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In the Loop patient John Schuler and his 1948 Tucker sedan

When he was a child — "probably about 10 or so" — John Schuler saw an ad for a 1948 Tucker sedan at the local car dealership in his hometown of Aurora, Indiana. It was love at first sight. "It really looked like quite a car with the headlights that turned and its unique, sleek design," John tells us.

While bold in vision, speed and design, the automotive creation of Preston Tucker fell victim to legal issues and went out of business after rolling just 50 Tuckers off the assembly line. "After it fell by the wayside I never thought any more about it," John tells us. That is, until he and his old flame were reunited in a museum many years later. "Seeing it piqued my interest again," John says. 

Now into his retirement years, the timing was perfect. "After seeing it again I wound up joining the Tucker Car Club and got involved with it," John tells us. That involvement led to a friendship with the club's president, who thought of John when he came across new stock parts for a Tucker. "It had never been put together," John says. "I wound up buying it, and after about eight years or so I finally had the car put together with the help of a fine restorer."

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This story originally appeared on the In the Loop blog.