1948 Tucker 48 (Chassis No. 1028)

Preston Tucker sought to build the safest, most modern car of his era after World War II by directly challenging Detroit’s established giants.

His Tucker 48 (originally called the Tucker Torpedo) shocked the 1947 auto show circuit with a radical rear-engine, rear-drive platform anchoring innovative safety features the major manufacturers were slow to adopt.

Padded dashboards, pop-out windshields, center headlamps that turned with the steering and reinforced passenger compartments set new benchmarks in collision protection while aircraft-inspired cockpits previewed future style trends.

Underneath the slippery shape, Tucker placed an air-cooled 589 cubic-inch flat-six driving the back wheels through twin torque converters. Production demands soon mandated the more practical 334 cubic-inch opposed six still creating 166 horsepower and 372 lb-ft of torque for a 10-second sprint to 60 mph.

This rear powertrain contrasted starkly with contemporaries, as did the all-independent Torsilastic suspension improving ride quality and handling. Measuring 219 inches long on a 128-inch wheelbase and just 60 inches tall, the model’s dimensions aligned with postwar family sedans even while its visionary features did not.

The public enthusiastically welcomed Tucker’s “car of the future” with thousands paying deposits up front, spurring the company’s growth. But parts shortages stemming from Tucker’s small scale limited output to just 51 cars.

Allegations of financial wrongdoing soon dogged Preston Tucker despite his subsequent acquittal, and the Tucker Corporation shuttered in 1950. Today the Tucker 48 has become an revered symbol of American innovation hampered by the ruthless realities of the auto industry.

Preston Tucker’s dream remains immortalized by the few surviving cars, now coveted by museums and collectors alike for their embodiment of passion and vision against all odds.

Credit: Bonhams|Cars