Mystery Friday Foto #21 Solved: The Tucker Talisman Concept
A tough one! Did you identify the Tucker Talisman?
Indentify;
- The make and proposed model
The Tucker Talisman
- The designer
Alex Tremulis
- Year of the proposal
Many different sources site different years, but I will go with Alex Tremulis' nephew Steve on the date of 1963.
As per Steve Tremulis in the comments;
This would be Alex Tremulis’ 1963 rendering of what he recalled the1952 Tucker Talisman could have looked like if they had a chance. It has often been misrepresented that Tremulis actually drew this in 1952, but that is not the case. He called it the “1963 Tucker Tremulis Talisman” paying homage to the 1948 Tucker Talisman concept of using the 275 horsepower version of the Franklin 0-335 engine as modified by Carl Doman. That engine was deemed too excessive for the Tucker 48 and was dropped in favor of the standard 166 horsepower version that was used throughout the 50 pre-production run of Tuckers.
It often gets compared to the 1971 Buick Riviera, which itself was styled in tribute to the art deco masterpiece 1937 Delage Aerosport Coupe.
Tremulis was looking to produce a car capable of 200 miles per hour and calculated that based on its Frontal Projected Area (FPA) and coefficient of drag (c/d), its engine would need at least 419 horsepower (chart attached), within range of the factory-built NASCAR engines producing 425 horsepower in 1963.
Alex Tremulis has several connections to Howard and Roz’s collection: He was the Chief Stylist for the Tucker 48 and helped complete Tucker #1044. He was Chief Stylist at Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg, though not at the same time that the 1930 Duesenberg J Berline by Murphy was built. He also was partners with Vince Gardner in building the body for Tremulis’ Gyronaut X-1 (photo attached, Gardner on the left, Tremulis center) which became the “World’s Fastest Motorcycle” in 1966 at 245.667 miles per hour. Tremulis and Gardner also produced a rear spoiler as well as a removable hardtop for the the 1965 Ford Mustang. Gardner designed and then saved the Ford Mustang III two-seat Mustang in the collection. Oh, and I’m pretty sure at some point Alex had a Domino’s pizza delivered, though, alas, probably not in the Aerocar!
Congrats to Al Prete, Steve Lucas, Art Kleiner, Scott Alexander, Steve Tremulis, and Joe Amendolia for identifying the Talisman.
Greg O.
Comments
Tucker Talisman, designed by Alex Tremulis in 1963 as a proposed “second generation” Tucker. The styling cues on the drawing led me to a search, and I found the answer quite quickly.
That’s a Tucker Talisman designed by Alex Tremulis, who designed the Tucker 48. While never built, Tremulis proposed this concept in 1963 as a sportier version of the original Tucker 48.
Tucker Talisman, the sportier 2-door alternative to the 1948 Tucker Sedan. Never got passed the prototype stage.
Alex Tremulis, Phillip Egan
Planned for the 1949/1950 model year, proposal was made around 1948/1949.
The car was prominently used in Stephen King’s book “Needful Things”.
More from “Hidden Things”
This is a design for a 1952 Tucker Talisman concept car.Designer: The vehicle was created by automotive designer Alex Tremulis.
Concept: It was designed as a sportier, two-door version of the original Tucker sedan, sometimes referred to as a “revival” concept.Features: The design featured rocket-age styling elements, a wraparound rear hatch, and was proposed to have a mid-mounted engine.Status:
The Talisman remained a concept and never went into production.
Conection to the Kroplick Tucker as this may have been the next design for the Tucker Automobile.
This would be Alex Tremulis’ 1963 rendering of what he recalled the1952 Tucker Talisman could have looked like if they had a chance. It has often been misrepresented that Tremulis actually drew this in 1952, but that is not the case. He called it the “1963 Tucker Tremulis Talisman” paying homage to the 1948 Tucker Talisman concept of using the 275 horsepower version of the Franklin 0-335 engine as modified by Carl Doman. That engine was deemed too excessive for the Tucker 48 and was dropped in favor of the standard 166 horsepower version that was used throughout the 50 pre-production run of Tuckers.
It often gets compared to the 1971 Buick Riviera, which itself was styled in tribute to the art deco masterpiece 1937 Delage Aerosport Coupe.
Tremulis was looking to produce a car capable of 200 miles per hour and calculated that based on its Frontal Projected Area (FPA) and coefficient of drag (c/d), its engine would need at least 419 horsepower (chart attached), within range of the factory-built NASCAR engines producing 425 horsepower in 1963.
Alex Tremulis has several connections to Howard and Roz’s collection: He was the Chief Stylist for the Tucker 48 and helped complete Tucker #1044. He was Chief Stylist at Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg, though not at the same time that the 1930 Duesenberg J Berline by Murphy was built. He also was partners with Vince Gardner in building the body for Tremulis’ Gyronaut X-1 (photo attached, Gardner on the left, Tremulis center) which became the “World’s Fastest Motorcycle” in 1966 at 245.667 miles per hour. Tremulis and Gardner also produced a rear spoiler as well as a removable hardtop for the the 1965 Ford Mustang. Gardner designed and then saved the Ford Mustang III two-seat Mustang in the collection. Oh, and I’m pretty sure at some point Alex had a Domino’s pizza delivered, though, alas, probably not in the Aerocar!
I recall seeing this concept design in a car magazine as a kid in the 1960"s. It’s a Tucker by Alex Tremulis. The Logo on the ‘B” pillar was a neat touch that left a lasting impression.