TUCKER II: Among the names that popped up on the list of Tucker
owners was a Bradford man.

George McKinney of Bradford owned both the Buffalo
distributorship and the Tucker dealership in Titusville.

Mr. McKinney had owned Tucker No. 1018 one of four Tuckers no
longer in existence.

Here’s what the Old Car Dealers article, written by Jay Follis,
president of the Tucker Automobile Club of America Inc., had to
say:

This vehicle, produced, painted beige and carrying serial number
1018, was sold by Tucker Corp. on July 30, 1948, to its New
York-area distributor, Buffalo Tucker Sales owned by Mr. McKinney
who would later become chairman of the Tucker Distributors and
Dealers Committee.

In September and October 1948, local newspapers reported
McKinney driving the Tucker to “various towns, giving demo rides
and showing the car to friends.” One paper reported that several
people driving their cars past the Tucker turned around “and
hurried back to give the car a look-over,” the article notes.

It was sometime after these news reports were published that
Tucker No. 1018 was involved in a crash, apparently hitting a tree
broadside near South Wales, N.Y., which left it damaged beyond
repair. No injuries were reported, and the salvaged remains, which
included the entire front clip of the car, were returned to
Bradford, Pa.

The Web site includes a couple pictures of this vehicle, and
notes that one from a 2002 auction included a Tucker parts
assortment consigned by the Kughn Collection that included the
unrestored front end from Tucker No. 1018.

In 1992, the engine, radiator, fender vents, and under-seat
heater from Tucker No. 1018 were purchased by a collector, while
the front clip was located by another and later sold at RM
Auctions’ 2002 Novi, Mich., event.

The research on this Tucker — and others — is credited to the
lifelong research conducted by Richard Jones, Tucker Automobile
Club of America Inc. co-founder and senior Tucker historian, and,
more recently, the work of college dean and legal scholar Larry
Clark.

We must admit, these Tuckers were snazzy cars that wouldn’t look
out of place on the roads today. 

It would be great if photos of this old “Bradford” Tucker were
hidden in some local attic or basement. We’d love to see it.