Coppola’s $2 Million Tucker Set to Steal the Show at Pebble Beach Auction Blockbuster

A prized centerpiece from the personal collection of filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola is poised to become one of the marquee offerings at Gooding Christies's 21st annual Pebble Beach Auctions this August, as vintage car collectors and financial investors alike continue to show heightened interest in rare, historically resonant automobiles.

The 1948 Tucker 48 offered from the Francis Ford Coppola Collection. Photo Copyright and courtesy of Gooding & Company, LLC. Image by Mike Maez

The 1948 Tucker 48—chassis number 14 of just 50 ever built and one of only 12 finished in Waltz Blue Metallic—is estimated to fetch between $1.5 million and $2 million when it crosses the block at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance® on August 15–16.

This vehicle carries cinematic and cultural significance beyond its mechanical rarity. It was prominently featured in Coppola’s 1988 film Tucker: The Man and His Dream, a dramatization of Preston Tucker’s battle against Detroit’s Big Three automakers. Following the release of the film, Coppola retained the car as both a personal artifact and centerpiece of his Napa Valley-based collection at the family’s Inglenook Winery.

According to Gooding Christie’s, the auction house hosting the event, the car’s provenance and preservation elevate its investment appeal. “These cars… not only carry with them histories as spectacular vehicles, but also the lived memories of their celebrated owners throughout the years,” said David Gooding, President of Gooding Christie’s.

Photo Copyright and courtesy of Gooding & Company, LLC. Image by Mike Maez

While the classic car market has seen increased volatility amid shifting macroeconomic conditions, blue-chip collectibles like the Tucker remain resilient due to their finite supply and deep cultural cachet. Auction houses and wealth managers have noted that ultra-high-net-worth individuals continue to diversify their portfolios with hard assets, including vintage autos with proven historical and artistic value.

Coppola’s Tucker is part of a broader offering of vehicles from the legendary filmmaker’s collection, which includes a 1936 Cord 810 Cabriolet (Estimate: $90,000–$120,000, without reserve), a 1913 Ford Model T Touring (Estimate: $15,000–$25,000, without reserve), and a 1987 Volkswagen Vanagon GL Westfalia—custom-outfitted by Coppola as a mobile writing retreat—estimated at $30,000–$40,000, also without reserve.

Gooding Christie’s emphasized that these vehicles were chosen not just for their mechanical pedigree but for their personal resonance with Coppola’s life and career. The auction firm will also feature cars from other prominent collections, including the Mitchell Rasansky and Brian Pollock collections, signaling continued institutionalization of automotive assets as an alternative investment class.

The growing demand for rare cars—especially those linked to cinematic or historical narratives—reflects broader trends in financial markets where physical collectibles, from fine art to vintage Ferraris, are being viewed as storehouses of value in times of uncertainty. The Pebble Beach auction has emerged as a bellwether for this asset class.

The two-day event will take place August 15 and 16 at the Pebble Beach Parc du Concours, with a public preview beginning August 13. Bidding is expected to draw global participation from collectors, museums, and institutions with interests in tangible cultural capital.