1948 Tucker 48
- Engine
- 5.5L (335 cu. in.) OHV horizontally opposed six-cylinder, 166 bhp
- Colour
- Dark brown (repainted; originally 'Andante Green')
Tucker 1044 is the 44th of just 51 Tucker automobiles ever produced, one of nine originally finished in Andante Green. Sold at the 1950 Tucker Corporation asset auction, the car passed through several documented owners before spending 34 years in undisturbed storage in Ohio from 1982 onwards — a genuine barn find. With only 7,900 actual miles recorded, it retains much of its original character and carries one of the most thoroughly researched ownership histories among the 47 surviving Tuckers.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$1,347,500
- → 1950Factory deliveryTucker Corporationpartial documentation
Car remained unsold in factory inventory from production until the corporation's asset liquidation auction in 1950.
- 1950 →AuctionMr. Rifken, proprietor of S&S Auto Partspartial documentation
Purchased at the Tucker Corporation asset sale along with the prototype known as the Tin Goose; business located in Schaumburg, Illinois. Car was repainted red and shown at a 1951 motor show during this ownership.
- → 1973-07-01Private saleDavid Tunickpartial documentation
Well-regarded antique automobile collector based in Connecticut; sold the car in July 1973.
- 1973-07-01 → 1982Private saleLester A. Sheafferpartial documentation
Tucker devotee based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, who undertook a restoration fitting a replacement Tucker engine and Cord transmission, and refinished the car in dark brown; entered it in AACA judging events in 1980 and 1981.
- 1982 →Private saleMillard "Skip" Grohpartial documentation
Marina owner from Freeport, Ohio, who drove the car only a handful of times before storing it in a metal outbuilding on wooden planks over a gravel floor, where it remained undisturbed for roughly 34 years.
- Date unknownPrivate saleAllen L. Roccopartial documentation
Mechanic from Port Chester, New York, who purchased the car after seeing it at the 1951 Washington show; attempted to sell it via newspaper advertisement in October 1952 but retained it for the remainder of his life.
- Date unknownInheritanceWidow of Allen L. Roccopartial documentation
Inherited the car following Rocco's death in the early 1960s and subsequently sold it to a Connecticut collector later that same decade.
- Date unknownPrivate saleCurrent consignorpartial documentation
Long-standing Tucker specialist, restorer, and archivist who finally acquired the car from storage, removed erroneous trim, fitted correct wheels, serviced mechanical systems, and returned it to running condition.
Competition
- 1980Antique Automobile Club of America1980 AACA JudgingSenior First Prize
Car entered in AACA judging while owned by Lester Sheaffer following restoration.
- 1981Antique Automobile Club of America1981 AACA JudgingSenior First Prize
Car again took top honours and its image was used on the commemorative plaque distributed to Hershey event attendees that year.
Maintenance & restoration
- —Bodywork
The car was repainted from its original Andante Green to a bright red finish.
Work carried out during the Rifken ownership period, prior to the 1951 Washington motor show appearance.
- —Restoration
Lester Sheaffer undertook a restoration that included fitting a replacement Tucker engine (no. 335-74) and a Cord transmission, consistent with standard practice for Tucker restorations of the era, and refinishing the car in dark brown. Interior was also replaced at approximately this time.
Work carried out between 1973 and 1982 in preparation for AACA judging.
- —Service
Following retrieval from long-term storage, the current owner removed incorrectly fitted metal trim, installed proper Tucker wheels, serviced the fuel system, ignition, brakes, and all fluids, and rebuilt the water pump and cooling fan. The car was returned to running and driving condition.
Owner noted the drivetrain performed excellently after recommissioning. The water temperature gauge was identified as requiring a future rebuild.
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