conceptcarz.com

Image credit: © conceptcarz.com (Reproduction Or reuse prohibited).

1948 Tucker 48 Sedan

Conceived by Preston Tucker, the Automobile was produced in Chicago in 1948. Only 51 cars were made before the company closed its doors. How and why the company failed is the subject of much debate.

Many of the features of the Tucker were innovative and ahead of the car's time. The directional third headlight would activate at steering wheel angles greater than 10 degrees. The car had a rear engine and rear-wheel drive. The entire engine and transmission were mounted on a separate subframe which made for easy removal.

For safety purposes, the frame has support and a roll bar integrated into the roof, and the dashboard was padded for added safety. The doors extended into the roof for easy entry and exit.

Even with these innovations, Tucker needed money and with scrutiny by the SEC, Tucker's fortunes were in trouble.

This particular example is number 52 of the 51 produced. Tucker stopped assembling cars in 1948, however, parts still remained. When a court order stopped production on March 3, 1949, an inventory of the parts and cars made. The company listed 38 complete cars and an additional 13 more cars that were waiting for final assembly. Some of those parts include a chassis and firewall stamped with the serial number 1052.

65 years after the Tucker factory was shut down, assembly of the final Tucker began. The work was completed in early 2014.

By Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2015

2019 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Auburn Auction

Sale Price :
USD $990,000

1948 Tucker 48 Auction Sales

Recent Sales of the Tucker 48

(Data based on Model Year 1948 sales)
1948 Tucker 48
Chassis#: 1021
Sold for USD$1,870,000
  2024 Mecum : Kissimmee
 
1948 Tucker 48
Chassis#: 1034
Sold for USD$2,040,000
  2020 Gooding & Company : Scottsdale Arizona
1948 Tucker 48 image  1948 Tucker 48 image  
1948 TUCKER MODEL 48 SEDAN
Chassis#: 1052
Sold for USD$990,000
  2019 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Auburn Auction
1948 Tucker 48 image  1948 Tucker 48 image  
1948 Tucker 48
Chassis#: 1028
Sold for USD$1,985,000
  2019 Bonhams : Tupelo Auction
 
1948 Tucker 48
Chassis#: 1040
Sold for USD$1,600,000
  2019 RM Sothebys : Scottsdale Arizona
 
1948 Tucker 48
Chassis#: 1046
Sold for USD$1,820,000
  2018 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1948 Tucker 48 image  1948 Tucker 48 image  
1948 Tucker 48
Chassis#: 1029
Sold for USD$1,792,500
  2018 RM Sothebys : Scottsdale, Az.
 
1948 Tucker 48
Chassis#: 1044
Sold for USD$1,347,500
  2017 RM Sotheby's : Arizona Auction
1948 Tucker 48 image  1948 Tucker 48 image  
1948 Tucker 48
Chassis#: 1049
Sold for USD$1,518,720
  2016 RM Sotheby's : Monaco
1948 Tucker 48 image  1948 Tucker 48 image  
1948 Tucker 48
Chassis#: 1003
Sold for USD$2,035,000
  2014 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach Concours
1948 Tucker 48 image  1948 Tucker 48 image  
1948 Tucker 48
Chassis#: 1036
Sold for USD$1,567,500
  2014 RM Auctions at Monterey
1948 Tucker 48 image  1948 Tucker 48 image  
1948 Tucker 48
Chassis#: 1034
Sold for USD$1,320,000
  2012 Gooding & Company, Amelia Island, Fl
1948 Tucker 48 image  1948 Tucker 48 image  
1948 TUCKER TORPEDO
Chassis#: 33550
Sold for USD$2,915,000
  2012 Barrett-Jackson at Scottsdale, Arizona
 
1948 Tucker 48
Chassis#: 1010
Sold for USD$797,500
  2011 The Scottsdale Auction - Gooding & Company
 
1948 Tucker 48 4Dr Sedan
Chassis#: 1045
Sold for USD$1,127,500
  2010 RM Auctions - Sports & Classics of Monterey
1948 Tucker 48 image  1948 Tucker 48 image  
1948 Tucker Sedan
Chassis#: 1038
Sold for USD$1,017,500
  2008 Sports & Classics of Monterey by RM Auctions
1948 Tucker 48 image  1948 Tucker 48 image  
1948 Tucker Torpedo
Sold for USD$577,500
  2006 Monterey Sports & Classic Car Auction
1948 Tucker 48 image  1948 Tucker 48 image  
1948 Tucker Model 48
Chassis#: 1029
Sold for USD$461,500
  2005 Bonhams - Collectors' Motor Cars, Motorcycles & Automobilia
 
