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Tucker Featured Automobiles The Showroom

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view of front
The Tucker was easily spotted. The unconventional number of headlights included the signature "cyclops-eye" that turned with the front wheels to illuminate the road ahead of the driver. Preston Tucker's original idea called for the front fenders and headlights to turn with the wheels, but this proved unfeasable.

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view of engine
The powerful Tucker engine, placed in the rear in part to eliminate floor bumps, was a flat six, modified from a helicopter engine made by Aircooled Motors. Preston Tucker promised the engine could be removed and replaced again by three men in 18 minutes. Potentially an owner with a bad engine could exchange it for a loaner until repairs were made. The engine weighed just 320 pounds, and , after converted to water cooling, saw the industry's first sealed cooling system. The Tucker could go from 0 to 60 mph in 10 seconds, cruised easily at 100 mph, and allegedly reached 131 mph. It was clocked at an easy 119 mph in 1956.

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view of interior
The Tucker automobile included many previously unknown safety features, including the cavernous cushion-edged crash chamber that replaced the standard dashboard. The company sales department had a particular dislike for this feature feeling the stripped down interior was too barren to appeal to customers. The front and rear seat cushions were interchangable to eliminte wear of the cloth seats. The safety glass windshield was designed to pop out on impact.

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view of steering wheel
The Tucker boasted an automatic transmission. For greater ease of entry, the door extended into the roof, and the frame was low allowing the passeger to step down into the vehicle as opposed to climbing up as with most cars of the era.

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Tucker Featured Automobiles The Showroom
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