Tether Cars
THE CARS, PLANES, AND BOATS FOUND IN THIS GALLERY ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE.
John P Avery - jpavery@comcast.net - 386.795.8000


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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!!

1940 BREMER WHIRLWIND
~ SOLD ~
The BREMER WHIRLWIND, produced by the Bremer Aluminum Foundry in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is often described as the most authentic, true to scale car of the pre-war tether car era. This example is complete, with ignition Dennymite power.
It appears to have been repainted some years after it actually ran.

  BRITISH MITE RAIL CARS
​~ SOLD ~
These diesel powered cars were designed to race on a high banked oval track.  Each car has a driver in place and is complete, as-raced, just as it left the track in 1950.  Take a look at the video linked here to see the action!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8D-i3YD4o6U
 
These cars may be purchased separately or as one lot.  The cars are 11" (28cm) long are a rare find in this complete, original condition.

1947 MARTIN FLASH RAIL TRACK MITE
This as raced MARTIN FLASH has its original woven fiber cloth body and is powered by a McCoy .19. It was set up to run on the rail track at CALUMET PARK in CHICAGO.  This rare rail mite car is 10" long and presents in as found, as raced condition !

​   HOME BUILT STREAMLINER
This is a unique build; Hornet powered (S/N 0223) with a dual plug head; fabulous engineering; 16" long; complete, as raced! 

​     1939 DOOLING MERCURY DELUXE
​~ SOLD ~
The second model produced by the Dooling Brothers was this Mercury Deluxe, also known as the "Rear Drive". This original example features an ignition Dennymite engine; original wheels and tires (the tires are hard and show cracking), and the original seat.  The hood and belly pan are excellent replacement pieces; note the louvered hood . 

SCAT CAT: McCOY .19 POWERED
This is the early model .19-size Scat Cat with the two separate rear axle bearing caps.  All original and complete, exactly as purchased as a complete car (not the kit!) from Bob Snodgrass, the owner of Pac-A-Lite Mfg. Co.  Includes the correct Scat Cat fuel tank.  The car is 11" long and features its original paint and old graphics.
 
The engine is the first model McCoy .19 model race car engine, ECJ-14, the "shiny case, bump lug" model with the polished head with straight sides, circa 1949.  The engine rolls over smoothly with excellent compression.
 

JOHN ELLIS - KUEBLER .29 MITE
​~ SOLD ~
This spectacular .29 mite class car, which is 14" long, was constructed by the late John Ellis and features a hand carved wooden body, NOS Dooling .29 motor and all of the features found in the successful Kuebler mites of years past. This, and the .19 Ellis - Kuebler found above, represent the very best of the artistry of John Ellis.  This car has never been run or even fueled....its ready to go!  
 

BABCOCK RAIL MITE; McCoy .19 POWERED 
The Babcock Mites were designed by John Babcock in 1950 and were immediately successful, first on the rail tracks and later on the tether tracks, across the country.
This example is 11" long and is complete, in restored condition.  The car was originally built and raced by Joe Ellis of San Francisco on the San Jose rail track.  The car was later raced by Ellis on the tether track at Golden Gate Park.  Mr Ellis replaced the cast body with this wooden body and added the outboard fuel tank and a custom blade front axle. The car was restored by Joe Ellis's son, John Ellis with custom paint and graphics by Ron Deaver.  This is a unique ELLIS Babcock rail mite; one of one!!
 

​​​​1938 BUNCH SPEED DEMON
 This original Bunch Speed Demon is powered by a Bunch Speedway motor; the original "wizard drive" was replaced by a bevel gear driveline.  This is an older restoration which displays beautifully; it is 20" long with a great shelf presence.
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 ​​1940 DOOLING MERCURY FRONT DRIVE RAIL RACER
~ SOLD ~
The last of the Mercury Series produced by the Dooling Brothers; set up for racing on a rail track; powered by a Super Cyclone equipped with a red head running on a glow plug. The car is 18" long.​  

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jpavery@comcast.net
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