| Tucker 48 | |
|---|---|
 1948 Tucker 48 sedan | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Tucker Corporation |
| Production | 1947–1948 (MY1948; total of 50 cars completed) |
| Model years | 1948 |
| Assembly | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Designer | George S. Lawson, Alex Tremulis, Read Viemeister, Budd Steinhilber, Tucker Madawick, Hal Bergstrom, Philip S. Egan |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Sedan |
| Layout | Rear engine, rear-wheel drive, 4-wheel independent suspension (rubber torsion tube (no springs) with shock absorbers) |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | boxer-6 (horizontally opposed), OHV, 334.1 cubic inches (5.475 L)[1] (4.50" bore × 3.50" stroke), 7.0:1 compression ratio, 166 bhp, 372 lb⋅ft (504 N⋅m) torque |
| Transmission | Cord 810/812; Tucker Y-1 (Modified Cord 810/812);[1] TuckerMatic (R-1, R-1-2, R-3 versions) |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 128.0 in (3,251 mm) |
| Length | 219.0 in (5,563 mm) |
| Width | 79.0 in (2,007 mm) |
| Height | 60.0 in (1,524 mm) |
| Curb weight | 4,200 lb (1,900 kg) |
The Tucker 48, commonly but incorrectly referred to as the Tucker Torpedo, was an automobile conceived by Preston Tucker while in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and briefly produced in Chicago, Illinois, in 1948. Only 51 cars were made including their prototype before the company was forced to declare bankruptcy and cease all operations on March 3, 1949, due to negative publicity initiated by the news media, a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation, and a heavily publicized stock fraud trial (in which the allegations were proven baseless and led to a full acquittal). Tucker suspected that the Big Three automakers and Michigan Senator Homer S. Ferguson had a role in the Tucker Corporation's demise.[2]
The 48's original proposed price was said to be $1,000, but the actual selling price was closer to $4,000.[3]
The 1988 movie Tucker: The Man and His Dream is based on the saga surrounding the car's production. The film's director, Francis Ford Coppola, is a Tucker owner and displays his vehicle on the grounds of his winery.[4]
The Tucker 48 is often referred to as the Tucker Torpedo. However, the Torpedo was actually a prototype, and the name was never used for the production model, which was officially called the "Tucker 48".[3][5]
- ^ a b "The 1948 Tucker: Specifications". The Showroom of Automotive History. The Henry Ford. Archived from the original on February 5, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2012.
- ^ Lehto, Steve; Leno, Jay (July 1, 2016). Preston Tucker and His Battle to Build the Car of Tomorrow. Chicago Review Press. ISBN 978-1-61374-956-2.
- ^ a b "LeMay Family Collection Foundation | Marymount Event Center". www.lemaymarymount.org. Archived from the original on February 3, 2011.
- ^ "Francis Ford Coppola Winery - Page Not Found". www.francisfordcoppolawinery.com. Archived from the original on November 26, 2013.
{{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help) - ^ "Tucker History: Fact Sheet". Tucker Automobile Club of America. Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved June 1, 2011.