By: Jon Stalnaker
AKA The Studebaker Dude
I need to take a break from the keyboard as my recent slip on the ice has made it difficult for me to type. I wrote this story a few years ago and thought it would make a satisfactory interlude until I am back to full speed. The heavy medications I am taking interfere with my mental acuity so it’s better that I limit that as well. I hope you enjoy the story.
Have you seen the old movie, Tucker, about the car and the man that threatened the automobile industry’s Big 3 in 1948? I heard that they had modified at least one bullet-nosed Studebaker to look like a Tucker for a few of the scenes where they thought they could get away with it. I understand that the scene in front of the courthouse, where they drove all of the Tuckers required it, as they could not round up all 51 Tuckers for the shot. Also, in the scene where the Tucker rolled over on the racetrack, they obviously could not demolish such a rare car just for a movie. Therefore, a stand-in was required and what car would be easiest to modify to look like a Tucker than a bullet-nose Studebaker. They certainly are plentiful enough and who cares if one gets destroyed. (Other than us Studebaker guys!)
The actual Tucker (#27) that was rolled on the racetrack was sold along with a bunch of parts and may be restored some day to its original condition. According to the official Tucker website, 50 of the 51 Tuckers are accounted for and only one has been street rodded.
There was a company that was making a Hot Rod Tucker, but no actual Tucker was sacrificed in the building of it. I saw it in a car magazine, and it was way cool. It has a mid-engine, Cadillac NorthStar motor and lots of modern upgrades. I don’t know if they are still making them.
I’ve often wondered if any of those movie stand ins still existed and decided to search the internet for my answer. I was able to locate a still shot from the movie that showed the “STUCKERbaker” in the rollover scene. You most likely wouldn’t have even noticed it since the rollover scene only lasted mere seconds. However, when you view the still picture, you can tell it is a modified Stude and not a real Tucker.
(or should I say, I can tell it is a Studebaker in disguise.)
I searched some more and discovered that the movie stand-in “STUCKERbaker” is at the Tallahassee Automobile Museum. It is displayed in all of its demolished glory. The front Tucker modification of the car fell off during the crash and the 1950 Bullet nose is clearly visible now.
I went on the Studebaker forum and asked if anyone had any pictures of this car and Matthew Burnett, a fellow Studeholic, came through with these terrific shots of the car in the parking lot. So, if you ever make it to Tallahassee, check out the Automobile Museum there and look for this car. A true piece of movie history and, some could argue, a worthwhile sacrifice of one of our cars.
As a Studebaker Bullet Nose owner, I often get the question “is that a Tucker?” If you look at the two cars side by side, it’s easy enough to see they are quite different. My response to that question varies by the situation in which it is asked. For example, I was stopped at a red light once when a young guy standing on the corner, yelled the question to me. Knowing I only had seconds to reply before the light turned green, I simply replied, “you like it?” and drove away when the light changed. I did not confirm nor deny but left him with the opportunity to tell his friends that he saw a real Tucker once. My answer would have been different if I had been standing next to him and I had ten minutes to tell him the difference.
