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Hornet Mite Gas-Powered Racing Tether Car, 1940-1950

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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. This "Mite" model, from Hornet Motor Manufacturing Company, was powered by a .199-cubic-inch engine. The tabs for attaching the tether were cast into the belly pan.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Model car

Date Made

1940-1950

Location

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

Object ID

2013.47.144

Credit

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

Material

Aluminum (Metal)
Rubber (Material)
Steel (Alloy)

Color

Yellow (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 4.25 in
Width: 5.25 in
Length: 10 in
Weight: 1.75 lb

Inscriptions

body: HORNET / MOTORS / FRESNO, CALIF. / 2 tires: HORNET / MITE