The World’s Only Tucker Convertible Comes to Beverly Hills

By Craig Taylor

June 11, 2010

Preston Tucker’s experimental vehicles created a wave of excitement in postwar America in the late ‘40s.

His prototypes were impressive, sleek and included many innovative features that have since been adopted by modern cars—including seat belts long before their use was mandated by the Federal government, and a safety windshield, just to name a couple.

It began with a dream and strong desire to challenge the big Detroit automakers during an era when American auto design reached a new peak of ingenuity. For Tucker however, his pioneering spirit was tarnished with scandal when he was accused of stock fraud, and was prosecuted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Ultimately, Tucker was found not guilty in a court of law, but the damage had already been done.

The maverick car designer was forced to halt production and close his factory. As a result, only 36 four-door sedans were ever produced. Using partially completed vehicles and parts from the factory, an additional 16 Tuckers were completed over the next several years.

Tucker’s spirit and the saga surrounding the car’s production have captured the imagination of car collectors everywhere—as they speculate about what could have been.

Little is known about what other projects were being worked on in the Tucker Corporation experimental department when the plant was forced to shut down. One project has been confirmed to date—“Project Vera,” a prototype two-door Tucker Convertible.

According to documented accounts by former designers and engineers, the Tucker Convertible was in development when the factory shut down in 1949.

Now, thanks to the restoration efforts of experts at Benchmark Classics of Middleton, this one-of-a-kind classic will be offered to the highest bidder at the Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance on June 20. The Tucker Convertible is expected to sell for around $2 million.

Tucker died in 1959, but he left a piece of automotive history that will continue to excite car enthusiasts from around the world.