1948 Tucker 48
- Engine
- 334 cu. in. water-cooled flat-six (Franklin derivative, originally helicopter engine), paired with four-speed Y-1 transaxle
- Colour
- Waltz Blue
Tucker no. 1040 is the 40th of just 51 examples built of Preston Tucker's radical rear-engined 1948 automobile, constructed in a repurposed wartime bomber plant in Chicago. After passing through several early Minnesota and Ohio owners — including Toledo collector Russell Strauch, who repainted it white — the car was comprehensively restored in 1985 by noted Tucker specialist Russ Brownell, with a factory-spare engine sourced from the Harrah Collection. It has since been restored again to concours standard in factory Waltz Blue.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$1,600,000
- 1950 →AuctionJohn Hansenpartial documentation
Believed to be one of two Tuckers purchased by Hansen at the factory bankruptcy sale in October 1950; car was among five that went to Minneapolis.
- → 1957Acquisition unknownR.J. Turnerpartial documentation
Minneapolis-based seller who advertised the car for $3,900 in 1955; may have been the party who sold to Bates in 1957.
- 1957 →Private saleEdward Batespartial documentation
Minneapolis resident who acquired the car around 1957, possibly directly from Turner.
- → 1976Acquisition unknownRussell Strauchpartial documentation
Well-regarded Toledo collector of classic vehicles who had the car displayed at a 1959 auto show; repainted it white from its original beige and carried out mechanical work. Car reportedly showed only 7,000 miles.
- 1976 →InheritanceStrauch estatepartial documentation
Following Strauch's death in 1976, his estate disposed of the vehicle.
- → 1984Acquisition unknownThomas E. Stormspartial documentation
Los Angeles-based owner who held the car prior to its 1984 acquisition by the current owner.
- 1984 →Acquisition unknownCurrent ownerpartial documentation
Commissioned a thorough restoration by Tucker specialist Russ Brownell in 1985, including sourcing or fabricating scarce parts and fitting a factory-spare engine from the Harrah Collection. Car was later restored again and refinished in Waltz Blue.
Competition
- 1959-04-01Auto-Rama — Northern Ohio Timing AssociationDisplay appearance
Car was exhibited at this Ohio show at the invitation of owner Russell Strauch; no competitive element recorded.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1985RestorationRuss Brownell
Full restoration undertaken, including sourcing period-correct hard-to-find components and fabricating unavailable parts. The original engine (no. 33543) was found to have significant faults and was replaced with an unused factory-spare unit (no. 33579) acquired from the Harrah Collection. The exterior was refinished in white, consistent with the Strauch-era colour.
Brownell was a recognised Tucker authority who later served as official steward for the 22 original Tuckers used in the 1988 Francis Ford Coppola film.
- —Bodywork
Car was repainted from its factory beige finish to white during Russell Strauch's ownership.
Some mechanical work was also carried out at this time.
- —Mechanical
Unspecified mechanical work performed during Russell Strauch's ownership alongside the repaint.
- —Restoration
A subsequent comprehensive restoration brought the car to concours standard, with a respray in Waltz Blue — a factory colour chosen by Preston Tucker in honour of his wife. The car retains the reinforced Y-1 transmission and version 2 rubber torsion tube front suspension.
Described as the freshest concours-quality restoration among surviving Tucker 48s at the time of cataloguing.
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