Supersonic "Super Spur" Gas-Powered Racing Tether Car, 1948

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

1948

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

2013.47.21

Credit

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

Material

Aluminum (Metal)
Steel (Alloy)
Paint (Coating)
Cellulose acetate
Rubber (Material)

Technique

Casting (Process)

Color

Cream (Color)
Red
Silver (Color)
Black (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 5 in
Width: 8.125 in
Length: 16 in
Weight: 7.125 lb

Inscriptions

On body: NOVI | Spl. | 4 POWERED WITH |CHAMPION | SPARK PLUGS HORNET POWERED AMERICAN MINIATURE RACING CAR ASSOC INC | MEMBER | AMRCA
Supersonic "Super Spur" Gas-Powered Racing Tether Car, 1948