Preston Tucker's 1948 personal Tucker Torpedo Sedan - the car that came before its time - will live forever in automotive history.
The Tucker Torpedo, with its unique roving cyclops headlight, fetched $280,000 during last weekend's vintage car auction in Los Angeles.Publishing magnate Robert E. Petersen and his wife, Margie, were the buyers.
The late automaker used the car in many different paint schemes to lure new investors, auction spokesman Rick Cole said Tuesday.
"The car was repainted again and again, each time in a completely different color, with the belief that lenders would think more cars were being made than actually were," Cole said.
Only 50 Tuckers, each with a price tag of $2,450, were made in 1948. The Tucker never captured the imagination of car buyers but did inspire the 1988 movie "Tucker: The Man and His Dream," starring Jeff Bridges.
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Producer-director-comedian Carl Reiner 74
Children's TV host Fred Rogers 68
Actor Hal Linden 65
Actor William Hurt 46
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