Skip to main content

Tether Cars

Toy Hot Rod Roadster Tether Car
Toy Hot Rod Roadster Tether Car

Toy Hot Rod Roadster Tether Car

$850Sale Price|22% Off

H 3.5 in W 5 in D 9 in

Toy Hot Rod Roadster Tether Car

By All American Co.

Located in Ferndale, MI

part of the tether car craze. Sometimes cut up with gas engines installed. This piece is in original

Category

Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Models and Miniatures

Materials

Metal

Red Metal Body Track Rail Race Car, Circa 1952
Red Metal Body Track Rail Race Car, Circa 1952

Red Metal Body Track Rail Race Car, Circa 1952

$9,929

H 3.75 in W 29 in D 5.13 in

Red Metal Body Track Rail Race Car, Circa 1952

Located in London, GB

miniature combustion engines started in California in the 1930s. Whilst ’tether’ cars were raced

Category

Vintage 1950s British Models and Miniatures

Materials

Aluminum, Brass

Large 1940s Magnesium Bodied Indianapolis style Tether Race Car
Large 1940s Magnesium Bodied Indianapolis style Tether Race Car

Large 1940s Magnesium Bodied Indianapolis style Tether Race Car

Located in Ferndale, MI

Large 1940s magnesium bodied tether race car. Speed chief.

Category

Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Models and Miniatures

Materials

Aluminum, Other

Recent Sales

Nylint Thimble Drome
Nylint Thimble Drome

Nylint Thimble Drome

Unavailable

H 3.5 in W 9 in D 4 in

Nylint Thimble Drome

Located in Stamford, CT

Circa late 20th century vintage thimble drone Nylint tether midget race car in original, unopened

Category

20th Century American Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Metal

Bugatti Tether Car
Bugatti Tether Car

Bugatti Tether Car

Sold

H 6 in W 14.5 in D 6.5 in

Bugatti Tether Car

Located in London, GB

The Wasp was a tether car model produced by M&E Models of Exmouth with a C-class capacity engine

Category

Vintage 1940s British Toys and Dolls

1950s 'Maserati' Tether Car
1950s 'Maserati' Tether Car

1950s 'Maserati' Tether Car

Sold

H 6.75 in W 19 in D 8 in

1950s 'Maserati' Tether Car

Located in London, GB

A wonderful tether car model produced by E & M (The Experimental and Model Co.) of Coventry with

Category

Vintage 1950s English Models and Miniatures

Materials

Aluminum

Electra ‘Buck 2A’ Tether Car, circa 1947
Electra ‘Buck 2A’ Tether Car, circa 1947

Electra ‘Buck 2A’ Tether Car, circa 1947

Sold

H 6.25 in W 18.75 in D 8.63 in

Electra ‘Buck 2A’ Tether Car, circa 1947

Located in London, GB

(height) Tether Cars are model racing cars powered by miniature internal combustion engines. The cars are

Category

Vintage 1940s British Models and Miniatures

Materials

Aluminum

M&E 'Wasp' Bugatti-style Tether Car
M&E 'Wasp' Bugatti-style Tether Car

M&E 'Wasp' Bugatti-style Tether Car

Sold

H 5 in W 14.25 in D 6.25 in

M&E 'Wasp' Bugatti-style Tether Car

Located in London, GB

The Wasp was a tether car model produced by M&E Models of Exmouth with a C-class capacity

Category

Mid-20th Century British Models and Miniatures

M&E Models Wasp Tether Car, circa 1940s
M&E Models Wasp Tether Car, circa 1940s

M&E Models Wasp Tether Car, circa 1940s

Sold

H 5 in W 14.25 in D 6.25 in

M&E Models Wasp Tether Car, circa 1940s

Located in London, GB

The Wasp was a tether car model produced by M&E Models of Exmouth from the late 1940s with 'Bugatti

Category

Vintage 1940s British Models and Miniatures

Materials

Metal

ERA Tether Car Model by M&E, circa 1948
ERA Tether Car Model by M&E, circa 1948

ERA Tether Car Model by M&E, circa 1948

Sold

H 6.5 in W 19 in D 8.25 in

ERA Tether Car Model by M&E, circa 1948

Located in London, GB

A rare ERA (English Racing Automobiles) 'Tether Car' model produced by M&E Models of Exmouth, circa

Category

Vintage 1940s British Models and Miniatures

Materials

Aluminum, Steel

Dooling 'Mercury Front Drive' Rail Track Tether Car, circa 1940
Dooling 'Mercury Front Drive' Rail Track Tether Car, circa 1940

Dooling 'Mercury Front Drive' Rail Track Tether Car, circa 1940

Located in London, GB

(height). The Dooling Brothers of California are arguably the most well known of the American tether car

Category

Vintage 1940s American Models and Miniatures

Materials

Aluminum

Streamlined Wood Race Car
Streamlined Wood Race Car

Streamlined Wood Race Car

Sold

H 9.5 in W 14 in D 36 in

Streamlined Wood Race Car

Located in Peekskill, NY

a large and early tether car. There is still an inside cable to work the steering and some type of

