Rare Tucker 48 Worth Nearly $2 Million Up For Auction
A few automotive eras before Tesla, there was Tucker.
Preston Tucker’s post-war startup aimed to be a disruptor in the American car industry.
The Tucker 48 wasn’t electric, but it was innovative for the time.
The four-door sedan was powered by a rear-mounted flat-six-cylinder engine and designed with several safety features.
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Its signature centrally mounted “cyclops” headlight turned with the car, which was built with a perimeter frame and roll cage.
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The padded dashboard was set back from the front passenger seat for crash protection and the controls set within easy reach of the driver.
It had shatterproof glass and the steering box was located behind the front axle to improve its impact performance.
An aerodynamic body and fully independent suspension were other standout elements.
Unfortunately, the company’s finances were as unorthodox as the vehicle. A plan to pre-sell accessories to secure a reservation wasa an effort to raise money that instead raised the ire of the SEC, and the bad publicity from its investigation helped lead to Tucker’s demise.
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Just 51 cars were completed before its Chicago factory was shut down, and only four of them painted black. One of them is crossing the block at the Mecum Auctions event in Kissimmee, Fla., on Saturday, Jan. 13.
It’s a largely original example that’s had just three owners, but was repainted for its appearance in the 1988 biographical film, “Tucker, The Man and His Dream.”
Serial number 0021, the car is equipped with the Cord-based Tucker Y-1 four-speed manual transmission option.
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The highest price ever paid at auction for a Tucker 48 stands at $2.9 million for a fully restored car in 2012, while Mecum estimates this one will sell in the $1.7-$1.9 million range.
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