely car, I believe I saw this exact one on display at the Red Barn Spectacular at the Gilmore last year (along with the one in their collection) Such a shame more weren’t made

Boxer_4 > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 10:43

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Neat stuff! I’ve been fascinated by them since I first saw one at The Henry Ford, and then when the AACA at Hershey received their large collection . I look forward to your book.

If you ever find yourself in Hershey, you really should check the Cammack Collection out (that is, if you haven’t already).

Tina Belcher > BurnsJackson 01/29/2016 at 10:44

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*cough* Tesla *cough*

Also Alfa

originalkeyster > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 10:44

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All six are “real”, each side splits off from a common pipe like a three-candle menorah, according to pics I took underneath the Gilmore’s Tucker.

Tina Belcher > Birddog 01/29/2016 at 10:45

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those people WILL shut you down

CommonSenseIsn'tCommon > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 10:45

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Well... maybe there’s no proof, but who stood to profit most from his demise? Only the big automakers that he was making look foolish. You know, the ones with deep pockets and politicians in them.

SteveLehto > originalkeyster 01/29/2016 at 10:45

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That’s what I thought - I just noticed the odd pattern to the smoke. Probably just the path of least resistance.

duckstu > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 10:49

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Origionally Tucker was goingto use their own engine,.. and one complete engine and some parts of a second exist in a museum. I can’t remember where I saw it,.. perhaps at the San Diego Automotive museum in Balboa Park? They were pressed for time and financing, and probably were biting off more than they could chew,.. so they slapped a helicopter engine in there. Here’s an image of the intended engine. It was 589 cubic inches, and had hemi heads with hydraulically actuated valves, and fuel injection (well,.. would have had fuel injection).

curbwatching > SubieNate 01/29/2016 at 10:50

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I’d love to see what Nash, Packard, DeSoto, Studebaker, or AMC would build today.

Maxxuman > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 10:51

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The Hallmark "Congratulations, you've bought a Lemon" series.

PilotMan > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 10:55

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They sound so much like a six cylinder Cessna:

HackerPschorr16 > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 10:55

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I shared the same engineering major and a bunch of classes with one of Preston Tucker’s great-grand-sons. Western MI U.

SubieNate > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 10:56

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After working at one of Burt Rutan’s industry partners, I believe he has the same gene. Brilliant man all the same.

SubieNate > curbwatching 01/29/2016 at 10:58

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Don’t forget Hudson!

OPPOsaurus WRX > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 10:58

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its do-able. there are birthday cards that you can record messages.

also your lying. that thing is just rolling backwards down an incline. (cant have a post without someone calling you a liar)

6 exhaust pipes!!!!!

StndIbnz, Drives a MSRT8 > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 10:58

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Man that thing is in beautiful shape. Nice restoration.

pfftballer > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 11:00

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Is it me or can you actually see the headlights turning along with the wheels as the car backs away from the camera?

Mercedes Streeter > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 11:01

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I’m going to buy the hell out of that book! Preston Tucker is one of my all time heroes.

Also, will there be an audiobook version? And if not, do you want to make an audiobook version? lol

Daryl > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 11:01

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I remember reading that they’re supposedly trying to bring back the Tucker as a custom car. Unfortunately, it’ll be over-priced and powered by a GM LS or LT V8. If you’re going to spend that sort of coin, they need to try to make it as close to the original as possible, in my opinion.

jalop1991 > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 11:04

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The oddball notion got started when a Chicago reporter went for a ride on a test chassis at the plant and the engineer told him that the chassis was incomplete. Among other things, it had no body. But, the transmission was likewise a work-in-progress with no reverse gear. When the story hit the papers, many people did not catch the nuance and soon, critics were claiming that “Tuckers can’t back up!”

So, lamebrain idiots who can’t think and can’t process information and don’t care and who take snippets of random words and invent a wrapper for them and then spread them across the world like they came down the mountain from God Himself...did NOT come about due to the internet.

Never talk to reporters.

Ever.

Never talk to police, never talk to reporters. Their job is to INVENT shit to make you look stupid/guilty. Assertion on page 1 in 40 point type, retraction on page 78 in 8 point type.

SteveLehto > pfftballer 01/29/2016 at 11:05

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Just you. Didn’t work in reverse.

Berang > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 11:08

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I wonder if memories of the Tucker were what inspired Studebaker to stick a Porsche engine in the trunk of one of their Larks for testing.

OrigamiSensei > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 11:09

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I remember seeing two Tuckers at the Swigart Museum near Huntington, PA, one prototype known as the “Tin Goose” and one production model. It’s just a smallish place in the middle of nowhere Central Pennsylvania on Route 22 but well worth a visit for Jalops.

