Korn "Liberty Special" Indianapolis Gas-Powered Racing Tether Car, 1940-1941

01

Artifact Overview

Tether cars, gasoline-powered model race cars, were popular in the 1930s and 1940s. They were raced individually while tethered to a central pivot, or against each other on a scaled-down board track. This aluminum-bodied model of an Indianapolis-style racer was built by Barney (B.B.) Korn. While Korn's models weren't particularly fast, they were exceptional in their fine detail and craftsmanship.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Model car

Date Made

1940-1941

Creator Notes

Manufactured by B.B. (Barney) Korn and the B.B. Korn Specialty Manufacturing Co. in Los Angeles, California.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

2013.47.2

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Eric Zausner and the E-Z Spindizzy Foundation.

Material

Aluminum (Metal)
Bronze (Metal)
Rubber (Material)
Plexiglas (TM)
Leather
Paint (Coating)

Color

Green
Gold (Color)
Silver (Color)
Black (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 6.375 in
Width: 10.125 in
Length: 21 in

Inscriptions

10 | LIBERTY SPL.
Korn "Liberty Special" Indianapolis Gas-Powered Racing Tether Car, 1940-1941