Red M&E Wasp Tether Car

The Wasp was a tether car model produced by M&E Models of Exmouth with a C-class capacity engine and 'Bugatti style' bodywork and radiator grill. This particular model is in excellent condition and is deeply reminiscent of the heyday of the gentleman racers of the 1920’s and 1930’s.
The engine in this example is a British made Merco 35 Class C glow plug engine which has a displacement .353 cubic inches. The front inside wheel of the car is driven through a small clutch unit and bevel gearbox while the outside wheel runs free. The rear wheels run free on an axle that is pivoted in the middle to allow the car to 'steer'. The car was available as a kit that would need to be assembled. Class C was a class for engines with a displacement from 0.301 to 0.650 cu in.

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: 36 cm/14¼ inches (length) x 16 cm/6¼ inches (width) x 13 cm/5 inches (height)