Celebrated in a recent motion picture, Preston Tucker sought to produce the most revolutionary car ever. And he may well have succeeded with his famed "Torpedo." His 335 cubic inch flat six engine was made of a light alloy, weighed only 320 pounds, featured the best power-to-weight ratio in America and rocketed Torpedo from 0-60 in just 10 seconds. Yet the car was as safe as it was fast. Its windshield popped out on impact. A central "Cyclops" eye headlight turned with the front wheels for unsurpassed visibility at night. And passengers could literally protect themselves in a collision by dropping into a hollowed out "Safety Chamber." Well ahead of its time, only about 50 models were ever produced because the Tucker plant was closed by the Securities and Exchange Commission amidst a storm of controversy. Perhaps that's why an original in excellent condition is worth roughly $200,000 today. Based on an extremely rare car, your model is painted in the classic original combination of Dark Green Metallic exterior and Parchment interior.

Original sticker price: $2,450 (projected)
Current value: $200,000
Production quantity: 50

Fast Facts:
• 13 of 50 cars hand-built.
• Doors cut into roof.
• The central headlight pivoted with the front wheels, giving the car its nickname "Cyclops."

(1996)

Scale: 1:43