Tether Cars
THE TETHER CARS FOUND IN THIS GALLERY ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE.
PLEASE CALL, TEXT, OR EMAIL ME FOR COMPLETE DETAILS
John P Avery - [email protected] - 386.795.8000
Contact me if you are looking for something not listed.
Welcome to the updated VintageRacer TETHER CAR GALLERY. I have been collecting TETHER CARS for over 40 years and, in order to keep the collection fresh, offer, from time-to-time, cars for sale. The cars found in this gallery are available for purchase. You might also find engines, speed planes, tether boats, and vintage tin toy racers. If you have an interest in anything found here, or perhaps something not found here; or comments, questions, or
just want to catch up please call or email me.
ALL OF THE CARS LISTED HERE ARE ORIGINAL UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED !!
CLICK ON ANY OF THE IMAGES TO SEE A FULL FRAME SHOT OF THE SERIES.
INTERESTING, HIGH QUALITY TRADES ARE ALWAYS WELCOME. HAVE FUN!!
just want to catch up please call or email me.
ALL OF THE CARS LISTED HERE ARE ORIGINAL UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED !!
CLICK ON ANY OF THE IMAGES TO SEE A FULL FRAME SHOT OF THE SERIES.
INTERESTING, HIGH QUALITY TRADES ARE ALWAYS WELCOME. HAVE FUN!!
1947 MATTHEWS "V-CAR"
~ SOLD ~
Produced by the Matthews Foundry in Fresno, CA, a Hornet powered Matthews spur gear streamliner was the first tether car to officially break the 100 mph barrier. This feat occurred in 1941, just before the US entered WWII. After the war in 1947, the car was marketed as the "V CAR". This example is powered by an ignition Hornet engine and features old paint on an undamaged body and pan. The scars of on track competition are present on the bottom of the car. The Hornet motor drives the front wheels through spur gears which turn through smoothly; the Hornet has excellent compression. The car is complete with air intake tube, fuel tank, coil, condenser, battery lead and shut off switch. The Matthews Foundry did much of the casting work on the Hornet engines, which were produced by Ray Snow and Walt Cave also in Fresno. The car displays beautifully, with a great shelf presence.
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1938 SPEED CHIEF
~SOLD~
The SPEED CHIEF was one of the first all metal tether cars offered to racers in the 1938-39 era. The cars were produced by the American Supercraft Corporation of Chicago. American Supercraft also produced the SKY CHIEF engines for the car, one of which powers this example. The same engine, when intended for the control line planes of the day were marketed as KLOUD KLIMER engines. The cars and both examples of the engines were sold through Sears, Roebuck and Company. This exceptional example of an iconic pre-war tether car measures 20" long and has undergone a sympathetic restoration; it is as near to original as can be. The car is complete with a leather covered seat, fuel tank, coil, condenser, and wiring. The tires appear to be original, they are hard but not flattened. The paint is exceptional, the graphics are hand painted. Many Speed Chief survivors are powered by something other than the correct SKY CHIEF......this is a GOOD ONE!
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1950's BARDAHL SPECIAL
HAND CRAFTED BY RON FOURNIER
This BARDAHL SPECIAL was hand crafted by the Master Metal fabricator himself the late Ron Fournier.
Ron spent over 50 years applying and perfecting his skills in the art of automotive metal fabrication working for such iconic racers as Roger Penske, AJ Foyt, Holman & Moody, and Bob Sharpe. Bob opened his own shop, Race Craft, in 1991. This Bardahl Special is a "BIG CAR" which would have competed on the AAA/USAC CHAMPIONSHIP TRAIL in the 1950's. It is signed by Mr. Fournier and displays serial number 026. The body and pan are hand formed aluminum and the car features exacting details such as leather cockpit, dash with gauges, hand brake, radius rods, bumpers, and velocity stacks. The hood does not open, there is no engine in the car. The car is 20" long and is pictured below with a Fournier midget which is 16" long for comparison. The hand crafted Fournier models are static; they are not powered tether cars. This car was displayed in a glass case and is simply stunning!
