2020 Gooding Scottsdale Sale (Tucker 48 Announcement)

A 1948 Tucker 48 in Waltz Blue Metallic was announced for the Gooding Scottsdale 2020 classic car auction.

Gooding & Company is offering a 1948 Tucker 48 in highly original condition for sale at the Scottsdale 2020 collector car auction. The Tucker was assembled by the Tucket factory line and not completed later. It is one of only 12 originally finished in Waltz Blue Metallic. It was in a prominent collection and has done only 6,200 miles since new.

Gooding Scottsdale Classic Car Auction 2020

1925 Bugatti Type 35 Grand Prix © Gooding

Gooding & Company’s annual Scottsdale classic car auction: 17 & 18 January 2020 at Scottsdale Fashion Square in Scottdale, Arizona, USA.

In 2019, Gooding earned $48 million by selling 105 of 124 lots for a sell-through rate of 85% and an average price of $459,417 per car. The top result was $7,595,000 for a 1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta.
In 2018, Gooding earned $49.2 million by selling 110 of 129 lots for a sell-through rate of 85% and an average price of $447,415 per car. The top result was $8,085,000 for a 1965 Ferrari 275 GTB Speciale.
In 2017, Gooding gained $33.4 million at the Scottsdale auction by selling 106 of the 126 lots for a sell-through rate of 84%. The top result was $3,300,000 for a 1925 Bugatti Type 35 Grand Prix.

1948 Tucker 48 at Gooding Scottsdale 2020

Shortly after World War II, entrepreneur Preston Tucker was keen on introducing a fresh, innovative design to the car world that would be billed as the “Car of Tomorrow.” The company quickly gained notoriety with features such as a low, aerodynamic profile, rear engine, large interior with doors extending into the roof for easier entry and exit, and most notably, the unique steering center headlight known as the “cyclops eye.”

The Tucker 48 gained instant fame as a true icon among American cars when it was unveiled in Chicago in 1947. Its forward-thinking designs have secured a place in automotive history, with the company introducing many firsts in safety including the pop-out, shatterproof windshield panels, a front crash compartment below a padded dash, and a locking parking brake handle to prevent theft.

The 1948 Tucker 48, chassis 1034, (Estimate: $1,750,000 – $2,250,000), was one of the few more desirable examples that was actually assembled by the Tucker factory and not completed after production halted. Of the 51 examples built, 1034 is one of only 12 finished in the attractive Waltz Blue Metallic. Tucker code #200 “Waltz” Blue is the only one of the six paint colors offered by the factory to be given a name, which is believed by automobile historians to be the color of Mrs. Tucker’s favorite dress.

This Tucker 48 has been driven just 6,200 miles since new and comes with a well-documented provenance that includes the esteemed Cofer Collection. It is among the finest surviving Tuckers, retains its original interior upholstery, and has never required a comprehensive restoration. This 1948 Tucker 48 will be sure to attract admiration and enthusiasm when it crosses the auction block in January.

“Preston Tucker’s foray into the automotive industry represents the most courageous attempt to disrupt the status quo of the Big Three, and this Tucker 48 is one of the finest examples that remain in existence,” states David Gooding, President and Founder of Gooding & Company. “The company’s contemporary construction and advanced features are widely acknowledged as an important part of automobile history.”

Tucker 48 Results at Auction

At least eight Tucker 48 results of over a million dollar have been recorded since 2014 with prices ranging from around $1,350,000 to just over two million dollars.

The highest Tucker 48 result was $2,035,000 paid at the Gooding Scottsdale 2014 auction. Encouraging for the seller of the car on offer, the second-highest Tucker 48 result was the last one sold at auction – $1,985,000 at the Bonhams Tupelo Museum sale in 2019.