Words & Photos: "Big Al" Leibmann
Here is a quick update on the Tucker Torpedo. Rob Ida and his staff have been working on this project since my first installment around 4 years ago. Today it’s getting closer to life.
The boldly styled coupe, shaped by designer George Lawson, never progressed beyond a quarter-scale model, but that hasn’t stopped Rob Ida, his father Bob, and Sean Tucker, great-grandson of Preston Tucker, from building a full-size version.
Tucker Torpedo will feature moveable front fenders and headlamps, with a fixed “cyclops” lamp mounted amidships, atop the grille. With no guide to designing and building a central driver’s seat (plus two passenger seats), Sean Tucker was entrusted with the design of the Torpedo’s seating. His innovative solution involves a motorized turret, which rotates each seat into position for easy entry and exit.
A passion for Tucker automobiles runs deep in Rob’s veins. His grandfather Joe was a Tucker dealer in Yonkers, New York – for three days, until scandal brought down Tucker’s company – and circa 1998, Rob built his first Tucker 48 replica in homage to his grandfather. The project connected him to Sean Tucker, himself an automotive engineer, and the two have collaborated on Tucker-related projects ever since. After building a series of Tucker 48s for customers, Rob and his dad turned their attention to the unfinished Torpedo project circa 2008. More to come on in the next few months