Searching for the 22 Stars of Francis Ford Coppola’s 1988 Film-Tucker: The Man and His Dream
Inspired by the above photo of a street line-up of Tuckers in Francis Ford Coppola's 1988 film, I began a search to discover the 22 Tuckers that participated in this classic movie. With the assistant of Tucker expert Martyn Donaldson and several 1988 automobile magazines, below are the real stars of Coppola's film. Photo courtesy of Gene Kennedy.
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
Martyn Donaldson
Coppola's #1014 was used extensively in the movie, especially in the factory assembly scene flashbacks during the courtroom scenes. That car was also the basis for the replicar molds. Cammack's #1022 and #1026 were also used - #1026 acting as "number 50!" in factory scenes and #1022 driven by Jeff Bridges around the factory floor (Bridges and company are sitting on #1022 in the promo photo). #1025 (Goodwin-Miller Funeral Home collection) was used the street scenes in front of the courthouse and can be seen in the street line-up photo - at the front of the line, wearing it's Olds Toronado wheel covers.
Fun Facts About the 22 Tucker Film Stars
- Tom Sparks help round up 22 Tuckers and created four replicas built by Mike Fennel Enterprises for the stunt scenes.
- According to Sparks only 6 of the 22 Tuckers ran well. “Most of the Tuckers we borrowed had been sitting around for years”.
- Owners each received $2,500 for participating.
- The auction price for a Tucker in 1987 was $60,000.
Tucker 1004
1988 Owner: Ray and Ruth Burton
Current Owner: Toyota Automobile Museum
Tucker 1005
1988 Owner: Delona and Curtis Foester
Current Owner: Tallahassee Automobile Museum
Tucker 1009
1988 Owner: George Lucas
Current Owner: George Lucas
Tucker 1012
Current Owner: Kesling Auto Collection
Tucker 1013
Current Owner: Swigart Auto Museum
Tucker 1014
1988 Owner: Francis Ford Coppola
Current Owner: Franics Ford Coppola
Note: Used extensively in the factory assembly scene and basis for replicar molds.
Tucker 1015
Current Owner: The Stahl's Collection
Tucker 1017
Current Owners: Keith and Eileen Carpenter
Tucker 1019
Currently on Display: San Diego Automotive Museum
Tucker 1020
1988 Owner: Jane and John Lemmo
Current Owner: Hani Corporation
Tucker 1021
1988 Owner: Gene Clark
Tucker 1022
1988 Owner: Richard Jones
Current Owner: AACA Museum
Tucker 1024
Current Owner: Museum of American Speed
Tucker 1025
Current Owner: The Goodwin Collection
Note: Seen in the street line-up photo with its Olds Toronado wheel covers.
Tucker 1026
Current Owner: AACA Museum
Tucker 1029
Current Owner: Mark Lieberman
Tucker 1031
1988 Owner: Eva and Jay Busker
Current Owner: Erci Breslow
Tucker 1034
1988 Owner: Juanita and Gene Cofer
Tucker 1037
1988 Owner: Francis Ford Coppola
Current Owner: Francis Ford Coppola
Note: Portrayed the 1947 Tucker "Tin Goose" Propotype.
Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas in front of Tucker 1037.
Tucker 1041
1988 Owner: Dorothy and Bev Ferriera
Current Owner: Gene and Collen Clarke
Jeff Bridges, Francis Ford Coppola and members of the Tucker Automobile Club on the film set in 1987.
Tucker 1050
1988 Owner: Delona and Curtis Foester
Current Owner: Dick's Classic Garage
Tucker 1051
1988 Owner: Carlos DeLorenzo
Comments
True historian’s devotion to detail shows in this project. Good job. my recollection of the movie was there was one scene wih more than 26 vehicles but gotta see that entertaing picture again….
well, he may not have been a car of steel but my fellow musician, now deceased, was in the courtroom scene in Tucker. His name was Rudy Cipolla(1900-2000) and he taught and inspired mandolinist David Grisman. Cipolla is a celebrity in the world of mandolins!
To hell with all those Tuckers - love !hat ‘46-48 Ford woodie! Seriously, though, what’s the black rectangle off-center in front of the Tucker ‘way back at the curb? Sam, III
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Howard Kroplick
My best guess is that it is a road sign.
As a member of the Studebaker Drivers Club LI chapter, I had heard that a Studebaker was “disguised” as a Tucker, for, I think, I shot of a car rolling over. Just wondering if anyone else ever heard that info. Bob Andreocci
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Howard Kroplick
Bob, you are correct! Three cars were used to film the crash scene, a “before” version, with a fiberglass body, the car used to do the actual rollover was a Studebaker modified to look like a Tucker.