The American Dream In Tucker: The Man And His Dream
The movie shows Tucker as a man who dreamed of making and selling a revolutionary new car in an industry dominated by giant automobile companies. Anyone who knows the automobile industry knows that it is a business with really big entry barriers. To borrow from management guru Michael Porter, it is not easy to get into the automobile industry. However, Tucker believed he could do it, he convinced many people to believe in him, and dedicated his life to achieving his dream.
One aspect that lures most individuals to America is ‘the American Dream’. Preston Tucker, in Tucker: The Man and His Dream, epitomizes the true everyday person who has big dreams and does everything they can to achieve them. Even when the dream doesn’t work out, Tucker inspires the American public.
Preston Tucker is first seen in a mock-promotional film that sets the tone of salesmanship for what will follow. He is then introduced as a family man in Ypsilanti, …show more content…
Michigan, the kind of guy who can come home with twelve new Dalmatians for no particular reason, then invite everyone in the neighborhood to dinner.
Tucker has a long history of giant ideas.
During WWII, Tucker anticipated the need for an armored vehicle for the military. His idea was so good that the military actually turned it down because it was too advanced. They did embrace his idea of the Tucker design that was a shield for the soldiers shooting from within the armored vehicle. It is hard to believe the military would turn down a design that was too fast or too advanced. It would seem that they would want to use anything that would ensure the defeat of the enemy. But just like with anything dealing with the government, it is a paradoxical situation.
Not to be dissuaded, Tucker unveils his dream of building the Tucker Torpedo. An amazingly beautiful car unlike any car in existence, it would have the motor in the rear, seatbelts, windshields that popped out for safety, and a third headlight that moved in whatever direction the steering wheel was headed. The design and concept was truly revolutionary. His optimism was infectious and soon his family and friends ‘caught his
dream’.
Financing was the next big issue. Again, Tucker never wavered in his belief that this car would be built. It was all about convincing the right person to finance the project. Enter Abe Karatz. Abe is immediately skeptical given the radical design and the improbability of slipping the design past the Big 3 in Detroit (Ford, GM, and Chrysler). Through his optimism and charisma, Tucker is able to pass his dream on to Abe.
The first thing Abe tells Tucker they need to do is publicize the idea and see what kind of demand there would be. This version of market surveying is necessary when trying to introduce a completely new product to the market. If there is no demand, then there is no use spending time and money on the project. Tucker runs an article in ‘Pic’ magazine that featured the Torpedo with the slogan, “Don’t let the future pass you by”. The family received over 150,000 letters in response. People loved the sleek futuristic design of the Tucker.
One aspect that lures most individuals to America is ‘the American Dream’. Preston Tucker, in Tucker: The Man and His Dream, epitomizes the true everyday person who has big dreams and does everything they can to achieve them. Even when the dream doesn’t work out, Tucker inspires the American public.
Preston Tucker is first seen in a mock-promotional film that sets the tone of salesmanship for what will follow. He is then introduced as a family man in Ypsilanti, …show more content…
Michigan, the kind of guy who can come home with twelve new Dalmatians for no particular reason, then invite everyone in the neighborhood to dinner.
Tucker has a long history of giant ideas.
During WWII, Tucker anticipated the need for an armored vehicle for the military. His idea was so good that the military actually turned it down because it was too advanced. They did embrace his idea of the Tucker design that was a shield for the soldiers shooting from within the armored vehicle. It is hard to believe the military would turn down a design that was too fast or too advanced. It would seem that they would want to use anything that would ensure the defeat of the enemy. But just like with anything dealing with the government, it is a paradoxical situation.
Not to be dissuaded, Tucker unveils his dream of building the Tucker Torpedo. An amazingly beautiful car unlike any car in existence, it would have the motor in the rear, seatbelts, windshields that popped out for safety, and a third headlight that moved in whatever direction the steering wheel was headed. The design and concept was truly revolutionary. His optimism was infectious and soon his family and friends ‘caught his
dream’.
Financing was the next big issue. Again, Tucker never wavered in his belief that this car would be built. It was all about convincing the right person to finance the project. Enter Abe Karatz. Abe is immediately skeptical given the radical design and the improbability of slipping the design past the Big 3 in Detroit (Ford, GM, and Chrysler). Through his optimism and charisma, Tucker is able to pass his dream on to Abe.
The first thing Abe tells Tucker they need to do is publicize the idea and see what kind of demand there would be. This version of market surveying is necessary when trying to introduce a completely new product to the market. If there is no demand, then there is no use spending time and money on the project. Tucker runs an article in ‘Pic’ magazine that featured the Torpedo with the slogan, “Don’t let the future pass you by”. The family received over 150,000 letters in response. People loved the sleek futuristic design of the Tucker.