1948 Tucker 48
Sold for USD$495,000
  2004 Vintage Motor Cars in Arizona
 
1948 Tucker 48 (Project Car)
Sold for USD$31,350
  2002 Michigan Fall Classic Car Auction - The Kughn Collection
 

Tucker 48s That Failed To Sell At Auction

1948 Tucker 48's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1948 Tucker 48 2016 Auctions America : Fort Lauderdale$850,000  
1948 Tucker 4810032013 RM Auctions Amelia Island$1,475,000$1,500,000$1,900,000
1948 Tucker 48 2003 Vintage Motor Cars at Amelia Island$220,000  
1947 TUCKER TORPEDO FOUR DOOR SEDAN 2002 Kruse Auction Las Vegas, NV   

Vehicles With Comparable Market Values

Similar sales to the $1,262,503 range.
1994 RUF RCT
Chassis#:W09TB0362RPR06005
Sold for $1,275,000
2024 Broad Arrow Auctions : Amelia
1909 Lorraine-Dietrich 16.4-Liter Grand Prix Two-Seater
Chassis#:60189
Sold for $1,270,000
2023 Bonhams : Quail
1948 Tucker 48 vehicle thumbnail image  1948 Tucker 48 vehicle thumbnail image  
1960 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster
Chassis#:198.042.10.002551
Sold for $1,270,000
2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1932 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Series V Gran Sport Figoni Roadster
Chassis#:10814377
Sold for $1,270,000
2023 Broad Arrow Group : Amelia Island
1948 Tucker 48 vehicle thumbnail image  1948 Tucker 48 vehicle thumbnail image  
1991 Jaguar XJR-15
Chassis#:042
Sold for $1,270,000
2023 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island
1948 Tucker 48 vehicle thumbnail image  1948 Tucker 48 vehicle thumbnail image  
2017 Ferrari F12tdf
Chassis#:ZFF81BHB000226351
Sold for $1,258,394
2022 RM Sothebys : Munich
1993 Bugatti EB110 GT
Chassis#:ZA9AB01E0PCD39040
Sold for $1,250,847
2022 RM Sothebys : London
1976 PORSCHE 934
Chassis#:930 670 0155
Sold for $1,275,000
2022 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
1948 Tucker 48 vehicle thumbnail image  1948 Tucker 48 vehicle thumbnail image  
1991 Jaguar XJR-15
Chassis#:018
Sold for $1,270,000
2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1948 Tucker 48 vehicle thumbnail image  1948 Tucker 48 vehicle thumbnail image  
1936 Mercedes-Benz 500 K Normal Roadster by Sindelfingen
Chassis#:130857
Sold for $1,270,000
2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1948 Tucker 48 vehicle thumbnail image  1948 Tucker 48 vehicle thumbnail image  
1953 Fiat 8V Berlinetta
Chassis#:106.000011
Sold for $1,251,580
2021 RM Sothebys : St. Moritz, Switzerland
1965 Shelby GT350R Fastback
Chassis#:SFM5R538
Sold for $1,265,000
2021 Mecum : Monterey
1948 Tucker 48 vehicle thumbnail image  1948 Tucker 48 vehicle thumbnail image  
1957 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 SL ROADSTER
Chassis#:198.042.7500178
Sold for $1,274,289
2021 RM Sothebys : Milan 2021
1957 MERCEDES-BENZ 300 SL GULLWING
Chassis#:198.040.7500027
Sold for $1,254,000
2020 Gooding : Geared Online
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
Chassis#:198.040.5500594
Sold for $1,270,000
2020 RM Sothebys : Scottsdale Arizona
2014 McLaren P1 Coupé
Chassis#:SBM12ABB5EW000056
Sold for $1,269,898
2019 Bonhams : The Bonmont Sale
2015 Porsche 918 Spyder
Chassis#:WP0ZZZ91ZFS800394
Sold for $1,253,827
2019 RM Sothebys : Paris
1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing
Chassis#:198.040.5500695
Sold for $1,270,000
2018 RM Sothebys : The Petersen Automotive Museum
1952 Hudson Hornet 6 'Twin-H Power' 'Fabulous Hudson Hornet' NASCAR Herb Thomas
Chassis#:7B-185596
Sold for $1,265,000
2018 Worldwide Auctioneers : Hostetlers Hudson Auto Museum Auction
1948 Tucker 48 vehicle thumbnail image  1948 Tucker 48 vehicle thumbnail image  
1993 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 3.8
Chassis#:WP0ZZZ96ZPS496080
Sold for $1,270,000
2018 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island

1948 Tucker 48

Additional valuation insight and sales data
History
Specifications
Image gallery

1948 Tucker 48 Vehicle Profiles