Aug 09 2017

Profile Series: Tucker 1003- Formerly Owned by Bill Petit and George Lucas


In the fourth of our profile series on the 51 Tuckers, Tucker '48 #1003 is featured, once owned by museum owner Bill Petit and producer/director George Lucas.

Enjoy,

Howard Kroplick


Tucker '48 #1003

Original Color: Maroon/600
Current Color: Raspberry

Ownership/History:

  • July 1948: Sold to Tucker Arkansas Sales Corporation.
  • Fall 1948: Returned to factory and exchanged for Tucker 1002
  • 1949: Sent by Farber Motor Sales of Columbus, Ohio to Cincinatti where it was displayed by local dealer Eddie Numerich
  • June 1950: Acquired by Art Watson at the Watson Auto Auction where it was displayed in Florida
  • 1962: Sold to William A.C. Petit III of Louisa, Virginia through Paul Stern. It was a featured attractionat the Petit's Museum of Motoring Memories
  • Late 1980s: Following Petit's retirement, 1003 was sold to producer/director George Lucas who served as the executive producer for the film "Tucker: The Man and his Dream" in 1988. Th#1003 resided in Lucas' Skywalker Ranch.
  • September 2005: Sold by Lucas who currently also owns Tucker 1009.
  • January 2008: Restored by Bata Matajar's B.A.D Company in Sun Valley California.
  • 2011: Additional restoration by Martyn Donaldson and, later, Mark Lieberman for owner author J.R. Roberts.
  • March 11, 2013: Offered at RM Actions, Amelia Island, Florida. Did not meet reserve. High bid: $1,475,000.
  • August 16, 2014: Offered for sale at Gooding & Company Auction, Pebble Beach, California Estimate: $1.3-$1.7 million. Sold for $2.035 Million. Purchased by the Academy of Art University Car Collection..

Current Owner: Academy of Art University Automobile Collection

Current Ownership Type: Museum

Location: Academy of Art University Automobile Museum, San Francisco, California
Website: Academy of Art University Automobile Collection

Profile and Images (Tucker Automobile Club of America)

Engine: Franklin 0-335, 6-cylinder horizontally opposed, 334 cubic inch, 166 HP
Transmission: Cord 810/812 transmission

Notes/Distinguishing Features:

  •  Raspberry color
  • One of the few Tucker '48s that are still driven


June 2006



 As presented on Jay Leno's Garage, Tucker Automobile Club historian and restorer Martyn Donaldson takes you through the restoration of # 1003.


March 2013


 RM Auction, Amelia Island, Florida


August 2014

Gooding & Company auction, Pebble Beach, California


2016

 On display at the Academy of Art University Automobile Museum in San Francisco, California



Comments

Aug 13 2017 Steve Green 12:19 PM

I’m currently president of the Pacific Gold Rush Rambler Club of Northern California.  For a San Francisco touring event last February, we were lucky enough to arrange for a private showing of collector cars at the Academy of Art showroom on Van Ness St. in San Fran., and Tucker #1003 was part of the collection put on display for us.  A really first rate car in a spectacular collection of vehicles.  (Unfortunately, Acad. of Art does not offer its vehicles for public display). . . . . . . . .

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