In 1946, right after the entire automobile industry returned to regular civilian market production, Preston Tucker established a car company and made a promise of a groundbreaking vehicle. The Tucker was claimed to be ‘the first completely new car in fifty years’, and the facts supported this statement. It featured a rear-mounted flat-six engine, a four-speed manual gearbox with a small shifter gate on the column, independent four-wheel suspension, unprecedented safety features, a cornering light at the front, and many other impressive details.
This was in 1948, a time when America was still producing refurbished pre-war designs, which didn’t bode well for some major players in the industry. The history of the Tucker Corporation is filled with conspiracy theories and biased assumptions, but the truth is that the company folded by March 1949.
However, the legacy of Tucker lives on through the 51 Tucker 48 automobiles that were produced. Each of these cars is a masterpiece of engineering and design, with documented records showing that 47 of them have survived. To call them rare would be an understatement. They are highly sought after by collectors of classic cars, with the highest recorded sale price being $2.9 million for one of them (chassis 1043) twelve years ago.
Another Tucker 48, even rarer than the previous example, was recently purchased by the Martin Auto Museum in Glendale, Arizona, for $1.7 million. The proud owner of this elusive car is Mel Martin, who can be seen smiling in the video below as he takes delivery of this stunning automobile.
The fastback design of the Tucker 48 gives it an even sleeker and lower appearance (with a drag index of 0.27 and a height of five feet or 1.5 meters!). It truly embodies the pinnacle of engineering. The rear-mounted engine, an aluminum-alloy horizontally opposed six-cylinder powerplant originally developed for helicopters, was a groundbreaking feature in American cars.
While this engine architecture was not new to the world of piston engines (Volkswagen and Tatra were strong proponents of it in Europe), it had not been seen in mass-produced American cars before. The aircraft powerplant was modified for water-cooling, and with a displacement of 335 cubic inches (or 5.5 liters), it produced an impressive 166 horsepower and 372 lb-ft of torque. In 1948, these numbers were remarkable – for comparison, a Ford V8 only generated 100 horsepower in the same year.
The Tucker 48 was capable of cruising at 100 mph (161 kph) and offered spacious seating for six passengers (thanks to its 64-inch bench seats or 1.6 meters). The interior featured advanced safety specifications, including a crash board cowl and a safety chamber. The brochure even advised front occupants to tuck under the sponge rubber-covered dash in case of an impending collision. The tapered frame was designed to deflect obstacles in the event of a crash, and the ‘Cyclops Eye’ third headlight was a unique feature not found in other American cars at the time.
The lamp – positioned between the regular lights – would rotate in synchronization with the steering wheel and activate only when the steering angle exceeded ten degrees, whether to the left or right. The windshield was constructed using laminated glass and could be easily pushed out of its frame from the inside, effectively eliminating the most common injuries associated with car accidents during that time period: severe cuts and fractured skulls. Although it may seem unsettling by today’s standards, in 1948, this was considered cutting-edge technology (pun not intended). Similarly, the side windows were also designed to shatter into small pieces without sharp edges.
The specific Tucker automobile showcased in Lou Costabile’s video is one of only 51 units produced in a limited batch (not to imply that the others were of inferior quality). This particular car was featured in the Francis Ford Coppola biographical film ‘Tucker: The Man and His Dream’ released in 1988. Prior to filming, the car was repainted – the sole instance of such alteration in its 76-year existence – but retains its original engine (which runs exceptionally well; listen to it in the video) and Cord electric-vacuum actuated transmission.
The black vehicle (one of only four originally painted in this color at the factory) had three previous owners before it was purchased at the Glendale auction in January. The initial buyer, a Tucker dealer from California, held onto this rarity for 18 years before selling it. The subsequent owner, another devoted Tucker enthusiast, enjoyed this magnificent machine for a remarkable 56 years, from 1967 to 2023. Following the collector’s passing, the car was sold by their family in 2023.
During the late 1960s, the car’s suspension system was modified from the original Torsilastic rubber system (a Tucker patent) to coil springs, which were easier to maintain (the original suspension design was not replicated at that time). The engine features a replacement water pump and a rebuilt ignition distributor, and the odometer displays a mileage of 35,576 miles (57,242 kilometers).
In its aviation applications, the engine was rated for a service life of 1,500 hours. Preston Tucker claimed that these flat-six engines would endure for 150,000 miles (241,000 kilometers) under regular road usage. It is important to note that this claim was made in 1948, when the average lifespan of an engine was significantly shorter. Watch the second video for more in-depth information about this fascinating flat-six engine.
The history of Tucker Corporation remains a blemish on the American automotive industry, as the innovative car manufacturer was accused of fraud, taken to court, and ultimately forced into bankruptcy. Despite being acquitted of all charges, Preston Tucker never fully recovered, and his remarkable automobile disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared. The surviving examples serve as a testament to how a brilliant idea can be stifled by bureaucracy, government interference, and sheer ignorance (or perhaps something more profound).
According to the Source autoevolution.com