Vanderbilt Cup Races

I’m a subscriber of Classic Car and wasn’t at all surprised your historic car is on the cover. I didn’t know about the unique suspension either. Just curious Howard, how long did it take to put this feature with the great article and pictures together? More than one day?
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Howard Kroplick

Mike, it was a two-hour photo shoot of the Tucker 1044 and the 1963 Mustang III Concept Show Car. Lots of fun! with Richard Lentinello- a great guy!

From Updated: Hemmings Classic Car Cover Article: Tucker On the Road in the Ultimate Driveable Dream

This is where the 44-mile adventure began. Long Island Motor Parkway’s entrance at its western terminus looking SE, the first highway built for cars. At Long Island Expressway and Peck Ave, the parkway actually ran just beyond Peck’s eastern sidewalk and is no longer visible in this aerial. P.S. 4 (eventually P.S. 179) would occupy this space in 1955 so this aerial was taken shortly before then. Just twenty years earlier this was all open space with Fresh Meadow Country Club golf course in place of all the residential housing. 

A rare shot of the North Hempstead Tpke bridge ruins is visible here and so is the 73rd Ave bridge (Black Stump Rd) that still exists today! 

Aerial photo likely taken for the advancement of housing in eastern Queens. This place grew quickly, similar to Levittown in the ‘40s.

From Updated:Mystery Foto #2 Solved:An Aerial of Fresh Meadows from the New York Life Archives Circa 1950

Ron M:

Its really big news for car enthusiast to see the restoration of a original unmolested Tucker to see how it was put together, interest is warming up.

From Updated: Hemmings Classic Car Cover Article: Tucker On the Road in the Ultimate Driveable Dream

Brian Flory:

Congratulations!

From Updated: Hemmings Classic Car Cover Article: Tucker On the Road in the Ultimate Driveable Dream

Jeanett R:
What a cool treasure to find! I love reading updates on this car. My Classic Car mag came yesterday & I couldn’t wait to read article staring at every little detail in the pictures. What a beautiful work of art!

From Updated: Hemmings Classic Car Cover Article: Tucker On the Road in the Ultimate Driveable Dream

Howard, got my copy of Classis Car also, was change to coil springs?, didn’t know. In this issue an article about the 1942 Desoto Deluxe sedan that was at the Hershey meet. the same time as your Chrysler was there, next row over. The Desoto part of the Nicola Bulgari collections. Curator Keith Flickinger? was by the car, had a chat with him, gave him the Chrysler flyer that you had, told him about your website, to check it out, hope he did?

From Updated: Hemmings Classic Car Cover Article: Tucker On the Road in the Ultimate Driveable Dream

The photo is over Fresh Meadows and we are looking south-east. The bridges are North Hempstead Turnpike (remnant), 73rd. Avenue, and hidden in the trees are Hollis Court Blvd. and Rocky Hill Road. Since the Francis Lewis Blvd. greenway bridge is there also, I’m guessing around 1948 for the date. I found a similar photo in the NY Life Archives so maybe this one is from there also. This might have been taken as part of the planning for the L. I. Expressway.

From Updated:Mystery Foto #2 Solved:An Aerial of Fresh Meadows from the New York Life Archives Circa 1950

Hope everyone had a good weekend!

Location/Orientation:  Fresh Meadows, Queens. Viewing southeast.

LIMP bridges: N Hempstead Tpke & 73rd Ave Pkwy Type. The overpass crossing Francis Lewis Blvd. isn’t an original LIMP bridge. It was built by the city to connect the parklands for the public. This bridge doesn’t follow the original LIMP. The LIMP continues a little more south of the overpass, then continues a dead east. The Clearview Expwy isn’t built yet. But the expwy eventually severs the LIMP.

Year: I’ll commit to 1950.

Aerial Source/Reason:  To display the New Housing Developments.

Also can make out the remains of N Hempstead Tpke & small sections of the Central RR ROW, all E/O the LIMP.

From Updated:Mystery Foto #2 Solved:An Aerial of Fresh Meadows from the New York Life Archives Circa 1950

my grandfather would deliver home heating oil in these ,5 gallons at a time, a typical oil tank can be 275 gallons

From Mystery Foto #86 Solved: Antique Five Gallon Can Manufactured by George D. Ellis & Sons, Inc.

Howard, nice going.  I have had the privilege of seeing your Tucker up close and it is indeed impressive.  The fact that you own it is well deserved.
I just received my copy of Hemmings Classic Car and can’t wait to read the article about you and your Tucker.
Looking forward to seeing the car after its restoration.  I’m sure it’ll be a knockout.
All the best,
Rog

From Updated: Hemmings Classic Car Cover Article: Tucker On the Road in the Ultimate Driveable Dream

Howard,
    The other day I received my Hemming Classic Car Mag. As soon as I saw the cover, I know it was your Tucker. Richard shot nice photos of the car & I enjoyed reading the 6 page article.\
    Good luck with the car’s restoration.

