The Car of Tomorrow - For All Time

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"The Car of Tomorrow - Today," said AACA Museum Executive Director Mark Lizewskie as he cut the ribbon to open the Museum's new Cammack Tucker Gallery. Containing the lifetime collection of Tucker automobiles, artifacts and memorbilia amassed over 40 years by the late Virginia historian and collector David Cammack, the Gallery comprises the largest collection of its kind in the world.

The Tucker automobile was the brainchild of the talented inventor Preston Tucker, an innovative rear-engine design with streamlined styling by Alex Tremulis. Rushed to production in 1948, a number of pragmatic changes were made to Tucker's original design, including redesign of the Franklin-derived flat six engine, substitution of a reworked Cord transmission for Tucker's attempt at an automatic, and refinement of his torsion-rubber independent suspension. Just 51 cars were built before production was halted by litigation and prosecution for Securities and Exchange violations. Tucker was exonerated, but did not have the resources to revive his company. The Tucker story gained prominence after Francis Ford Coppola's 1988 film "Tucker: The Man and his Dream" was released.

Included in the Cammack Gallery are three Tucker automobiles: number 1001, the first production prototype, number 1022 and number 1026, the latter the only survivor with automatic transmission. There is a test chassis with the original torque converter drive, 589 cubic inch engine and front-mounted radiation, all features changed before production, a re-creation of a Tucker dealership with a huge display of accessories and memorabilia, examples of the engine variants tested or used during production and a replica of the first "factory," a shed on the Tucker property in Michigan in which his early experiments were carried out - as well as the original shed door.

The Gallery opening was part of the traditional Hershey Week "Night at the Museum." An annual gala presented by RM Auctions, it drew hundreds of people for an elegant soirée benefiting the Museum. Tucker family members present included John Tucker, Jr., Preston Tucker's grandson (right in photo), great-grandsons Michael and Sean (left, middle) and two great-great grandsons. Despite pleas to re-create the famous photo of Marilyn Lee Tucker christening the "Tin Goose" prototype with champagne, the organizers substituted a champagne toast by all assembled. The Museum's Director of Marketing & Publicity, Nancy Gates, graciously opened the doors of Tucker number 1026 to display the spacious interior.

The AACA Museum is located at 161 Museum Drive in Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA. The gallery is one of the Museum's regular permanent exhibits, and is included in all admissions. For further information consult the Museum at www.aacamuseum.org.

(Text Kit Foster)

      

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