Book “Motor City Barn Finds”: Obsession with a Barn-Find Tucker
I have always been a big fan of Tom Cotter's Barn Find books. You can imagine my surprise when I discovered that Tucker 1044 was profiled in his 2017 book Motor City Barn Finds: Detroit's Lost Collector Cars.
In this chapter of the book, Tom described how Tucker 1044 was acquired by its previous owner Mark Lieberman in 2016.
Enjoy,
Howard
Two upcoming events concerning Tucker 1044:
Sunday, January 28, 2018: Tucker 1044 Open House, Morganville, New Jersey
Motor City Barn Finds: Detroit's Lost Collector Cars
Tom Cotter returns to troll through Detroit and discover long forgotten classics in Motor City Barn Finds. You won't believe some of the rides he finds.
Detroit has been America's Motor City for decades. It's home to Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler, as well as numerous auto industry companies and specialty and speed shops. At the same time, it's the poster child for urban blight and dysfunction. It's truly a city of contrasts, which presented challenges and opportunities in equal measure to barn finder Tom Cotter.
In Motor City Barn Finds, Cotter plies his trade in a locale rich with automotive history. Detroit's lost cars are abandoned in empty lots, resident in decrepit buildings, squirreled away in garages, and stashed in historic wrecking yards. Behind the wheel of his classic 1939 Ford Woodie, Cotter trolls the back streets and neighborhoods of this historic city looking for lost automotive gems accompanied by photographer Michael Alan Ross.
As America's Motor City, Detroit is an emotional and historical mecca for car enthusiasts, capable of drawing hundreds of thousands of car people for events like Woodward Dream Cruise and attracting design-forward companies like Shinola. At the same time, it's intimidating to navigate, with numerous dodgy neighborhoods and risky abandoned factory sites. Add it all together and you have fascinating and intriguing opportunities to dig for barn-find gold.
Tucker 1044 Open House, Morganville, New Jersey
Motor City Barn Finds: Detroit's Lost Collector Cars
By Tom Cottter, Host of The Barn Find Hunter
Photography by Michael Alan Ross
"When I complete the restoration on this one, it will be the new reigning champion."
"The car is amazingly preserved; It obviously hasn't been neglected since it was built."
"There is no rust whatsover. It was originally Andante Green, and it will be again."
Comments
Thanks Howard, a very interesting story about an amazing automobile. We are fortunate to have a Tucker here on Long Island. Thanks for sharing your car and it history with the rest of us.
Tucker still continues to fascinate—keep up the good work.
Ken Harris
Hey Howard,
I am really excited for you. This will be a huge triumph (not the British car) for you.
Can’t wait to see it when it’s done.
All the best,
Rog
Howard, thanks for the plug on the book. I can’t wait to see that car again when its restored!
______________________________________
Howard Kroplick
Tom, keep writing these wonderful books!
Mark Lieberman seemed fairly set on restoring the car. What caused him to completely change course, not restore and sell the car?
________________________________________________________
Howard Kroplick:
Greg, excellent question. Mark needed the resources to expand his restoration business.