A 1948 Tucker 48, previously owned by filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, is set to be auctioned at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on August 15–16, 2025. This rare vehicle, one of only 50 ever produced, is expected to attract significant interest from collectors and automotive enthusiasts.
The Tucker 48, also known as the Tucker Torpedo, was a pioneering model in automotive design, featuring innovative technologies such as a central headlight and a safety-focused approach. Its unique design, including the centrally located rotating "cyclops eye" headlight, was intended to enhance visibility and safety, reflecting a forward-thinking concept for its time.
Coppola acquired the Tucker 48 in 1979, and it has since been a cherished part of his collection. The car was prominently featured in Coppola’s 1988 film "Tucker: The Man and His Dream," which dramatized Preston Tucker’s battle against Detroit’s Big Three automakers. Following the release of the film, Coppola retained the car as both a personal artifact and centerpiece of his Napa Valley-based collection at the family’s Inglenook Winery.
The upcoming auction is anticipated to draw a diverse crowd of collectors, cinema aficionados, and automotive history enthusiasts, all eager to witness the next chapter in the Tucker 48's extraordinary journey.