1939 Soap Box Derby Car
THF69252 / 1939 Soap Box Derby Car
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Artifact Overview
Mason Colbert placed third with this car in the 1939 All-American Soap Box Derby national championship in Akron, Ohio. The first official derby was held in 1934. Young contestants built their cars from soap boxes, orange crates, and baby carriage wheels. Over the years, designs became more elaborate and materials more sophisticated. But the "fuel" remained the same -- gravity.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Coaster car
Date Made
1939
Creators
Place of Creation
Creator Notes
Likely made by Mason Colbert, the driver of the car, in the area of Nebraska City, Nebraska
Location
at Henry Ford Museum in Driven to Win: Racing in America
Object ID
87.199.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Mason Colbert.
Material
Metal
Rubber (Material)
Wood (plant material)
Technique
Homemade
Color
Dark blue
Orange (Color)
Dimensions
Height: 18.5 in
Width: 33.5 in
Wheelbase: 67.5 in
Length: 79.5 in (Wheel Diameter)
Weight: 108 lbs
Inscriptions
Either side: NORTH PLATTE NEBR. DAILY TELEGRAPH
Keywords |
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Mason Colbert placed third with this car in the 1939 All-American Soap Box Derby national championship in Akron, Ohio. The first official derby was held in 1934. Young contestants built their cars from soap boxes, orange crates, and baby carriage wheels. Over the years, designs became more elaborate and materials more sophisticated. But the "fuel" remained the same -- gravity.