The Original 1948 Tucker Test Chassis Still Exists With a 589 Cubic Inch Flat Six Cylinder Engine 

You can tell Preston’s racing background in the chassis - boxer-type flat engine mounted low in the chassis for low center of gravity, external dry-sump lubrication to prevent any part of the engine getting starved of oil in tight, fast turns, 4 wheel disc brakes, torsion style suspension…… that was all racing-only components and was unheard of for a production, civilian family sedan then. Even now….. you hear dry sump oil system you think Corvette Z06! He was a true enthusiast!

Let see... Preston Tucker's engineers were ahead of Koenigsegg by about 60 years with both the use of torque converts (direct drive) and freevalve (no camshafts) on the test mule. Impressive stuff for sure.

That test chassis is a piece of art. That whole museum looks like a fun place to take a walk through. Thanks for showing us around and I can't wait to see more!

Bless that man for saving and sharing all of this history. Definitely on my bucket list now that I know about it.

I am still amazed at Preston Tuckers vision back in 1948 that he would come up with all of the innovative ideas that the big three at that time refused to put in cars. I am amazed that a collector could actually have owned three of the cars and all of those engines and parts. Thanks for sharing.

I was lucky enough to find the movie "Tucker" on Tubi yesterday. I haven't seen it in about 30 years. Enjoyed watching it again. It's really cool that you guys can find all of this history and I'm happy that you share it with us. Thank you and have a great day! Bob in Idaho

I only found out about David's collection after he had passed - I live just minutes from where his shop was. I'm glad to hear that his collection was preserved!

Had this video and channel pop up in the YT recommendations, so cool to see a side of the Tuckers I've never seen before

I always thought my ‘65 Corvair flat 6 was designed with lessons learned from Tucker…

Thank you for preserving this important chapter in Automotive History. It's amazing just how far ahead of their time Tucker designs were. No wonder the "Big 3" had to get in his way.

GOD Bless ! Preston Tucker and his Family! Long LIVE his Dream !

I am definitely coming over to take a look at this museum

Loved these cars since I saw My first (#16) at the Henry Ford Museum back in 1978. At that time the cars were displayed in no particular order with no barriers to keep people out. It was closing time and the place was empty. I was able to look over the entire car and as a 17 year old gear head I was amazed. I go back every 2 to 3 years and visit the old car. In 2013 at Pebble Beach Mecum I saw a gold Tucker (it was not part of any sale) sitting in the parking lot. The owner offered me a ride and I was blown away. One of my best days ever. I wish I had ask his name and which car it was. Love this channel thanks for sharing it.

Too cool.I studied the Tucker because I am addicted to Ford.Incredible ingenuity.

I’m the biggest tucker fan ,Preston tucker it’s still living in my heart the biggest man story I ever experienced

Thank you for saving and sharing P. T.'s work! I'm sure he would be very happy and flattered it still exists to show.

About 35 years ago I had the pleasure and privilege of becoming acquainted with a man named John Carol, who was a steel buyer for the Tucker Corp. He said that they had just acquired a set of kirksite dies for the body panels, and were in the process of getting everything ready to start cranking out cars. He estimated that if the SEC had held off about 4-6 weeks, they would have been in production. Damn shame things turned out as they did.

MAN, I have got to get to that museum this year! They may have to push me out the door, gentlemen! Keep up the great work!

Very good guys! What I'm always most favorably impressed by is the way you diligently are able to keep the Tucker automobile in the public eye. Briefly touching on that is my consideration in looking back at the history. And your family deserved so much more than the way things turned out. Tucker Corporation deserved to keep going. And Tucker brand cars deserved to be on the roadways since 1948. You guys basically have little to work with due to the brief history of the Tucker automobile, but you keep going and somehow find new and old things to bring us, and you make all this goodness happen. I can't tell you how much I admire that! God bless you guys, and all the Tucker family involved, as well as non-family in that all of you are able to make things keep happening. Keep going guys and don't let up until there's nothing left. I want to visit your museum someday and I hope you guys are around for me to have the honor of personally meeting you. Yes, tubeless tires were the new big thing then. I own a 1948 Chrysler, and in their brochures etcetera they tout the new "Safety Seal" wheel rim design. So, your great grandfather was very timely bringing that onto his cars.