Prophet of hoon > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 11:10

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Neat car, that said... I’ve actually gotten to ride in one and, while it did have incremental advancements (seat belts,etc); I didn’t think it was light-years ahead of other cars of the era. I get the popular story that it was cheaper to bankrupt Tucker then compete.... but, do you really think it was all that? The styling wasn’t revolutionary, rear engines had been done in Europe for decades before, even seat belts were an option along with the braking system.

Tucker was investigated by the government, and the popular story is that he was investigated and it caused him to put out of business. But let’s look at his claim - that he was going to build a car for the masses that had all these ‘features’. The myth is it would be cheaper to destroy him then compete - but is that really true? Every one of those stories does not back up their assertion with any kind of numbers and that is pretty suspect. As you can see by my use of ‘myth’ I think he was a legend in his own mind, and quite frankly could have done well if he’d remembered the adage “to eat an elephant, you must start one bite at a time.” GM, Ford, even upstart at the time Toyota had nothing to fear from the boutique builder. Simply put, if he’d gotten 1000 orders - he would have been unable to fill them for at least 5 years.... by then, all the innovations he had were already being incorporated into cars like the Pontiac Tempest (rear engine, seat belts, aluminum motor, etc).

Look at VW or Toyota as recent examples of trying to increase production for a press goal.... Cars ran into walls, and engineers lied to keep their job... Sure, Tucker built 48 cars; but the economy of scale required to build even 10,000 cars was so far beyond what he could finance that it was almost better he became a folk hero rather then going down in flames like those who ‘innovated’ the Pinto or the Aztek.

Automobile history is full of successes from that era - after all Toyota and Honda both really started their automotive stride at that point; but they had the resources, Tucker did not. Quite simply, I think it’s beyond time to let the government and the other automakers off the hook and realize that Tucker was not a dreamer, simply delusional.

In my next response to your blog, I’ll prove Santa isn’t real.

SteveLehto > Prophet of hoon 01/29/2016 at 11:12

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There is no question someone set out to shut him donw. We just don’t know who or why.

The car didn’t have seat belts either. But it did have a lot of other cool features.

ForScience: Technically Within Spec is Best Kind of In Spec > BurnsJackson 01/29/2016 at 11:14

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Heavy Truck, Ag, and Construction/Forestry are the same. Takes the customer engineers longer than the customer purchaser said to get the latest revision of prints, and by then you've got next to no time to get tooling finished and the prototype parts out the door for the initial builds, because that date is for sure not getting pushed back. Thankfully tube and hose is fairly predictable, and doesn't require specific tooling outside of gages for each P/N.

Paullubbock > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 11:19

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Anyone else notice youtube videos linked in here play a short ways and then disconnect with “an error occured. please try again later” at the same spot over and over. Then if you go to youtube to play they glitch slightly at that spot but continue on. It seems almost as if youtube is intentionally inserting a break in the stream to push traffic up on their own site.

200 Touring > Daryl 01/29/2016 at 11:22

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IIRC, Ida Automotive had planned to make a 50 or 51 recreations of the Tucker in ‘glass with a complete Cadillac Northstar running gear in the back, but there were only the those, with no intention to build more. They even had one that was built in the late 90's-early 00's street rod style.

Chudley645 > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 11:23

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I had the opportunity to see one of these beautiful automobiles at a local concourse in Geneva IL. They are absolutely beautiful and always send chills down my spine when i see one. The problem with these “restorations” is that there are many details missing that were original to the car such as the intake vents on either side of the cyclops and the rear markers on either side of the vent in the back. Small details for sure, but none the less removed to make the car look more “Beautiful”. I do believe that #46 had an original color of copper. I think this car is the one i saw. Still a great restoration. Also, is it me or is that one leaking oil?

JustAnotherG6 > Prophet of hoon 01/29/2016 at 11:36

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YOU LIAR! SANTA IS TOTALLY REAL!

Max > Max 01/29/2016 at 11:41

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*Just

ninjagin > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 11:58

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I saw the Tucker at the Petersen, and having only seen pictures before then, I was very impressed with it. They’re very cool cars.

Stubb0632722 > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 12:04

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So when’s the LS swap?

Driver > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 12:08

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#46 looks brand new, amazing and beautiful.

ateamfan42 > SubieNate 01/29/2016 at 12:15

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Sadly, the Big 3 did everything in their power (ethically or not) to keep the Tucker from being a success.

hardscrabble > Prophet of hoon 01/29/2016 at 12:23

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If my leaky memory is correct, Tucker was capitalized at 14 million dollars... Kaiser was capitalized at 65 million and he had to throw in the towel...

