Page 15 - AAA Magazine – AAA Ohio Auto Club – May 2020

Beyond safety, in the decades after Tucker, features like disc brakes, independent four-wheel suspension, fuel injection, turning headlights, low center of gravity and other desirable Tucker improvement ideas were gradually introduced throughout the industry.
during accidents, a feature
Chrysler introduced one year
after the Tucker had vanished.
Seat belts were proposed but
not introduced because, if no
one else has them, they seem
to indicate that a car with them
is unsafe. Tucker substituted a
crash zone for passengers to
crouch into during an accident.
A pop-out windshield was
designed to reduce head injuries
during crashes. Intense Tucker publicity helped focus attention on automotive safety, which had not been
a big concern among car manufacturers but has now become very important.
Beyond safety, in the decades after Tucker, features like disc brakes, independent four-wheel suspension, fuel injection, turning headlights, low center of
gravity and other desirable Tucker improvement ideas were gradually introduced throughout the industry. The philosophy had changed, pioneered
by Preston Tucker and later picked up by Japanese car manufacturers who used it successfully to their advantage. Competitive pressure was now being applied to justify expensive investments in changes to the status quo.
In addition, the long-standing philosophy followed by the automobile industry had been based on a kind of “Ivory Tower” mentality. When designing their vehicles, little thought was given to what customers wanted or needed. The designers were thought to be experts at their craft. The public need only sit back and wait for designers to create a product that they could not help but like.
Tucker’s most important legacy, followed successfully by the Japanese, was to shift the designers’ focus to the customer. Find out what he or she wants and needs, then go back to the drawing board and create it. The American automobile industry has never been the same, cars have improved as a result and we can be grateful for that.
The AACA Museum is at 161 Museum Drive, Hershey, Pennsylvania. It can be reached at 717-566-7100 or aacamuseum.org.
Warren Erb is an AACA Museum docent.
Photos courtesy of AACA Museum
Don’t Sweat Summer Vehicle Battery Care
Winter is the season when car owners worry most about battery problems, but hot weather does more
to shorten battery life. During summer, the sun’s heat is trapped under your vehicle’s hood, evaporating critical fluids and draining your battery’s power. Heat also speeds the chemical reaction in a battery, causing overcharging.
While most batteries have a life span of 3-5 years, excessive heat and overcharging shorten battery life. The Car Care Council reports that operating in warmer climates can reduce the average life of a battery to just 31⁄2 years.
To help keep your battery operating reliably in any season, have a technician clean battery cables and run tests to determine your battery’s state of charge and electrical load capacity. These tests will indicate if your
battery is holding a charge or overcharging because of a problem such as a faulty voltage regulator. Remembering your battery every time you have your oil changed is a great way to make inspection, cleaning and checks part of your regular maintenance checklist.
If you discover that your battery is nearing the end
of its life, consider scheduling a nonemergency replacement with AAA. Technicians will come to your location, install a top-quality AAA battery, and recycle your old battery. You’ll enjoy member savings of $25 off, a 36-month free replacement warranty and a 72-month limited warranty. To schedule, call 800-AAA-HELP (800-222-4357) within seven days of when you’d like the service. In the Columbus area, AAA Car Care Plus locations also offer battery replacement with the same $25 savings for members.
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