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The Indomitable Tin Goose Category: Book Subtitle: The True Story of Preston Tucker and His Car Author: Charles T. Pearson Publisher: Abelard-Schuman Year: 1960 Page Sections: Cover |
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THE INDOMITABLE TIN GOOSE
THE TRUE STORY OF PRESTON TUCKER AND HIS CAR
by CHARLES T. PEARSON
Illustrated with photographs
Was he a con man extraordinaire or a tragic victim of fate? Twelve years ago, the name of Preston Tucker flashed briefly across the world's headlines when he was indicted by a Chicago grand jury. At the time, an auto-minded American public followed his trial with interest—for Tucker had promised to build a fabulous “car of tomorrow” with an engine in the rear and other revolutionary features to sell at a price well below that of standard low-priced ears. In the free-wheeling post-war boom era, he had become a public idol; thousands of people invested money in his company, millions of people believed in him. After a long, drawn-out trial, Tucker and his associates were acquitted but, by then, his company was in the hands of receivers. Tucker vowed that he would build another car and start again, but fate intervened. In 1956, he died of lung cancer.
Ever since Preston Tucker's death, myths and legends have grown up about the man. There is a small group of highly respected automobile experts who believe that twelve years ago the American public was gypped. They point out that literally dozens of features which Tucker advocated—wholly automatic transmission, safety pop-out windshields, self-correcting headlights—have been incorporated into standard makes. They note that it is only now—in 1960—that a small economical engine-in-the-rear car has been mass-produced in the United States. They ask themselves why this long delay and whether this wait was strictly necessary.
There are about fifty Tucker cars in this country — turned out partially hand-tooled by Preston Tucker's “pilot assembly line.” Their owners bewail the fact that a car as serviceable and as advanced as the Tucker never saw the light of a showroom.
Why was the Tucker car labeled a “Tin Goose,”and why did Preston Tucker fail? From the very beginning, he made dangerous enemies—and the story of his misadventures among the Washington bureaucrats is a shabby record of favoritism, political pressure and dirty pool. Tucker had the poorest press relations of any industrialist of his day; powerful figures such as Drew Pearson, Fulton Lewis, Jr. and Senator Ferguson of Michigan spoke out against him publicly. The author of this book—who worked with Tucker and was his close personal friend— believes that the Detroit automotive industry deliberately pulled wires which helped trip him up and that the Securities and Exchange Commission hounded him unmercifully. In a no-holds-barred, open-handed way, he names names and cites evidence to support his charges.
But there is a deeper side to the Preston Tucker story which cuts through political hassels and the clouds of controversy. It is the story of a car-crazy kid with a passion for trading dogs, cars, anything, who grew up in the tradition of the great automotive pioneers — Ford, Durant and Chrysler. This kid who hung around auto speedways grew up with a dream which he hoped to make a reality. It is fascinating to watch him pit this dream against the dizzying world of high finance, against hangers-on and 10 per centers, against the strangling regulations of bureaucrats.
And it is left finally to the reader to decide whether Tucker — a man who admittedly cut corners—was more victim than sinner. Was he, in fact, a prophet cut down ten years before his time, or was he a fabulous swindler who talked more than he did? Is there still room in our highly centralized economy for new empire-building, or are we stifling the free, creative enterpriser? These are questions which the reader will ponder long after he has read this fascinating, thought-provoking biography.
CHARLES T. PEARSON worked with Preston Tucker during the two crucial years when his controversial car was under fire. He was Tucker's close personal friend until his death in 1956. A veteran reporter and PR man, Pearson has worked for United Press, written numerous articles for popular and technical magazines and is an expert on the automotive industry. He wrote this book not for personal profit but because he sincerely believes that the true story of Tucker and his ear has never been told and that the American car-buying public is entitled to the facts.
Quotations from “What About Mr. Tucker and his Dream Car” by Ken W. Purdy, originally published in True, and “We Drive and Test the New Tucker Car" by Tom McCahill, originally published in Mechanix Illustrated, are reprinted by permission of Fawcett Publications, Inc.
© 1960 by Charles T. Pearson
Library of Congress Catalogue
Card Number 60-7214
| LONDON Abelard-Schuman Limited 38 Russell Square |
| NEW YORK Abelard-Schuman Limited 6 West 57 Street |
| TORONTO Abelard-Schuman Canada Limited 81 John Street |
Printed in the United States of America
If the Golden Chariots in the Hereafter have internal combustion engines, Preston Tucker by now will have designs at least six milleniums ahead of current models. If there is compassion in the Hereafter, he will build them.
FOREWORD
PRESTON TUCKER was beyond question one of the most controversial figures of the late 1940's, and mention of the Tucker automobile can still start arguments that are as far from being settled as they were twelve years ago.
A writer of fiction might be tempted to weave the story of Tucker and his automobile into a novel. But the facts are more fantastic than any fictional version could possibly be.
Discussion of Tucker usually involves, with variations, three basic questions:
Did Tucker actually intend to build a car, or was he just another con man?
Was it any good?
What really happened?
This book, within the limits of space and readability, will try to answer these questions.
CONTENTS
Part One CRAZY FOR CARS
1 Ten Years Ahead of Tomorrow 17
2 The Most Talked About Car in the World 26
3 Wheels in his Heart 32
4 Birth of a Salesman 42
5 Into the Big Time 49
Part Two WHILE THE WORLD WAITED
6 Growing Pains 61
7 Two Long Shots 68
8 Screwballs, Phonies and Characters 74
10 The Battle of Press Releases 85
11 The Body Beautiful, on Wheels 93
12 The Tin Goose 100
13 The Big Buildup 106
14 Off to Philadelphia 111
15 World Premiere 117
16 Colonel McCormick's Hat 124
17 Headlines, Headlines, Headlines ... 148
18 Steel, Politics and Piston Liners 155
19 A Homey Stockholders' Meeting 168
20 One for the Road 170
21 Look-No Hands! 176
22 “This Car is Really Dynamite!” 184
23 We Hit Every S.O.B. in the Country 190
24 The Last Lap 196
25 A Thumb on the Scales of Justice 203
26 “Let's Get Down to the Meat” 225
27 Aspirin, Cokes and Coffee 234
Part Three BEHIND THE HEADLINES
28 The Case Against Tucker 245
29 Was the Tucker any Good? 254
30 What Went Wrong? 262
31 The Price of Progress 269
32 The New Tucker 274
33 The Game is Over 279
