Sensational Tether Car

This example has glorious painted metal bodywork.
Many of these models were kits that you could purchase as parts; precision built mechanicals that you put together to build a car to your own specifications.

Tether Cars are model racing cars powered by miniature internal combustion engines. The cars are attached to a central post by a steel cable in such a manner that they are able to repeatedly run around a circular track. Tether car racing started in California in the late 1930’s. The cars race individually and the winners are determined based on average speed of several laps. Early engines (prior to the 1950s) had spark ignition systems. Later engines use glow plug ignition. A Glow Plug engine, or Glow engine, is a type of small internal combustion engine typically used in model aircraft, model cars and similar applications. Glow engine fuel generally consists of methanol with varying degrees of nitromethane content.

Dimensions: 38 cm/15 inches (length) x 21 cm/8¼ inches (width) x 13.3 cm/5¼ inches (height)