Awesome 👍🏽👍🏻 the colours that he did back in the day was amazing for it's time, great colour's 👍🏽👍🏻awesome engineering on the chassis 😀👍🏻

Just saw this the day this video posted. Great museum great display, I encourage everyone to visit!

A fanatic on the 48 Tucker. Went to this museum. I was a kid in a candy shop. Must of spent a good 4 hours looking at every piece of equipment that was available to see. So grateful I had the opportunity to see such a collection.

love watching the more in depth videos of the engineering that went into these cars

Amazing. Just amazing. I sure would love to see what kind of advancements Preston would have made in the auto industry if he hadn't been driven out of business.

That was a really great video on the test chassis. I'm looking forward to more videos from the museum

Great video. The sound is so much better guys despite being a difficult space.

That car was way ahead of its time.

Awesome video, Definitely gonna take my son to check out the Museum when the weather gets warmer. We'll cruise up in our 63 Ford...Yeah I know, it's not a Tucker...LOL

a splendid piece of automotive engineering

Another worthy production, well done, keep them coming.

This is so wonderful that you grandsons picked up the torch. People need to understand the giant importance of the Tucker story. It is truly a tragedy of the American Freedom denied. I hope to meet you guys some day.

I thought I knew a lot about Tucker, but I didn't know about any of this and my Uncle Jack took me to the Hershey car show as a kid, which sparked my interest in all cars. First time I saw a Cadillac V12, heard a Ferrari rip, or sat in a BMW Isetta, and with "Family Matters" on the TV I knew what Steve Urkle's car was. For those that have questions about the torque converter direct drive or the "camless valves"? Check out Christian von Koenigsegg over in Sweden doing EXACTLY what Preston was trying just after WW2. "It would take a long time to develop".... Only 70+ years. I am so happy I found this channel and wish you all the best. -From a poor kid that figured out how to rebuild his own transmissions on a 1987 W02 Buick that I could barely afford. Wasn't the first torque converter auto the "Dynaflow" in a 1948 Buick? This genius was like, "We have to be time travelers". Where would we be now?

Just imagine how Preston would have came up with in years later if he would've been able to continue building automobiles, I believe with his innovations he very well would've turned the automotive industry on its head

I am very happy some of Preston Tucker's descendants are involved with his legacy!

Nice presentation Mike & Sean! I have loved these cars since the first time I was made aware of them. (Probably in the early 1980’s) I have seen one in real life. Your great grandfather was way ahead of his time with these features.

Greetings from Thailand, Mike and Sean! WOW what a fantastic museum. I know of no other car that was as innovative as the '48 Tucker. After watching this video I think it would be great if someone completed development of that test chassis design and also that amazing engine. Stay well, fellas! 😁

Been a long time fan of Tucker since the movie when I was a kid. I just saw this video today and smiled! Glad to see they are still as amazing as they were when Preston built them. SO,............ Any plans to build new cars?

love this place went as a teen in the 2000s went this past october and it was nice. we used to stay at the hotel next door when we would visit the area but only went into that museum once, glad i got to go back again

BeCu control arms, individual torque converters for the rear wheels, _and_ tubeless tires?! The guy was a mad man 🤣

That is truly incredible. By today's standards a lot of those features are common place but to be that far ahead of the curve, in the 1940's. Tucker sure didn't let convention dictate any design element in his car. It would have set the bar so far above the other manufacturers had it not been killed by them instead we might actually have flying cars today!!!

I'm totally infatuated with this stuff... Glad I found this channel. Good job!

way ahead of their time by about 50 years!

Thanks for all ths great information, cant wait to go to the Hershey museum to see it in person.

KEEP. THESE. VIDEOS. COMING. Dry sump in 1948?!? - I'm not direct family but Preston is one of my idols.

I should have watched this sooner. Tucker was somewhat of an idol for me over the last 25-30 years after seeing the Jeff Bridges movie. Thanks.

It upsets me every time I think about how close Tuker was to succeeding. He was soooo ahead of his time. We're still leagues behind where we would be had Tucker succeeded.

