Tin Goose or Torpedo

[wildbird]

I'm really new at this, but have always been interested in the Tucker automobile. So bear with me. My question is: what is the difference between the "Tin Goose" and the "Torpedo"? Thanks, Jim

[John K.]

The "Tin Goose" was the hand-built prototype of the Tucker car, which was made using parts from other cars and which contained hundreds of pounds of lead with which to contour the body before painting. This was the car unveiled to the world in Chicago back in 1947.
"Torpedo" was to be the name of the production car, but that name was dropped before Tucker cars went into production. The cars would simply be known as "1948 Tucker" sedans.

[wildbird]

Thanks for the answer. Now, to complicate things more.... Did the Tin Goose have the door-handles at the back of the doors and the Torpedo have the door-handles together at the center post? Again, THANKS, Jim

[John K.]

Yes, you're right. The Tin Goose doors were hinged normally, while the 50 or so production cars (actually they were really pre-production prototypes) had so-called "suicide doors" which opened at the center pillar of each side. They had Kaiser-Frazer door handles. Although from a distance the Tin Goose looks similar to the "production models", you can tell them apart by comparing the door handles, the rear engine cover, the front bumper, the Tucker script on the front doors, the wheel covers, etc.
And of course you could weigh them! I hear the Goose is difficult to drive with all that body-solder weight.