’32 Ford Coupe Tether Car

’32 Ford Coupe Tether Car

Craftsman: Marshall Ziegert

Catalog #: 2016.8.14

Contributor: 419

This ’32 Ford tether car measures about 7 inches wide, 4.25 inches high, 13 inches long, and weighs 6.25 pounds.

“So What Speed Shop” OS Powered Tether Car

“So What Speed Shop” OS Powered Tether Car

Craftsman: Chris Garcia

Knapp Collection #: 421

Catalog #: 2016.8.16

Contributor: Paul Knapp

This aluminum tether car was custom-built by Chris Garcia for Ed Hegarty and sports Chris’s custom wire wheels. 

1/3 Scale Tadpole Mini-Tether Car

1/3 Scale Tadpole Mini-Tether Car

Craftsman: Ted Maciag

Knapp Collection #: 171

Catalog #: 2008.10.50

Contributor: Paul Knapp

The Tadpole is powered by a Cox .01 cubic inch engine with a 2:1 gear ratio driving the rear wheels. It runs on alcohol and 25% nitromethane for fuel.

1954 Cox Racer Grand Prix Mercedes W-196

1954 Cox Racer Grand Prix Mercedes W-196

Craftsmen: Leroy Cox, L.M. Cox Manufacturing

Catalog #: 2018.43.1

Contributor: Rich Palmer

This replica of the #8 Karl Kling’s 1954 Cox Racer Grand Prix Mercedes W-196 is a rear-wheel-drive thimble drome tether car utilizing a driveshaft and differential.

A-bone Cox .049 Tether Car

A-bone Cox .049 Tether Car

Craftsman: Doug Parker

Knapp Collection #: 429

Catalog #: 2016.8.20

Contributor: Paul Knapp

The “A-bone” Cox .049 tether car is 7-3/4″-long and 3-1/8″-wide. The racer was machined from aluminum, brass, and steel bar stock.

All American Hot Rod 

All American Hot Rod 

Craftsman: Tony Orlando

Knapp Collection #: 551

Catalog #: 2019.9.3 

Contributor: Paul Knapp

This hot rod started as a die-cast push toy for kids, and was manufactured in Los Angeles in the 1950s. Mr. Orlando’s restoration included many modifications to convert it into a running tether car.

Automite .049 Tether Car

Automite .049 Tether Car

Craftsman: Wen Mac

Contributor: Ron and Steven Green

An Automite .049 tether car made by the Wen Mac corporation. This was one of the first tether cars made with a plastic body.

Babcock Jr. Gas Powered Micro Rail Mite Racer

Babcock Jr. Gas Powered Micro Rail Mite Racer

Craftsman: John D. Ellis

Knapp Collection #: 213

Catalog #: 2009.9.28

Contributor: Paul Knapp 

John Ellis produced this miniature rail racer as a tribute to the late John Babcock, who was one of the most colorful builders and model racers in the San Francisco Bay area.

Coupster Tether Car

Coupster Tether Car

Craftsman: Doug Parker

Knapp Collection #: 486

Catalog #: 2016.44.2

Contributor: Paul Knapp

The Coupster was machined from solid 6061 aluminum and measures 8-1/8″-long, 1-7/8″-wide, 2-5/8″-high, and weighs 16.5 ounces.

Cricket Tether Car 

Cricket Tether Car 

Craftsman: Doug Parker

Knapp Collection #: 549

Catalog #: 2019.9.2 

Contributor: Paul Knapp 

This tether car was designed by Doug Parker, and everything was custom-built around the tiny Cox .010 engine. It measures 5”-long with a 3-7/16” wheel base.

Dragonfly Cox .049 Tether Car

Dragonfly Cox .049 Tether Car

Craftsman: Doug Parker

Knapp Collection #: 418

Catalog #: 2016.8.13

Contributor: Paul Knapp

The “Dragonfly” Cox .049 tether car measures about 3.25″-wide in front, 2.25″-wide in the rear, 2.625″-high, 12.25″-long, and weighs about 18 ounces.

Duesenberg Tether Car and Engine

Duesenberg Tether Car and Engine

Craftsman: Wayne Short

Knapp Collection #: 425

Catalog #: 2016.8.18

Contributor: Paul Knapp

This Duesenberg tether car and engine is about 10″-wide, 8″-high, and 21″-long. It sports a faithful reproduction of the Duesenberg .60 cubic inch engine.

HD Special Miniature .05 Powered Tether Car 

HD Special Miniature .05 Powered Tether Car 

Craftsman: Doug Parker

Knapp Collection #: 533

Catalog #: 2019.11.7

Contributor: Paul Knapp 

This handmade tether car was machined from solid aluminum and steel bar stock. It measures 7-5/8”-long, 2-7/8”-wide, 2-7/8”-high, and weighs 19.2 ounces.

Hybrid Dragster Tether Car

Hybrid Dragster Tether Car

Craftsman: Doug Parker

Knapp Collection #: 492

Catalog #: 2016.44.6

Contributor: Paul Knapp

The unique blend of power from a Cox .049 combined with the boost from an Estes A3-4T rocket motor is, perhaps, the ultimate in micro hybrid tether car racing.

J E Special Tether Car 

J E Special Tether Car 

Craftsman: Doug Parker

Knapp Collection #: 578

Catalog #: 2019.10.5

Contributor: Paul Knapp

The J E Special tether car was designed and built by Doug Parker as a tribute to John Ellis; an accomplished tether car builder, racer, and engine designer/builder.

Lil Coupe Cox .010 Tether Car

Lil Coupe Cox .010 Tether Car

Craftsman: Doug Parker

Knapp Collection #: 487

Catalog #: 2016.44.3

Contributor: Paul Knapp

The “Lil Coupe” Cox .010 powered tether car is 4”-long, 2.8”-wide, 1.5”-tall with a 3”-wheelbase and weighs 6.3 ounces.

Lo-Boy Cox .049 Tether Car

Lo-Boy Cox .049 Tether Car

Craftsman: Doug Parker

Knapp Collection #: 407

Catalog #: 2016.8.8

Contributor: Paul Knapp

This “Lo-Boy” Cox .049 tether car was crafted from aluminum and steel and sports a finely finished wooden body.

McCoy Teardrop Tether Car

McCoy Teardrop Tether Car

Craftsman: Dick McCoy

Knapp Collection #: 493

Catalog #: 2016.47.3

Contributor: Paul Knapp

This McCoy Teardrop tether car was designed by Dick McCoy in 1946. Three thousand of these streamliners were sold between 1946 and 1952.

Mini Racer CO2 Tether Car

Mini Racer CO2 Tether Car

Craftsman: William "Scotty" Hewitt

Knapp Collection #: 297

Catalog #: 2011.27.45

Contributor: Paul Knapp 

This mini racer CO2 tether car is custom fitted with a Gasparin G-10 (CO2) motor inside a Matchbox No. 52 race car.

Rat Rod Tether Truck

Rat Rod Tether Truck

Craftsman: Doug Parker

Knapp Collection #: 495

Catalog #: 2016.47.1

Contributor: Paul Knapp

The Rat Rod tether truck measures 7-3/4″-long, 2-5/8″-high, and 3″-wide at the rear tires. It was machined from aluminum and steel bar stock.

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Presented by The Joe Martin Foundation for Exceptional Craftsmanship