I think I buy the "Tucker" t-shirt with a clear car reference as not to be confused with that other tucker... Thanks for a good and intresting story!

Amazing how forward thinking it was, and if he would have been able to produce, how advanced the next iteration would have been.

Well done lads for keeping your GG Pa's dream alive.

thanks again guys for showing these video's

Man that thing would have been a nightmare to service 😯

Good on you for keeping the dream alive

That chassis is so cool! The technology demonstrated in that chassis and motor is really something! I was totally unaware of the hydraulically actuated valve train. And it was totally done totally electromechanical! The spastic 4 wheel independent suspension, the torque converter drive. (Does it work like a CVT in function?) the prototype radiators in the front bumper wings. Now I know why the front bumper was styled the way it is. The interesting looking exhaust system. Probably pretty choked down from the looks of it. This place is just so great!

When you see the emphasis on innovation and improvement at so many levels. From prototype to pre production, it's obvious Preston Tucker put so much heart and soul into what would be a competative,, if not leading edge automobile. Enter, being accused of manipulation via mail fraud and still found innocent. The Detroit big three spilled enough crude oil to down a rising Star. Great review and museum, gentleman. In a very special way, you provide a glimpse of the viision and the dream. Remarkable donations to those contributors as well. Thank you!.

That's fantastic to see a test chassis thank you for the video

wow.. utterly fascinating. Thank you for this tour. Your presentation of this is riveting. Thank you!!

Hi Mike & Sean, My father worked for New Jersey Machine when Preston needed machinery to display a working assembly line and show the bankers that he was ready to start production. as the story goes he could not afford the machinery but needed to appear that it worked, a deal was struck to take rejected stuff from the yard and place it in the assembly line to get funding. then he had them make working machines to replace the mock ones on the line. Rich

Hopefully you can bring some to production.The world needs more Tucker engineering.

A man ahead of his time.

Thank you for sharing another great video you guys your grandfather was one amazing guy and he must had amazing team working with him to develop the tucker cars .

Thanks and best wishes from Columbus Ohio USA

Man you always wonder! What could have been if Tucker had succeeded in achieving his dream! Can you imagine how ahead of everyone else he would be with his cars! If his cars would have still alive today I definitely would by one in a heartbeat! The man was a genius! Thanks for sharing this video!👌😎👍I definitely will be keeping my eyes for more great content!

Great vid, really enjoyed!! 👍👍👍

I jumped in my seat when it was pointed out that the collection had # 1 Tucker " up the back " Soo want to see more of this legendary Car and the one on the previous video . Especially want to hear the rumble of the engines .

Great video guys. That museum looks amazing. P.S. The I heard you got some new audio equipment and it shows as your audio has improved dramatically because of it. Keep these videos coming.

i never knew the prototype chassis existed or how different it was to the production cars,truly awesome

The engine cylinder and head being cast together is one of the features that made Offenhauser great!

Very interesting engine design. Would be interesting to see continued research and development on it just to understand what potential the camless engine had.

Enjoyed this, please keep them coming.

I grew up in Detroit as a boy and my dad was an engineer for GM. I knew every car and model then and I always thought the Tucker looked just like a larger Studebaker.

I am enjoying this channel your grandfather was a foward thinking man the ideas put into that chassis are apsolutly btilliant

Very very interesting!! Loved the movie!

I love the content. Keep it coming 👍👍

Awesome… love the tucker engine because of how resourceful it was.. unpractical but still pretty neat

Please start putting the links you mention in the description of your videos. Thanks for making this easily available for everyone to check-out.

Very cool that his collection was preserved. Last I knew the light blue movie car was still at the Ypsilanti Heritage Museum. Great job guys!

Tucker was way ahead of it's time.

Back in the late 60s, I was in the waiting room of a dentist office and I picked up a copy of Mechanic's Illustrated to kill time. I flipped through the pages and got to the Tom McCahill section where letters from readers were posted. I noticed a letter about the Tucker car. I knew my father worked for Tucker so I read it with interest. To my surprise, when I got to the letter that provided details about the car and also what happened behind the curtain at it's unveiling, I saw that my father had written the letter. My father didn't talk much so it was a real surprise. I only knew that he worked for Tucker because my mother told me. I wish I had that magazine now. I don't remember much about what he wrote but he went into some details. I do remember that he said the battery was very large and, if I remember correctly, I think he said it's weight caused a problem. I may be wrong about that. I also remember being told that my father helped build what was then the world's largest truck to transport military equipment over the Rocky mountains during WWII. But again, I was told that by my morher, not my father.

