Alexander Gas-Powered Racing Tether Car, 1938-1940

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. Alexander Automotive Engineering Company produced this front-wheel-drive model with a cast aluminum body and a sheet metal hood.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Model car

Date Made

1938-1940

Creator Notes

Created by Colonel Isaac Emanuel Alexander and manufactured by his company Alexander Automotive Engineering Company.

Location

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

Object ID

2013.47.167

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

Black (Color)
Red
Silver (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 7 in
Width: 9.5 in
Length: 20 in
Weight: 7 lb

Inscriptions

body, hand painted: Atwood / RACING MOTORS ALEXANDER / SPL / Los Angeles, CA. / 16
Alexander Gas-Powered Racing Tether Car, 1938-1940