Ypsilanti, Michigan, 1945. Engineer Preston Tucker dreams of designing the car of future, but his innovative envision will be repeatedly sabotaged by his own unrealistic expectations and the Detroit automobile industry tycoons.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Jeff BridgesPreston Tucker | Preston Tucker |
 Joan AllenVera | Vera |
 Martin LandauAbe | Abe |
 Frederic ForrestEddie | Eddie |
 MakoJimmy | Jimmy |
 Dean StockwellHoward Hughes | Howard Hughes |
 Christian SlaterJunior | Junior |
 Nina SiemaszkoMarilyn Lee | Marilyn Lee |
 Marshall BellFrank | Frank |
 Peter DonatKerner | Kerner |
 Elias KoteasAlex | Alex |
 Jay O. SandersKirby | Kirby |
 Corin NemecNoble | Noble |
 Don NovelloStan | Stan |
| AAnders JohnsonJohnny | Johnny |
| DDean GoodmanBennington | Bennington |
| JJohn X. HeartFerguson's Agent | Ferguson's Agent |
 Patti AustinMillie | Millie |
| SSandy BullStan's Assistant | Stan's Assistant |
 Joe MiksakJudge | Judge |
 Scott BeachFloyd Cerf | Floyd Cerf |
| RRoland ScrivnerOscar Beasley | Oscar Beasley |
| BBob SaffordNarrator (voice) | Narrator (voice) |
| LLarry MenkinDoc | Doc |
| RRon CloseFritz | Fritz |
 Joe FloodDutch | Dutch |
| LLeonard GardnerGas Station Owner | Gas Station Owner |
| BBill BonhamGarage Owner | Garage Owner |
| AAbigail van AlynFerguson's Secretary #1 | Ferguson's Secretary #1 |
| TTaylor GilbertFerguson's Secretary #2 | Ferguson's Secretary #2 |