Richter Cabin Car Gas-Powered Racing Tether Car, 1940-1941

THF157069 / Richter Cabin Car Gas-Powered Racing Tether Car, 1940-1941
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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. Racer Roy Richter of Bell, California, built this cabin car-style model around 1940. Richter later founded Bell Helmet Company -- a firm more often associated with full-size race cars.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Model car

Date Made

1940-1941

Creators

Creator Notes

Made by Roy Richter in Bell, California.

Location

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

Object ID

2013.47.22

Credit

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

Material

Magnesium
Steel (Alloy)
Paint (Coating)
Rubber (Material)

Technique

Casting (Process)

Color

Light blue
Dark blue
Red
White (Color)
Gray (Color)
Black (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 7 in
Width: 9.5 in
Length: 18.5 in

Inscriptions

On body: 102 On front tires: C-R | HAYWARD, CAL.