Supersonic "Fat Car" Gas-Powered Racing Tether Car, circa 1938

01

Artifact Overview

Tether cars, gas-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 model was produced by Supersonic Engineering Company of San Francisco, California.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Model car

Date Made

circa 1938

Creator Notes

Made by Gil Donaldson's Supersonic Engineering Company, San Francisco, California.

Location

at Henry Ford Museum in Driven to Win: Racing in America

Object ID

2013.47.7

Credit

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

Material

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

Color

Orange (Color)
Red
Silver (Color)
Black (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 7.5 in
Width: 9 in
Length: 18.75 in

Inscriptions

On body: FAT Racer Decal: AMERICAN MINIATURE RACING | CAR ASSOC. INC. | MEMBER AMRCA | 3844 Decal: MODEL ENGINE COLLECTORS ASSN. | MECA