Tucker Torpedo
One of the greatest greatest “what if” stories in automotive history is the saga of Preston Tucker and his brainchild, the Torpedo. There are numerous books and movies about this maverick entrepreneur and the conspiracy against him and his company. The Tucker Torpedo featured numerous innovations from safety glass to an engine in the back with lots of power and torque. The Tucker Torpedo was so advanced that the Big Three (Chrysler, Ford, and GM) were afraid that it would cripple their market share. So while Tucker prepared for full-scale production, the Big Three was ready to set him up with a lawsuit that would stop the production and sink the company (via Tucker Club).
Unfortunately, they managed to do that and Preston only built between 48 and 51 of his fantastic Tucker Torpedos. Today, almost all new cars feature some innovations that Tucker premiered in the late ’40s. Although Tucker didn’t have any effect on the market, this model remained one of the most advanced cars in the world and a faithful witness to the dark side of the car industry and big business.