Triplicate > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 12:30

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There’s a Tucker on display at the Smithsonian in the American History Museum. Looks amazing in person. Big, glamorous, it definitely has presence.

RallyWrench > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 12:30

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Really looking forward to the book, as the T in my name is... guess what?

LongRoof68 > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 12:33

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In 2008 The LeMay Museum brought their newly purchased Tucker to our car show in Gig Harbor, WA. They made a few laps around the show field for all to see. It was fun to watch it in motion and hear it’s unique sound.

Dolby109 > SubieNate 01/29/2016 at 12:35

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Most of the other US auto manufacturers were absorbed by the Big 3.

NYankee1927 > PilotMan 01/29/2016 at 12:42

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Well it is basically the same era technology and displacement

JEM > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 12:47

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Have you been to the Tucker exhibit at the Hershey Auto Museum? Pretty damn amazing.

Weakskills > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 12:54

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Didn’t Harley Davidson already patent engine noise or was that exhaust?

scribble > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 12:56

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What a beautiful car. Six tail pipes are both ridiculous and, on this car anyway, awesome.

Brede > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 13:04

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I feel a sudden need for a vehicle with six exhaust pipes.

CoellTheSith > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 13:08

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Ahhh what a beautiful machine.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Prophet of hoon 01/29/2016 at 13:10

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“by then, all the innovations he had were already being incorporated into cars like the Pontiac Tempest (rear engine, seat belts, aluminum motor, etc).”

While I agree with much of what you say, I’d just like to point out that the Pontiac Tempest did not have a rear engine. I did have a rear-mounted transmission. And the Corvair had a rear engine.

I think part of the reason Tucker went out of business is because he simply ran out of cash. And he ran out of cash because he made some ill-advised decisions... like buying Franklin engine/Air Cooled Motors and then cancelling all the other customer orders that company had.

Cancelling all those orders must have pissed off at least some people with connections.

Also buying a huge factory, a purchase which caused delays, was probably also a mistake.

But he definitely got screwed over by the SEC and the legal system.

Prophet of hoon > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 13:23

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As I said, in another way, it’s a convenient excuse for his failure... what ever happened to the “I screwed up and failed?” Now, it’s “someone else had it in for me.” While I would agree the devil wants you dead, I think personal responsibility is dead - and it looks like this is where it started.

I don’t think there were any ghosts or magic bullets... or Santa for that matter ;)

Prophet of hoon > hardscrabble 01/29/2016 at 13:23

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I think you’re correct. Thanks for adding that.

Prophet of hoon > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 01/29/2016 at 13:26

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you’re right, it was the Tempest that had IRS and better brakes.

and I agree about cancelling orders - just this last week we had someone who was pissed at Tesla for not selling him a discounted Tesla (because it didn’t, actually, exist).... now multiply that by thousands at we’re left with Tucker over promised, didn’t deliver and was lucky to stay out of a life sentence.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 13:28

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If I were to make a guess, it wasn’t any one person... but a group of people. When he bought the Franklin Air Cooled engine business, I’m sure he must have pissed off some people with connections when it cancelled all of Franklin’s current aircraft-related orders.

And the SEC was not looking favourably at upstart automakers either at the time... apparently something to do with Kaiser-Fraser who “did nothing” with some government grants in the past... which I find confusing since they did actually build new cars off the basis of the old/failed Graham-Paige. Or maybe it had something to do with the stupid Spruce Goose...

SteveLehto > Chudley645 01/29/2016 at 13:38

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Not sure if the oil leaks are from THIS car. But I do know that some of the things you note actually varied from car to car. This restoration is perfect (I’ll have to check on the color).

SteveLehto > Prophet of hoon 01/29/2016 at 13:42

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There is a ton of evidence that the gov’t did him in. And by that, I mean they did all sorts of illegal things to shut him down. One of the reasons I wrote the book is that the amount of incorrect information out there is overwhelming.

rdev44477777 > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 14:41

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I've seen two in person in recent years, amazing design. I became interested in Tucker cars after I saw the Coppola film when I was 9 yrs old. I wanted to become a car designer at the time.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 14:55

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Oh sure... but *why* did people in government want to do him in?

What did he do to piss people off?

And I’m thinking that one possibility is that the government may have had some orders for some equipment that depended on some of those Franklin Air-cooled Engines. Apparently Franklin had over half of the aircraft engine market at the time. So for them to cancel all orders likely caused major headaches in at least some segments of the aircraft industry.

It probably also destroyed his credibility in the eyes of many.

