Preston Tucker: he had the instincts of a street fighter, the heart of a rebel and the guts to bet on the biggest longshot in American history - himself. When they tried to buy him, he refused. When they tried to bully him, he resisted. When they tried to break him, he became an American legend.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
The book Detroit doesn't want you to read.,
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This review is from: Tucker: The Man and His Dreams Movie Tie-in (Paperback)
"When they tried to buy him, he refused. When they tried to bully him, he resisted. When they tried to break him, he became an American legend." That is an excellent sum-up of the life and career of the charming, unbreakable Preston T. Tucker, founder of the short-lived but immensely innovative and fascinating Tucker Corporation. Its sole product, the 1948 Tucker "Torpedo", was the result of a lifetime spent around cars, a car created by a man who loved the automobile as much as anyone ever has.
Published in 1988 by Robert Tine through Pocket Books as a tie-in to the movie of the same name, "Tucker: The Man and His Dream" is 188 pages long and a thoroughly informative and enjoyable read. It is based heavily on fact but makes use of fiction a fair amount. That doesn't detract from the story at all, however. Plenty of fact with a little fiction mixed in works just fine here. This book tells the story of the charming, energetic, and patriotic business entrepreneur and automotive enthusiast Preston T. Tucker and his battle to create a *real* car at the end of World War II. In 1948, all the other cars, from the Big Three and the other independents, were yesterday's dinner warmed up again. The 1948 Torpedo was all new, and superior to the competition in enough ways that it gave Tucker's rivals quite a scare. Faced with either spending money to keep up and make better cars or spending money to bury Tucker forever, the Big Three chose the latter. Throughout the book, Tucker is harassed and attacked in almost every way imaginable. When he beats his opponents point for point in court, they snatch the factory Tucker was using to build his cars right out from under him. In his closing statement to the court, Tucker makes a rousing speech that wins over the jury completely, along with the judge. The speech is based off the one Tucker actually gave, and I found it to be superb. Tucker sincerely believed in the American Dream, appearing boyish and naive to many with a more cynical outlook on life. He lost his fight to save the 1948 Tucker, but the car and its creator endured and became legends. Preston Tucker simply could not be stopped- kill one project of his, he'd start another. Take away one dream, or try to, and he'd start again somewhere else. Found innocent of all the charges presented against him, Preston Tucker's valiant defense of his business, his family, and his honor didn't stop his enemies from taking away his car. But you cannot take away a dream, especially from so brilliant and energetic a man as Tucker. It is worth noting that Tucker bounced right back after his acquittal, auctioning off all but two of the cars he managed to build. A rather heartwarming note to his legacy is that in his final years, right up to the very end, Preston Tucker kept trying. This man literally never gave up. The proof? His unfinished work, a roadster he was creating in cooperation with Brazilian investors. I wonder where he got that idea for the three headlights...and I wonder if the one in the middle turns with the steering wheel. Also, I think the ultimate fate of the chief attorney on the prosecution during Tucker's trial serves as final vindication of Preston Tucker, final proof that he was a good man who honestly tried to make a good car. The thieves, the charlatans, were men like Otto Kerner Jr., who in 1974 won the dubious honor of being the first federal appellate judge in American history to be jailed... for stock fraud. The irony of it all is just too much. The essential difference between the book and the film is the amount of detail and certain sections of dialogue. Books are always more detailed than their movie counterparts, and this superb tie-in novel is no different. I highly recommend it to any automotive enthusiast, especially to one interested in learning about the life and career of Preston T. Tucker.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Tucker,
By Mema C "Carolyn" (South Carolina) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Tucker: The Man and His Dreams Movie Tie-in (Paperback)
Book has my grandson's name for a title. Bought it for that reason, however a pretty good read. Thanks, owlsbook for such good service. chl
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