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"MUG" SHOTS
VintageRacer mugs have popped up in collections all around the world.....stay tuned for additional gallery entries......they are always interesting.
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CHALLENGER, PEE-WEE, & MIDGETEE
MITES
Presented here is a selection of three iconic mite cars in exceptional condition; Dooling PeeWee, Challenger Jr, and Fuji Midgetee. These three cars are available individually, or as a two or three car package.
~ SOLD ~ In 1940 the Dooling Brothers introduced the PeeWee as a smaller alternative to the Mercury series cars. The car is 12" long powered by a Bunch running on a glow plug with excellent compression. The car is equipped with the fuel tank, adjustable front suspension and the electric battery lead for starting. The cast aluminum body and pan are in exceptional condition as are the wheels, the tires are hard but not cracked; there is a non-functional exhaust pipe in place.
~ SOLD ~This Challenger Jr is 11" long and powered by its original Air-O Diesel .27 engine. Judging from its condition, I'm certain that the car has never been run. The cast aluminum body and pan show no dents or scratches, the canopy is also unscratched; the wheels and tires are as new; the tires are hard but not cracked or flat spotted. The tether brackets and bridle are in place.
~ SOLD ~The Fuji Midgetee was designed and produced by Jiro Shimatini for the Japanese market. This example is powered by a twin exhaust Boxer .29 engine. The original fuel tank and lines are in place, there appears to be fuel residue in the fuel lines. The engine, which turns over smoothly with excellent compression, drives the left rear wheel directly. The cast aluminum body and pan show no damage, the original wheels and tires are in place; the tires are hard but not cracked. The car is 10" long.
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1946 McCOY "METAL TOP" INVADER
MAGNESIUM BODY & PAN; McCOY .60 POWERED
The second car to come from the McCoy/Dura-Matic marriage was the Invader Proto in 1946. The earliest Invaders were cast in magnesium, hence the "Metal Top" label to distinguish these early cars from the later fiberglass bodied cars. This example is in pristine, original restored condition with ignition black case red head McCoy .60 power driving the rear wheels through the bevel gear gearbox. The engine has excellent compression and the driveline turns through smoothly. The car is complete with coil, condenser, shut off switch, fuel tank, and air intake tube. There are no cracks or damage in the body or pan, the paint, with hand painted graphics, is brilliant. This is an exceptional example of a restored original 1946 McCoy "Metal Top" Invader with exceptional shelf presence.
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1947 PAPINA P3
~SOLD~
You are looking at a 1947 PAPINA P3 TETHER CAR in outstanding condition. This car, which was produced by Al Papina in the San Francisco area, is 16" long and features an unpainted plastic body which has not been cut for exhaust, p3 logo aluminum wheels, custom fuel tank, coil, condenser, wiring, flywheel, and bevel drive gears. This P3 is powered by a McCoy .60 black case ignition engine; the driveline turns through smoothly; the engine has excellent compression. The spark plug, needle valve, and tether cable brackets are in place. I believe that this car has never been run, it is in as-new condition and will stand out in any collection.
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1939 DOOLING MERCURY DELUXE
SUPER CYCLONE POWERED
The second car produced by the Dooling Brothers was the Mercury Deluxe, commonly known as the rear drive. This exceptional example features the four wheel coil spring suspension and cast aluminum body, nose, and frame with formed aluminum pan and hood which were added after the car was retired from the track. The original leather covered seat is in place, as are a steering wheel and dash. The rear wheels and tires are original Gardners, the fronts are Dooling; the tires are hard with some flat spotting. The ignition Super Cyclone engine drives the rear wheels through bevel gears; the engine has good compression, the driveline turns through smoothly, the fuel tank, coil, condenser, wiring and shut off switch are in the car. This ORIGINAL un-restored "Rear Drive" has outstanding 85 year old patina. The car is simply outstanding !
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www.VintageRacer.net : Vintage Automobile Collections, by John P. Avery
[email protected]
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[email protected]
Website Design/Development by C2Solutions