Most, if not all, know the story of the 1948 Tucker sedan. Yes, there was a movie, and it’s well worth watching. But even if you’ve never seen or heard of a the machine, one look at Preston Tucker’s Torpedo is all it takes for you to realize it’s something special.

Just 51 Tucker Torpedo sedans were built before the company went out of business. Those were 51 special machines, though, with a rear engine (like the iconic Volkswagen Beetle and Porsche 911), disc brakes and fuel injection – a combination practically unheard of at the time.

Perhaps it’s the so-called Cyclops Eye, though, that is most interesting about the Tucker Torpedo. This third headlight moves with the car’s steering wheel, helping the driver see around turns. Such technology may not be uncommon today, but in 1948, it was revolutionary.

The final bid came in at an impressive ,650,000. That means the new owner will pay ,915,000 to drive this Tucker home. Check out our high-res image gallery of live photos from the 2012 Barrett-Jackson auction, and watch a video of the auction or read more about the car after the break.

Continue reading Barrett-Jackson 2012: 1948 Tucker Torpedo bid up to over .6 million [w/video]

Barrett-Jackson 2012: 1948 Tucker Torpedo bid up to over .6 million [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 20:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We certainly understand the need to scrap older vehicles. Not only is it impractical to preserve every car that’s ever been built, but why would you want to? That said, decisions to destroy old cars, whether under the auspices of a government program like Cash For Clunkers or by profit motive at an automotive recycler, should be made by informed individuals. That way, vehicles that may have potential as collectibles don’t unnecessarily vanish.

That’s why we find this story so frustrating. According to the Tampa Bay Times, one of the foremost “VW graveyards,” Sunray Bugs of Dade City, FL, is headed the way of the Type 4. The giant, 10-acre Volkswagen salvage yard lost its legal battle over zoning with Pasco County, and officials have nearly completed cleanup of the site. Hundreds of cars have been crushed, though the octogenarian owner, “Corky” Yager, may have saved most of what was truly valuable, according to this long thread on TheSamba.com.

While the situation is certainly a complex one that’s caused quite a few VW enthusiasts to take to their keyboards to voice their opinions – the aforementioned thread runs to eight pages – the bottom line is that some potentially useful old cars are no longer with us.

Click through the jump to see some video of Sunray Bugs before the zoning incident, including an interview with Corky.

Continue reading Hundreds of vintage VWs scrapped over Florida zoning [w/video]

Hundreds of vintage VWs scrapped over Florida zoning [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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