Here’s your chance to buy Tucker’s very own Tucker

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Chassis No. 1029 was originally painted in 500 Grey and made a cameo in the 1988 Francis Ford Coppola film "Tucker: The Man and His Dream," starring Jeff Bridges.

Continue reading Here’s your chance to buy Tucker’s very own Tucker

Here’s your chance to buy Tucker’s very own Tucker originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Dec 2017 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Perfectly restored Tucker 48 gets 15 more minutes of fame

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Tucker 48 Restoration

There's something about the sheer audacity of the Tucker 48, sometimes also called the Torpedo, that makes this quirky American sedan so intriguing even 60-plus years after its introduction. Preston Tucker was only ever to complete 51 of them, and several of the remaining units were sold at auction after the company went bankrupt. Despite all of that, with its air-cooled flat-six engine hanging out back and Cyclops-like center headlight, the car has continued to withstand the test of time.

The Tucker 48 in this video is the 46th example made and is now completely restored to its original glory. The work from Nostalgic Motoring, a Michigan restoration shop that knows its Tuckers, leaves the sedan in absolutely immaculate condition, and company owner Mark Lieberman takes viewers on a full tour of the car and its features. Check out the clip to learn a little more about these rare, American vehicles.

Continue reading Perfectly restored Tucker 48 gets 15 more minutes of fame

Perfectly restored Tucker 48 gets 15 more minutes of fame originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Oct 2014 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Preston Tucker’s long-lost project found in design sketches?

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Tucker Carioca Sketch

Preston Tucker was one of the great iconoclasts of the post-war automotive industry, and his Tucker 48 attempted a look unlike any car seen before (or since). However, a trial brought by the US Securities and Exchange Commission sunk the company, despite it being found not guilty. Tucker never gave up on the auto business though and went to Brazil in the 1950s to restart things with an all-new sporty design. Now, some newly discovered photos might shed more light on that almost-forgotten model.

Dubbed the Tucker Carioca (possibly pictured above), the car was designed by Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky and featured a semi-open wheel design with cycle fenders to cover them. A headlight was mounted on the front wheels, plus one in the center, like the 48, and the rear tapered to a boat-tail point. The concept was featured on the cover of Car Life magazine in 1955, but much more information about the Carioca has been scarce for years. It's hard to call the vehicle beautiful, but you can't really look away, either.

The recently discovered photos might be giving us a whole new look at the Carioca's design process showing sketches from multiple angles. However, it isn't clear whether these depict the actual car. With no dates or signatures, it's difficult to establish a link to the past, and some claim they're really from designer Raymond Loewy for a possible Studebaker concept.

Head over to the blog Gyronaut X1 where the writer digs into the back story and tries to unravel the strands whether these new images are new views of the Carioca. It's some fantastic automotive archeology and well worth the read.

Preston Tucker's long-lost project found in design sketches? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Oct 2014 19:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find Of The Day: 1946 Tucker Torpedo Prototype II hides a secret Riviera

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1946 Tucker Torpedo Prototype Replica

The Tucker Torpedo is one of the great what-if stories of automotive history. Preston Tucker hoped to revolutionize the industry with a car unlike any other on the road at the time. However, due to a variety of problems, he only managed build 51 vehicles before closing shop. Over time, they have become highly sought-after; ​In 2012, one sold for $2.65 million at auction.

That brings us to this Tucker "replica" that you see above because it might be one of the ugliest monstrosities ever put together. However, we might extend some leniency to the creator, as the vehicle isn't actually trying to replicate the classic look of the 1948 Tucker 48 (a.k.a. 'Torpedo'). Instead, it is attempting to reproduce an earlier prototype from 1946 that actually features that weird, trident nose. According to the seller, his uncle built the car as a labor of love and supposedly used actual plans from Tucker as inspiration.

Underneath all of the crazy changes is a 1971 Buick Riviera powered by a 455-cubic-inch (7.5-liter) Buick V8. Some of the replica's odder modifications include the front fenders that turn with the wheels and the fin running down the back. All three headlights work, but the one in the middle is only for the high beams. Oddly, the small hinged sections on the roof are meant to open to avoid hitting your head when getting in or out. Maybe the seller's uncle was a very tall guy?

