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By William E. Swigart, Jr. |
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Les Henry, curator of the Henry Ford Museum, Transportation Division,
stopped at Museum Park. He was driving one of the “Cyclops” Tuckers of ’48
vintage. The car had been exhibited at the Fall Meet in Hershey and
attracted equally large crowds as it did some twelve years ago when it
turned up in Washington, New York, Los Angeles and other points across the
country. Les asked if I would like to drive it and of course I said, “You
bet”.
It reminded me a great deal of the Cord, for shifting called for pre-selecting your gear on the steering column and then depressing the clutch, the transmission moved into that gear. The steering was a little heavy by modern standards. There was some little side-sway in the rear from a faulty weight distribution with the engine at that point. However, the car did have some little pep and was really quite roomy inside. Three of us rode in the car including all the luggage, boxes, cases, etc. that Les was returning to Detroit. It was on December 16, 1945, that the Chicago Herald-American ran the first newspaper story in the country revealing the intention of Preston Tucker to build a car of new significance. The engine widely discussed in mechanical circles, because of its revolutionary design, was a flat 6-cylinder opposed type. An exceptionally large bore of 4 ½” and a short stroke of 3 ½” was used. Overall displacement was 335 cubic inches with 175 h.p. rated at 3,000 rpm. Aluminum cylinder heads and blocks permitted an unusually high compression [ratio] of 7 to 1. Gosh, back in 1946, ’47 and ’48 they were holding merchandising meetings everywhere. Dealers and public alike were asked to contribute in advance for advertising layouts, accessories, etc. The Tucker Group “A” accessories included six combinations of luggage. If you bought Group Number Six (which was the most expensive) for $304.00 plus excise [tax] of $27.60, you enjoyed the possibility of delivery of a man’s 2-suiter at $69.00, a woman’s wardrobe case at $69.00, an approved Tucker automobile radio at $96.50 and an approved set of covers for $69.50. Then according to the catalog “Each buyer of an accessory group is allotted a car delivery in sequence numbered by the dealer making the sale, thus providing for subsequent car deliveries in the same order in which accessories sales were made.” Unfortunately, neither were ever delivered. Well, after we had gotten the local population excited around Huntingdon [PA], Les said he had better get on to Detroit and I, in turn, replied that it might be well to get back to the insurance business. So Les and the Tucker left. The following day I had a telephone call from Detroit that it had arrived under its own power. All hail to another of America’s long list of automobile fatalities!
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how to support our aaca library and research center By Fran Shore |
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We would like to provide you with some ways to support the AACA Library and Research Center that you can share with your Region or Chapter members through your local newsletters and meeting announcements. The concept of the AACA Library is that it can be accessed for information wherever you live. You do not have to “go to” the Library in person, although that is really interesting to do. Information can be obtained by phone call, mail or E-mail to Kim Miller at the AACA Library. Kim Miller supplies this support at the Library, but she can also give you information about the merchandise that is available for sale that benefits the Library. A suggestion would be that many of these items could be purchased not only by individuals, but also by your club to use as door prizes or gifts at your activities. There are items for as low as $2 for notepaper, $17 for garment bags. Other examples include beautiful signs for $25, cookbooks for $11 and a biography of Carl Fisher for $22.95. The Endowment Fund is another good method to provide support to the AACA Library. There are two funds. The first one can be a $100 donation and the donor will receive one of the beautiful metal signs (valued at $25). The second endowment donation is $1000 or more, for which a chair, a rocker, or two lamps will be presented to the donor. The AACA Library website features these donor gifts and how to give an endowment. Any memorial or gift contributions are also welcomed. There are always items for storage and preservation that are needed, so contact Kim Miller to learn what you and your Region or Chapter can do.
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by John P. Myer |
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AACA Museum, Inc. Welcomes the Museum of Bus Transportation By John P. Myer,
Vice President AACA Museum The AACA Museum, Inc. has signed a long-term
agreement with the Museum of Bus Transportation. This arrangement will add
another very interesting dimension to the automotive displays that will be
housed in the Museum structure, now under construction The bus group will have space on the lower level of the three-level museum building to house several vintage motor coach displays and related memorabilia. This will enhance the story line of the history of over-the-road bus transportation in America. Negotiations with the MOBT have been ongoing for several years. A few years ago the group, primarily interested in the history of the motor coach, formed a non-geographical Region in the AACA. The Museum looks forward to a long and exciting affiliation with the Museum of Bus Transportation.
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The AACA Museum is seeking an individual to fill its position of Director Sales/ Marketing & Special Events in its new museum in Hershey. This position will be responsible for sales and marketing of special events such an receptions, meetings, shows and dinners to be held in or on the museum grounds. In addition, the successful applicant will be responsible for all arrangements, set ups and catering supervision of the events themselves. Applicants should possess a B.S. Degree in Marketing, Business or Hotel Management with a minimum of 5 years experience in Sales and Marketing. Exposure to and expertise in convention and meeting sales and marketing is highly desirable. Please submit resume including salary requirements to: AACA Museum, Inc. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F
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This week I drove a Tucker. It will be remembered as “the first completely
new car in fifty years,” produced in what was one of America’s greatest
promotional ventures. No one has yet decided whether it was completely on
the level. Back in 1946-1948 it looked as though Ford, General Motors,
Chrysler and others were on the run. Probably no car earlier or later was
so heralded!
in Hershey, PA.