So in cancelling those orders, he probably pissed off customers, some of which were probably supplying government agencies... resulting in an influential group of people hating the name ‘Preston Tucker’.

Well that’s my theory anyway...

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Prophet of hoon 01/29/2016 at 14:59

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But part of the reason why he under-delivered was because he stretched himself too thin by buying a huge factory from the government AND buying Franklin Engines. That government factory purchase, like many government-related things, had some delays. And time is money.

Not saying the factory purchase was a bad move per se. But he should have had some sort of Plan B... or some other smaller facility that he could use for smaller-scale production until the larger facility became available.

But there is no doubt in my mind that cancelling all the Franklin Aircraft engine orders was a bad move.

I don’t think he did anything that deserved a life sentence. It’s not like he murdered anyone...

SteveLehto > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 01/29/2016 at 15:02

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He was leasing the factory. I think it was a matter of various people who wanted him to fail. There is no question the guy in charge of the SEC broke various laws in trying to “get” Tucker. He - coincidentally - was from Detroit. As was one of the primary senators involved (Homer Ferguson). Tucker went to his grave saying it was the Big Three but all he ever could produce was things he had been told (and believed to be true).

ronmler3 > Weakskills 01/29/2016 at 15:15

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They tried but did not succeed.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 15:50

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Definitely on my list.

I like a good conspiracy. Play up the grassy knoll.

SteveLehto > xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 01/29/2016 at 15:55

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Don’t get me going on that one. I’ve read every book on the JFK assassination including all of the crazy ones. And I even have a 1st edition of the Warren Report.

Zoltan Shapiro > Paullubbock 01/29/2016 at 15:56

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A lot of the time I get a black screen instead of video when youtube videos are embedded, which then work when I click the youtube logo. This doesn’t make any sense, because I will reopen the tab to make sure it’s not the tab instance on my computer failing, and it’s not, and for YouTube, it’s the same flash video/HTML code serving me the video, embedded or not.

It’s all a conspiracy to make Google more powerful.

PhilP > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 16:25

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Those are such beautiful cars. Real visionary ideas in them... shame Tucker couldn’t make the company work.

I’m looking forward to your book, I loved the one on the Turbine Car.

Prophet of hoon > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 16:31

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Politicians are constantly breaking the laws - how is this any different?

Prophet of hoon > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 01/29/2016 at 16:32

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you mean like Bernie Madorf? all he did was redistribute wealth from stupid rich people (by this I mean movie stars) and put it in the pockets of people trying to do something (and failing).

SteveLehto > Prophet of hoon 01/29/2016 at 16:44

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It was the audacity of it.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Prophet of hoon 01/29/2016 at 17:06

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Did Bernie Madhoff build anything real like a car with his name on it?

Nah... the Ponzi scheme Madhoff did was nothing like and was far worse than anything Tucker did.

Comparing Tucker to Madhoff is like comparing night and day.

In the Madhoff case, the SEC wasn’t aggressive enough, soon enough. For Madhoff, regulators failed to see red flags and completely failed when it came to timely due diligence.

That’s completely the opposite of what happened to Tucker. For Tucker, regulators excessively aggressive and accused Tucker of fraud when there wasn’t any fraud.

MuchWagon > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 17:24

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Wondering aloud what the status of the Tucker design is IP wise, as wasnt a law just passed enabling small manufacturers?

Prophet of hoon > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 17:25

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Hmmmm.... I remain unconvinced. I think building cars is hard and the only people who think it’s easy are the ones that have never done so. I’d attach pictures, but it seems photobucket is broke (again). the entire story is here, http://www.bangshift.com/forum/forum/ba…

that’s 18 months to build a car from scratch on most nights and at least one weekend day per week.... my goal was done in October 2015 but I added features, then the goal was Jan. 1 but the week-off that I had didn’t happen. Now I want to be done by the NW Overland Rally on June 26.... I’m not sure that will happen either.

Prophet of hoon > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 01/29/2016 at 17:26

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now we’re merely discussing degree and timing.

JoeyCz1 > Max 01/29/2016 at 17:32

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I would not call i unbeliavable. Similar cars were made at least decade before on both continents. Scarab, Tatra, VW and many more.

SteveLehto > MuchWagon 01/29/2016 at 17:37

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Not sure. I know that all that stuff was sold at the bankruptcy auction.

SteveLehto > Prophet of hoon 01/29/2016 at 17:38

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Unconvinced of what?

I spent a few years researching this so I’m not just making this stuff up.

MuchWagon > SteveLehto 01/29/2016 at 18:00

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I would imagine a remake would sell like a mother Tucker. I’d drool over them, even though they are a little slight in the rear area.