1948 Tucker 48 Sedan

Alex Tremulius is credited with creating the design for the sleek fastback. His resume includes work with Gordon Buehrig on the Cord 810/812; the 1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt, and the Ford Gyron concept.

A 589 cubic-inch engine and dual torque-converter drivetrain were under development, but challenges forced replacement by a 334 cubic-inch Franklin O-335 flat-six derived from that of a Bell 47 helicopter. The engine was converted to liquid cooling and linked to a four-speed, vacuum-electric preselector transaxle updated from the prewar Cord 810/812 design. The suspension configurations progressed from rubber disc to rubber torsion tube, and ultimate, rubber sandwich from car 1003. This car, chassis number 1003, is the third example built. It is one of the 12 Model 48s originally finished in Maroon and the first Tucker equipped with a revised front bumper providing improved frontal protection and the redesigned rear fenders providing easier rear-wheel removal.

Chassis 1003 was sold by the factory to the Arkansas Tucker Sales Corporation. A short time later, it returned to the factory and exchanged for car 1002. 1003 was sent to Columbus, Ohio's Farber Motor Sales to Cincinnati, where it was displayed on the city's streets and music hall by local dealer Eddie Numerich. The car remained in Cincinnati, Ohio until June of 1950, when it was sold at the Watson Auto Auction and acquired by Art Watson. During 1951, Mr. Watson took the car to Florida, where he displayed it. In 1962, the Tucker was sold to William A.C. Pettit III of Louisa, Virginia, via Paul Stern. The Tucker was a featured attraction at the Pettit's Museum of Motoring Memories during the 1960s. In the late 1980s, movie producer George Lucas purchased the Tucker from Mr. Pettit. It remained at his Skywalker Ranch private collection until September 2005, when it was purchased by the current owner.

In January 2008, the car was treated to a restoration. During the restoration, the car was refinished in Maroon, which was one of the six factory-available color choices.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2014