The Nostalgia of Forgotten Gods: Tucker, USA, 1947-1949

The name Preston Thomas Tucker unequivocally embodies the American dream. From a very young age, he dreamed of being a part of the automotive world, and in 1935, he obtained a degree in engineering. In the same year, he founded Miller and Tucker Inc. together with Harry Miller, who was already a winner with his cars at the Indy 500. Due to the outbreak of the Second World War, Tucker’s original plans did not go as hoped. Instead, he decided to focus on military vehicles and, in 1938, he designed the prototype of a compact armored car powered by a Packard V12.

Preston Thomas Tucker alongside his car: Initially presented under the name Torpedo. Only 50 units were produced, called Tucker 48.

Thanks to his contacts with the U.S. Army, Tucker was able to secure the assignment of a large former Dodge plant in Cicero, near Chicago, at the end of the war. It was here that his dream would become reality: to produce a revolutionary, technologically advanced, aerodynamic, comfortable, and safe car that would reflect the opulent American clientele of the post-war period.

The presentation of the Tucker 48 to the public and distributors was a success. The car received critical acclaim and millions of dollars in purchase orders.

To bring his car to life, Tucker hired the young Alex Tremulis, who had previously participated in the design of the legendary Cord 812 in 1936. The final result was the prototype, named the Torpedo “Tin Goose”, an imposing 4-door sedan with an attractive design and a drag coefficient (cx) of just 0.27. The car adopted cutting-edge technical solutions, including a sophisticated four-wheel independent suspension system and the characteristic central headlight that followed the movements of the steering wheel to illuminate shadowed areas while cornering.

The front of the Tucker 48 is characterized by the central directional headlight that follows the movements of the steering wheel to illuminate shadowed areas when cornering.

Following the presentation of the prototype in 1947, Tucker produced 50 examples, renamed the “48”, which received a very positive response from the public, resulting in the firm taking several million dollars worth of purchase deposits. Unfortunately, the commitment to sell more cars on paper than they could actually produce, along with difficulties in manufacturing such a modern and complicated car, led to an unfortunate end for Preston Tucker’s dream, plagued by financial and legal problems.

The flat-6 engine used in the Tucker 48 was initially intended for use in Bell 47 helicopters. Substantial modifications, such as adding water cooling, were made to adapt it for automotive use. This engine was preferred over the one made by Ben Parsons that was mounted on the first Torpedo prototype.

The story of Preston Tucker and his failed dream can be experienced through Francis Ford Coppola’s film “Tucker: The Man and His Dream”, which traces the life of a man who was a victim of his excessive desire to innovate.

The profile of the Tucker 48 underlines the modernity of its design, with an aerodynamic cx of just 0.27. However, due to financial and legal difficulties, the car remained nothing but a dream.