The intrigue Continues - Tucker Front End Studies for 1951
It seems the 5 Tuckers found in the warehouse is only part of an ongoing intrigue. Along with a number of other photos and documents found on the premises, these two transparencies came to light and caused a sensation in Elgin Park.
The entrepreneur, who back in 1950 clearly invested time, money and creative talent trying to produce a Tucker related vehicle, still remains unknown.
Aside from the What, Where, How and Why of it all is the burning question:
Do these two prototypes still exist?
Oh, the possibilities!
On a different note, the creation of these two front end designs were achieved by digging through my parts box plus a little bit of modeling.
The "prow front" was cobbled together by forming an arch out of thin styrene, fitted with a rounded vertical strip of plastic in the front, then placed over the center headlight.
The "bullet nose" style was created with a brass grommet and a hemisphere of styrene.
As for the egg crate grille, it was taken from a broken Cadillac diecast and trimmed to the appropriate shape.
The fender skirt is a piece of styrene fitted into the wheel opening and painted the body color.
A few other changes include;
- Removing the rectangular turn signals and substituting round, milk glass fixtures close to the headlights.
-Adding a short chrome bumper-ette above the grille on the Prow Nose prototype
and a long chrome bumper-ette that connects the two round turn signals on the Bullet Nose prototype.
-On both of the models, half bumpers were installed onto the main bumper unit for a more massive look.
-A chrome trim spear along the front fender and a chrome trim piece below the doors to create a longer, lower appearance.
-The air intake vent, on the rear fender of the bullet nose, was painted the body color to create a smoother appearance.
It was a very interesting project for me because the Tucker is such an iconic vehicle.
I wanted the alterations to be sensitive to the original Tucker/ Tremulis design, yet address the changing style that was starting to emerge in the industry at the time.
The intrigue Continues - Tucker Front End Studies for 1951
It seems the 5 Tuckers found in the warehouse is only part of an ongoing intrigue. Along with a number of other photos and documents found on the premises, these two transparencies came to light and caused a sensation in Elgin Park.
The entrepreneur, who back in 1950 clearly invested time, money and creative talent trying to produce a Tucker related vehicle, still remains unknown.
Aside from the What, Where, How and Why of it all is the burning question:
Do these two prototypes still exist?
Oh, the possibilities!
On a different note, the creation of these two front end designs were achieved by digging through my parts box plus a little bit of modeling.
The "prow front" was cobbled together by forming an arch out of thin styrene, fitted with a rounded vertical strip of plastic in the front, then placed over the center headlight.
The "bullet nose" style was created with a brass grommet and a hemisphere of styrene.
As for the egg crate grille, it was taken from a broken Cadillac diecast and trimmed to the appropriate shape.
The fender skirt is a piece of styrene fitted into the wheel opening and painted the body color.
A few other changes include;
- Removing the rectangular turn signals and substituting round, milk glass fixtures close to the headlights.
-Adding a short chrome bumper-ette above the grille on the Prow Nose prototype
and a long chrome bumper-ette that connects the two round turn signals on the Bullet Nose prototype.
-On both of the models, half bumpers were installed onto the main bumper unit for a more massive look.
-A chrome trim spear along the front fender and a chrome trim piece below the doors to create a longer, lower appearance.
-The air intake vent, on the rear fender of the bullet nose, was painted the body color to create a smoother appearance.
It was a very interesting project for me because the Tucker is such an iconic vehicle.
I wanted the alterations to be sensitive to the original Tucker/ Tremulis design, yet address the changing style that was starting to emerge in the industry at the time.