So cool.

Amazing ideas.

Really appreciate these videos. So interesting. Thank You!

As always,,Another great one,,Thanks guy's

Had a chance to see Bob Barhe’s in Maine. It was a beautiful deep red color. And we got another in a museum/collection here in southern Maine too. Prob only 2 in one state since there’s only 48 them! Such a cool car! Thanks for sharing. Cheers from Maine

Hello from Australia - fascinating! I've been a Tucker fan for many years after buying a copy of 'Design and Destiny: the making of the Tucker Automobile' by Philip Egan in 1989 when I lived in UK. I've seen the film of course many years ago and collected several models and followed the surviving cars on various RU-vid channels from the US. A number of years back when still in the UK I went to the famous Festival of Speed at Goodwood (a fantastic weekend of classic car racing and road going vehicles etc.) and surprise surprise there amongst the crowd was a light metallic blue Tucker, I couldn't believe it - finally I was seeing one in the flesh, recently imported into the UK back then. I was with two friends and they knew little about the car, so I commenced telling them all about the car and its origins, something made me look behind whilst telling them and there was a crowd of people listening in! They were most appreciative as they too knew little about the Tucker - the best bit was when the owner turned up in an Hawaiian shirt, hopped in and started it - what a sound through those six pipes. I understand a Tucker was imported into Australia a few years back after a sale in the US, again in light metallic blue? I'll have to buy some merchandise from your store.

These cars were so innovative!!! That special engine in the test car is AMAZING!!! No camshaft!!! A hydraulic pump and actuators that operated the valves... Wow... I wonder if any other R&D was done with those methods, by other firms/companies, after that design was introduced? This car was in many ways, 50 years ahead of the other companies making cars in the U.S.& abroad... It is a shame that the 3 major U.S. car companies back in the late 40's, made large efforts and untrue propaganda campaigns , to squash this superior design , because they were not prepared to compete with it...

These cars were so ahead of their time! I wish Tucker would have been able to stay in business.

Great video guys.

WOW, amazing, thank you!

Around 2018 I had a guy that bought vegetables from me on a regular basis. He drove a 67 Mustang and was always trying to buy my 65. During the conversations he said he had the one convertible Tucker, even though none were supposedly made. He said he had bought it in Nevada 10 or so years ago. He said it was stored in a climate controlled building with real time security system per the insurance company, it was insured for 2 million dollars. While he said he would show it to me I never saw .

Very well done! Thanks for sharing. 😊

All this engineering should have been more than enough proof that he actually had intentions to manufacture it.

Love the channel keep it coming

I love the fact that Tucker said "what if" he never said "we can't"

GOD BLESS YOU BOYS !!!!!!!!!!

Only a dreamer and engineer like Tucker would put so many future features into a startup company product and so many unknowns and complicated systems. This story is also the poster child of startup failures...millions of them...that came and died after Tucker. That said, the test chassis was interesting in testing what ideas where feasible and possible and abandoning the rest for the production run.

THANKS FOR POSTING

Koenigsegg : "we've made the first working camless engine in a car!" Tucker : "hold my can of hydraulic oil, kids..." There are so many other futuristic features on Tucker's designs that we can assume he secretly had a time machine in his garage.... Glad to see that his legacy is still revered.

WOW what an engine

My dad was at the debut of Tucker with my grandfather in Chicago. He has pics with the ticker and sitting in it my dad says he can remember it like yesterday he was 4-5. I’m pretty sure my grandpa George Kulzer knew Preston my grandfather was a machinist for electrive motors and then he and art deline owned a repair shop in Chicago and were the only people who could work on and manufacture and machine rare parts like for cords and Dusenburg‘s and early Ferrari’s

Free valve and Direct drive.. in the 50's? Amazing car, amazing design.