You probably know by now that while auctions are a great place to find – and buy – some pretty rare and priceless items, some of the products that invariably go up for bids are not all they claim to be. Thankfully, one bidder who probably wouldn’t know any better would be spared from getting swindled by a fraudulent item after the Tucker Automobile Club of America, Inc. clarified that a certain Tucker Torpedo Convertible, which will be up for auction at a Scottsdale even in the near future, just may be one of those items that are far less authentic than originally thought.

The Torpedo is being offered by renowned classic car company Russo and Steele but according to the TACA, no such car was ever made by the Tucker Corporation. The club even went to great lengths to issue a press release, saying that “The Tucker Automobile Club of America, Inc. (TACA) has never been presented with-nor have been able to find-any credible evidence to prove the authenticity of this or any other vehicle as being a Tucker Corporation intended convertible and therefore we cannot certify it as such."

Continued after the jump.

While the club didn’t categorically say that the car was a fake, what they’re saying is that the lack of documentation – whether its plate information or engine serial number – to support the Torpedos authenticity makes it impossible for them to validate the Torpedo’s validity. We figure that the seller, in this case Russo and Steele, would have some sort of real documentation to ensure that whoever buys this car will be assured that he’s buying a real classic car and not some cheap knock-off.

But until Russo and Steele clarifies this matter, we’d steer clear from making any bids on this ride, tempting as it may seem.