Preston Tucker was an American entrepreneur and inventor who is best known for his failed attempt to produce and market the Tucker 48 automobile. His story has been immortalized in the 1988 movie Tucker: The Man and His Dream, starring Jeff Bridges. But what happened to Preston Tucker’s family after his death?
Preston Tucker was born in Capac, Michigan in 1903. He was the son of a farmer and had a passion for cars from a young age. He worked as a mechanic and eventually opened his own garage in Ypsilanti, Michigan. In the 1930s, he began to develop a revolutionary new car, the Tucker 48. The car was designed to be safer and more reliable than other cars of the time, and it featured a number of innovative features.
Unfortunately, Tucker’s dream of producing and marketing the Tucker 48 was never realized. The car was met with resistance from the major automakers, who saw it as a threat to their business. The Securities and Exchange Commission also launched an investigation into Tucker’s business practices, which ultimately led to his downfall. Tucker was acquitted of all charges, but the damage had been done. The Tucker 48 never went into production and Tucker’s company went bankrupt.
Preston Tucker died in 1956 at the age of 53. He left behind a wife, Vera, and four children: Preston Jr., Vera Jr., Mary, and John. After Tucker’s death, his family struggled to make ends meet. Vera worked as a seamstress and the children had to take odd jobs to help support the family.
In the late 1960s, Preston Jr. and Vera Jr. decided to revive their father’s dream of producing the Tucker 48. They formed the Tucker Automobile Club of America and began to restore and sell Tucker 48s. The club was successful and the Tucker 48s became a sought-after collector’s item.
In the 1980s, Preston Jr. and Vera Jr. decided to take their father’s dream one step further. They formed the Tucker Corporation and began to develop a new car, the Tucker Torpedo. The car was designed to be a modern version of the Tucker 48, but it never went into production. The company eventually went bankrupt and the Tucker Torpedo was never produced.
Today, Preston Tucker’s legacy lives on through his children and grandchildren. His son Preston Jr. passed away in 2011, but his daughter Vera Jr. is still alive and well. She is the president of the Tucker Automobile Club of America and is actively involved in preserving her father’s legacy.
Preston Tucker’s family has endured a lot of hardship since his death, but they have also kept his dream alive. His children and grandchildren have worked hard to ensure that his legacy will never be forgotten. Preston Tucker may not have been able to realize his dream of producing the Tucker 48, but his family has kept his memory alive and his dream alive.
