Tucker History: Preston Tucker built 51 Tucker Torpedo Sedans in 1948 before going broke the following year. The Tucker featured many innovative ideas such as a frame built for crash protection, a "pancake" air-cooled engine in the rear, three headlights and an aerodynamic body. However too many innovations created too many problems, resulting in a lot of bad press and the demise of Tucker by 1949. Forty-seven of the original 51 cars are said to exist today.