From Updated: Hemmings Classic Car Cover Article: Tucker On the Road in the Ultimate Driveable Dream

Lee C:
Inquiring minds want to know - what accounts for the buttons on your Tucker radio being black in one photo and red in another? Thanks!
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Howard Kroplick
Lee, the Tucker name on the radio buttons are red on Tucker 1044.

From Updated: Hemmings Classic Car Cover Article: Tucker On the Road in the Ultimate Driveable Dream

Walt G:
Looks good. Great to see.
Under the reason to own it should just say ” because it is just a really cool machine”
Nuff said!

From Updated: Hemmings Classic Car Cover Article: Tucker On the Road in the Ultimate Driveable Dream

Photo is of Fresh Meadows.  We are looking from northwest in lower right hand corner to the southeast in upper left hand corner.  Roadway in the foreground is Horace Harding Blvd., in pre-LIE days.  Street crossing over Horace Harding with the 2 ovals is 188th Street.

Motor Parkway bridge towards the top is over 73rd Avenue (which I grew up on) and the lower one is over a road we didn’t know the name of when i lived there.  It was i believe torn down when they built Bishop Reilly High School at the corner of LIE/Horace Harding and Francis Lewis Blvd. in early 1960s.

Date of photo is after Fresh Meadows development was completed in original phase and before LIE construction came through the area, which i recall as being around 1957 or ‘58. Long before the 21 story building was added to Fresh Meadows in early 1960’s.  Therefore i would date the photo as being between 1952 and 1956. 

Purpose of photo?  Could have been for New York Life, which built and owned Fresh Meadows until it was sold to Helmsley-Spear in the late ‘60’s. Or for planning for the LIE?  Clearview?

From Updated:Mystery Foto #2 Solved:An Aerial of Fresh Meadows from the New York Life Archives Circa 1950

Is that former Pan Am guy Tom Gibson?  If so I know him.  I just finished the Tucker article in Hemmings.  You are getting a lot of press these days Howard!  Regards…Mitch
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Howard Kroplick

Mitch, I am not sure about Tom’s professional career. He did document Chrysler’s Chrysler in 1986:
http://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/rare_photos_of_chryslers_chrysler_at_the_vanderbilt_museum_in_1986

Hemmings Classic Car really does a great job!

From William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.'s Douglas Dolphin "Amphibion" Seaplane

1.  Fresh Meadows looking southeast
2.  Bridge over the remnant portion of North Hempstead Turnpike.
    Bridge over 73rd Ave.
    Bridge over Francis Lewis Blvd. It was built when Francis Lewis was extended from Horace Harding Blvd. to Hillside Ave. during the War, although the extension did not open for traffic until 1946 when lampposts were added.
    Bridge over Hollis Court Blvd. (although I can’t see it)
3. Appx. 1950, give or take a year. Bloomingdale’s, which is shown, opened in 1949.
4.  Source: Hard to say. NY Life built Fresh Meadows. Fairchild Aviation took numerous photos of landmark areas on the Island and Queens.

PS.  I grew up on 199th St. and 51st Ave, which was on the other side of Horace Harding Blvd.

From Updated:Mystery Foto #2 Solved:An Aerial of Fresh Meadows from the New York Life Archives Circa 1950

Scott S:
I saw on line. That’s amazing.  It’s funny to actually look at any msg and think I’ve seen that car.  So happy for you. Well deserved.

From Updated: Hemmings Classic Car Cover Article: Tucker On the Road in the Ultimate Driveable Dream

Fresh Meadows looking southeast.1964, worlds fair coverage first bridge off of Harding Blvd showcased many times, second bridge still standing as part of queens greenway.

From Updated:Mystery Foto #2 Solved:An Aerial of Fresh Meadows from the New York Life Archives Circa 1950

Looking SE over Fresh Meadow(s) at the confluence of 199th Street, Peck Avenue and Underhill Boulevard, and Horace Harding Boulevard, with North Hempstead Turnpike and Hollis Court Blvd. bridges.  Taken well after 1926.  Probably as publicity for Fresh Meadows development.  Sam, III

From Updated:Mystery Foto #2 Solved:An Aerial of Fresh Meadows from the New York Life Archives Circa 1950

This is a view of the motor parkways first bridge that was torn down near Peck Avenue and the existing bridge over 73 avenue./Francis Lewis Blvd. Keep these great photos coming. Thanks, Gene

From Updated:Mystery Foto #2 Solved:An Aerial of Fresh Meadows from the New York Life Archives Circa 1950