According to the eBay auction, the car does run but definitely needs some restoration, as well. It appears to be reasonably popular, though. As of this writing, it has 18 bids with a price of $7,300 with the reserve not yet met. Bidding ends on July 15.

eBay Find Of The Day: 1946 Tucker Torpedo Prototype II hides a secret Riviera originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Jul 2014 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find Of The Day: 1946 Tucker Torpedo Prototype II hides a secret Riviera

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1946 Tucker Torpedo Prototype Replica

The Tucker Torpedo is one of the great what-if stories of automotive history. Preston Tucker hoped to revolutionize the industry with a car unlike any other on the road at the time. However, due to a variety of problems, he only managed build 51 vehicles before closing shop. Over time, they have become highly sought-after; ​In 2012, one sold for $2.65 million at auction.

That brings us to this Tucker "replica" that you see above because it might be one of the ugliest monstrosities ever put together. However, we might extend some leniency to the creator, as the vehicle isn't actually trying to replicate the classic look of the 1948 Tucker 48 (a.k.a. 'Torpedo'). Instead, it is attempting to reproduce an earlier prototype from 1946 that actually features that weird, trident nose. According to the seller, his uncle built the car as a labor of love and supposedly used actual plans from Tucker as inspiration.

Underneath all of the crazy changes is a 1971 Buick Riviera powered by a 455-cubic-inch (7.5-liter) Buick V8. Some of the replica's odder modifications include the front fenders that turn with the wheels and the fin running down the back. All three headlights work, but the one in the middle is only for the high beams. Oddly, the small hinged sections on the roof are meant to open to avoid hitting your head when getting in or out. Maybe the seller's uncle was a very tall guy?

According to the eBay auction, the car does run but definitely needs some restoration, as well. It appears to be reasonably popular, though. As of this writing, it has 18 bids with a price of $7,300 with the reserve not yet met. Bidding ends on July 15.

eBay Find Of The Day: 1946 Tucker Torpedo Prototype II hides a secret Riviera originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Jul 2014 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find Of The Day: 1946 Tucker Torpedo Prototype II hides a secret Riviera

Filed under: , , ,

1946 Tucker Torpedo Prototype Replica

The Tucker Torpedo is one of the great what-if stories of automotive history. Preston Tucker hoped to revolutionize the industry with a car unlike any other on the road at the time. However, due to a variety of problems, he only managed build 51 vehicles before closing shop. Over time, they have become highly sought-after; ​In 2012, one sold for $2.65 million at auction.

That brings us to this Tucker "replica" that you see above because it might be one of the ugliest monstrosities ever put together. However, we might extend some leniency to the creator, as the vehicle isn't actually trying to replicate the classic look of the 1948 Tucker 48 (a.k.a. 'Torpedo'). Instead, it is attempting to reproduce an earlier prototype from 1946 that actually features that weird, trident nose. According to the seller, his uncle built the car as a labor of love and supposedly used actual plans from Tucker as inspiration.

Underneath all of the crazy changes is a 1971 Buick Riviera powered by a 455-cubic-inch (7.5-liter) Buick V8. Some of the replica's odder modifications include the front fenders that turn with the wheels and the fin running down the back. All three headlights work, but the one in the middle is only for the high beams. Oddly, the small hinged sections on the roof are meant to open to avoid hitting your head when getting in or out. Maybe the seller's uncle was a very tall guy?

According to the eBay auction, the car does run but definitely needs some restoration, as well. It appears to be reasonably popular, though. As of this writing, it has 18 bids with a price of $7,300 with the reserve not yet met. Bidding ends on July 15.

eBay Find Of The Day: 1946 Tucker Torpedo Prototype II hides a secret Riviera originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Jul 2014 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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1948 Tucker Torpedo surfaces in Jay Leno’s Garage

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Jay Leno's Garage with 1948 Tucker Sedan screencap

The story of the Tucker Car Corporation is a tragic one. Its sole model, the 1948 Tucker Sedan, had a huge number of innovations, with a particular focus on passenger safety, but a catastrophic debut and the ensuing media firestorm it created caused severe problems for the brand. Other issues followed, with an SEC investigation and rumors of troublemaking on the part of General Motors, Ford and Chrysler.

Only 51 Tuckers were completed before the company went bust, making the three-eyed sedans some of the rarest American cars ever produced. With a unique, tail, complete with six exhaust pipes, a Tucker went for $2.915 million at a 2012 auction.

Martyn Donaldson takes Jay Leno's Garage through a brief tour of his Tucker, chassis number 1003, explaining just what was so innovative about these vehicles, along with what drew him to the rare cars in the first place. Scroll down for the full video.

Continue reading 1948 Tucker Torpedo surfaces in Jay Leno's Garage

1948 Tucker Torpedo surfaces in Jay Leno's Garage originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Jul 2013 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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