Toy Cars
Tether car Racing
Racing of miniature gas-powered cars first began in California around 1937. In the beginning, cars were hand-made at home and powered by gas airplane engines. Even with ashtray tires and relatively antiquated parts, these cars could reach speeds of up to 40 MPH in races held before the war. The earliest cars were modelled after midget racers of the time, and featured intricate details including windshields, steering wheels, gauges, and often drivers.
During World War II, most manufacturers went out of business as metals were shifted to war efforts. Companies began to re-emerge after the war, and as tether car popularity grew, so did the speed of these toys. Because of wartime innovations, many new, lightweight materials were being utilized such as fiberglass and different plastics. Cars also began to take on advanced streamline looks, and now were capable of reaching speeds up to 100 MPH!
The yellow #5 tether car on display is a well-known Cox Thimble Drome Champion made by Leroy Cox. In 1946 Cox developed a metal push pull toy car for toddlers. It later developed into a tethered car, and engine manufacturers soon started making engine packages for the cars. The cars became very popular and at one time Cox was producing over 1500 cars per day.
The Deluxe Mercury Midget was manufactured in 1939 by Dooling Brothers Precision Machine Products in Los Angeles. Commonly referred to as a “Dooling Rear Drive,” the tether car features a cast and sheet aluminum body with a 0.6 cubic inch engine manufactured by the Junior Motors Corporation in Philadelphia.
Meccano Dinky Toys
Meccano was established in 1908 to make metal construction sets and transitioned into tin and metal cars in the mid-1930’s. Meccano released six toy vehicles (made of cast lead) which included a sports car, a truck, a delivery van and others. It was not until 1935 when Meccano began to build accurate depictions of real vehicles, with a Daimler sedan, Chrysler Airflow and Rolls Royce being among the first set of accurate vehicles.
Meccano did not produce toys during the WWII period, though it resumed in 1946 with U.S. military Jeeps. Dinky Toys became more sophisticated and more detailed in the 1950’s, and now featured models of significant cars such as the Aston Martin DB3S.
The 1950’s also witnessed the rise of Formula 1 in massive global popularity, and Meccano reflected that in their toys. The Audrain is thrilled to display six Meccano Formula 1 Dinky Toys from the collection of Donald Osborne in Small Wonders. At a glance, the six toys look similar, but with a closer look, one is able inspect the small details which make each car special and unique.
All Rug Toys, Affect Toys, Friction or Windup Toys in this Exhibition
1920s Wolverine wind up over and under lift racer, USA 25”x2.25”
1930s Marx tin racer 4.75”x3.25”
1930s Lindstrom Skeeter Bug Bumper Car, USA 9.25”x5.25”
1930s INGAP Streamlined Racer friction car 5.5”x2”
1940s Duesenberg Model Co, Pylon Racer 20.75”x8.75”
1950s Distler Auto Union Streamliner, Occupied Germany 9”x2.75”
1950s Gescha Toys Sixmobil 557, Porsche wind up car, Germany 8.25”x4”
1950s Asahi Toy Cunningham Dream Car friction, Japan 9”x3.5”
1950s Bandai Mars 8 friction racer, Japan 8.5”x4.5”
1950s Bandai X-3 friction racer, Japan 7”x4”
1950s Bandai Rocket friction racer, Japan 7”x4.5”
1950s Marusan, Starfire racer friction car, Japan 11.5”x5.5”
1950s Irwin Corporation Remote control roadster, USA 16”x6”
1950s Haji Fiat Abarth Record car, Japan 9.5”x4”
1950s Meccano Dinky Toys Alfa Romeo F1 car, UK 4”x1.5”
1950s Meccano Dinky Toys Cooper-Bristol F1 car, UK 4”x1.5”
1950s Meccano Dinky Toys Ferrari F1 car, UK 4”x1.5”
1950s Meccano Dinky Toys Talbot-Lago F1 car, UK 4”x1.5”
1950s Meccano Dinky Toys Maserati F1 car, UK 4”x1.5”
1950s Meccano Dinky Toys H.W.M. F1 car, UK 4”x1.5”
1950s Mattel Mobilgas Racer friction car, USA 11.5”x5.5”
1960s Solido, Fiat Abarth Record Car, France 3.75”x.5”
Champion Racer #98 tin toy car 18”x8”
1965 Matchbox carrying case & assorted cars 13.5”x8.25”
1967 Hot Wheels carrying case & assorted cars Tether and Pylon Cars
1940s Duesenberg Pylon racer 20.75”x8.75”
Thimble Drome ‘Roy Cox Champion’, Santa Ana CA 9.5”x5.5”
Tether race car, Cable Streamliner, tear drop shape 16.25”x7.5”
Pylon racer, Hiller Comet #4, “Kaiser Special” 17.5”x8.25
