AACA Museum: World's Largest Tucker Car Collection -

When you think of Hershey, Pennsylvania, most likely the first thing you think of is chocolate. But there is more to Hershey than chocolate—like the AACA Museum. Any classic car enthusiast would love the AACA Museum. Cars range from a Chicago Benton Harbor, made in 1895, to a 2002 BMW Mini-Cooper that has been modified into a snowmobile. The museum exhibits a lot of awesome cars, but what particularly caught our attention was the collection of Tucker automobiles. The collection includes 48 automobiles, engines and memorabilia from David Cammack, Tucker historian and collector. It is the world’s largest Tucker collection in the world.

Only 51 cars were built, and 47 of them remain in collections throughout the world. You may be familiar with the Tucker from the movie, Tucker: The Man and His Dream. Preston Tucker was a visionary ahead of his time. His cars, built in 1948, included such innovations as a windshield designed to eject during a crash, a rear engine, and a center headlight that swiveled as the car turned a corner. Unfortunately, Tucker went bankrupt, and the Tucker car production came to a screeching halt.

AACA Cammack Tucker Collection

1948 Tucker #1022 at the AACA Museum — 1948 Tucker #1022 from the late David Cammack collection

This photo of Preston Tucker, taken by photographer Hank Walker, hangs in the AACA Museum.

1948 Tucker #1026 in the AACA Museum — Many consider this the most valuable production Tucker. It’s the only remaining complete Tucker with an automatic transmission. The 1948 Tucker #1026 is also, from the Cammack collection.

1948 Tucker #1026 Trunk — The trunk is at the front of the car. The engine is in the rear.

1948 Tucker #1026 Rear Engine Compartment — Rear engine compartment of the 1948 Tucker #1026.

1948 Tucker #1001, the first car off the prototype production line. — This 1948 Tucker from the Cammack collection, #1001, was the first car off the prototype production line.

Aerial view of the Tucker manufacturing plant. — Aerial view of the Tucker manufacturing plant, which was originally home to Chrysler’s Dodge Division WWII engine manufacturing plant. Tucker used the facility in 1948. By 1950, Ford Motor Company took over the facility and manufactured jet engines used during the Korean Conflict. Today the site is home to Tootsie Roll and a combination of manufacturing, distribution and retail operations. Richard J. Daley College, adjacent to Pulaski Road in this picture, is also on the old Tucker site.

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Connie punching in for her shift at Tucker Automotive.

Simulated Tucker manufacturing floor. Mural in rear of photo shows actual engine manufacturing.

Tucker Aluminum Dual Overhead Cam Engine — Tucker aluminum dual overhead cam engine

Automobile chassis with front mount engine. — Automobile chassis with front mount engine

If you visit the AACA Museum

The AACA Museum, located at 161 Museum Drive in Hershey, Pennsylvania, is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m (last admission at 4 p.m.) It is closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Check the website for admission rates and other details.

Accommodations

During our visit to Hershey we stayed in at the Red Umbrella Bed and Breakfast in nearby Grantville. Check rates here

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Disclosures: The Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau and AACA Museum hosted our visit to this attraction. Our admission was complimentary. However, any opinions expressed in this article are my own.
This article contains affiliate links. If you book a room or purchase a movie through the links above, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.

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Midwest Wanderer explores history, nature, and culture through road trips along scenic and historic U.S. highways, byways and trails

AACA Museum: World’s Largest Tucker Car Collection

AACA Cammack Tucker Collection

If you visit the AACA Museum

Accommodations

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