Today, I’m going to review a real neat museum that holds one of my favorite cars, the
Tucker 48 or, as advertised, the Tucker Torpedo.
Picture/Wikimedia/Infrogman
The film ‘Tucker:The Man and His Dream’ really does a good job of capturing the basic story of Tucker. It showcases this wonderful car. It is a great movie to watch before or after seeing the museum. A particularly interesting exhibit at the museum played a major role in the film.
The name Tallahassee Auto Museum is a misnomer. It should be called ‘Everything but the Kitchen Sink Museum'( though it may have a kitchen sink), rather than calling it an Auto Museum. The museum does have over 140 cars. It also has Sports and Movie Memorabilia, Antique Golf Clubs and Balls, Knives, Fishing Lures, Outboard Motors, Native American Artifacts, Pianos, Cash Registers, Etc.,Etc. Here’s a hearse from Lincoln’s funeral.
Picture: Wikimedia/Infrogman
The museum is located right off I-10 near the Florida State University in Tallahassee,Florida. The staff is very friendly and I found it interesting to read about the owner’s views. He’s very much against red tape and bureaucracy and he posts that at the entrance, in pamphlets and online.
A few noteables – The museum holds a lot of unique vehicles, including an 1860 horse-drawn hearse the carried Abraham Lincoln.
It also has a 1894 Duryea. Duryea is one of the oldest gas powered car manufacturers in the US, if not the oldest. This car is one of the oldest survivors. Here’s the patent drawing…must have been a new experience to the Patent Examiner!
Picture: Wikimedia/National Archive
The museum also has a impressive Batman display. It includes three Batmobiles, a Batboat, and a Batcycle.
Now for the Tucker and the purpose of my trip. Not only does the museum have a Tucker and a Tucker engine on display, but they also have the movie ‘Crash Tucker’- A Studebaker that was modified to look like a Tucker. The car was in the movie crash and roll scene.
There were only 51 Tuckers built and, I believe, only 47 remain in existence. So, if you get a chance to see a Tucker, take that opportunity .