Category

Early 20th Century American Futurist Models and Miniatures

Streamlined Wood Race Car
Streamlined Wood Race Car

Streamlined Wood Race Car

Sold

H 9.5 in W 14 in D 36 in

Streamlined Wood Race Car

Located in Peekskill, NY

a large and early tether car. There is still an inside cable to work the steering and some type of

Category

Early 20th Century American Futurist Models and Miniatures

Scratch Built Tether Car, Circa 1950
Scratch Built Tether Car, Circa 1950

Scratch Built Tether Car, Circa 1950

Sold

H 5.13 in W 14.75 in D 7.25 in

Scratch Built Tether Car, Circa 1950

Located in London, GB

. Tether Cars are model racing cars powered by miniature internal combustion engines. The cars are attached

Category

Vintage 1950s British Models and Miniatures

Materials

Metal

Maserati Tether Car
Maserati Tether Car

Maserati Tether Car

Located in New York, NY

A rare and superb Maserati petrol-powered aluminum tether car borrows elements from both the

Category

Vintage 1950s Italian Decorative Objects

Materials

Aluminum

Rare Teardrop shape Gas powered tether Car
Rare Teardrop shape Gas powered tether Car

Rare Teardrop shape Gas powered tether Car

Located in New York, NY

These Gas powered cars are extremely hard to find and very collectable. They have actual working

Category

Vintage 1950s American Toys

Materials

Aluminum

Classic American "air Car" Tether Racer
Classic American "air Car" Tether Racer

Classic American "air Car" Tether Racer

Located in New York, NY

Made from carved and painted balsa wood, this delightful tether car is distinguished by its unique

Category

Vintage 1940s American Models and Miniatures

Materials

Steel

Original Aluminum Tethered Racing Car by Mc Coy
Original Aluminum Tethered Racing Car by Mc Coy

Original Aluminum Tethered Racing Car by Mc Coy

Located in Los Angeles, CA

This fantastic futuristic car was made in the 1930's. It was raced around a track on a tether

Category

20th Century American Models and Miniatures

Materials

Aluminum

Machine Age Gas Powered Aluminum Tethered Racing Car
Machine Age Gas Powered Aluminum Tethered Racing Car

Machine Age Gas Powered Aluminum Tethered Racing Car

Located in Los Angeles, CA

This great original tethered racing car was actually raced on a track back in the 1930's. It is

Category

20th Century American More Furniture and Collectibles

Materials

Aluminum, Metal

1930's Original Streamline Aluminum Tethered Racing Car
1930's Original Streamline Aluminum Tethered Racing Car

1930's Original Streamline Aluminum Tethered Racing Car

Located in Los Angeles, CA

This great car was manufactured by Dooling Brothers in the 1930's. It retains it's original Dooling

Category

20th Century American More Furniture and Collectibles

Materials

Aluminum, Metal

Dooling Gas Powered 1946 Tether Racer Toy Car
Dooling Gas Powered 1946 Tether Racer Toy Car

Dooling Gas Powered 1946 Tether Racer Toy Car

Located in Chicago, IL

This is a great looking racing car in a gorgeous blue. It is 6 1/8"h x 16.3/4"l x 8.1/2"w

Category

Vintage 1930s American Toys

Materials

Metal

Original 1930's Dooling Bros. Streamline Tethered Racing Car
Original 1930's Dooling Bros. Streamline Tethered Racing Car

Original 1930's Dooling Bros. Streamline Tethered Racing Car

Located in Los Angeles, CA

This aluminum racing car was manufactured by Dooling Brothers in the 1930's. It even retains it's

Category

20th Century American Toys and Dolls

Materials

Aluminum, Metal

‘Ferrari 500 F2' Cast Aluminium Pylon or 'Tether' Racing Car Toy by Vega, 1952
‘Ferrari 500 F2' Cast Aluminium Pylon or 'Tether' Racing Car Toy by Vega, 1952

‘Ferrari 500 F2' Cast Aluminium Pylon or 'Tether' Racing Car Toy by Vega, 1952

Located in London, GB

Vega: ‘Ferrari 500 F2’ An all cast, heavy aluminium pylon racer, with exhaust and hubcap detailing, with side mirrors, steering wheel and stylized ‘windshield’, powered by a rear-...

Category

Vintage 1950s French Other Toys and Dolls

Materials

Aluminum

People Also Browsed

Lehman Auto "Ito" Sedan, Germany, circa 1913
Lehman Auto "Ito" Sedan, Germany, circa 1913

Lehman Auto "Ito" Sedan, Germany, circa 1913

By E.P. Lehman Co.

Located in Incline Village, NV

This hand-painted German tin toy was manufactured by the "Lehman Toy Company" in Brandenburg, Germany beginning in 1913. It was made for a number of years after that, enjoying about ...

Category

Vintage 1910s German Folk Art Toys

Materials

Tin

Giant Crocodile Fossil Wall Plate, Germany. 180 Million Years Old.
Giant Crocodile Fossil Wall Plate, Germany. 180 Million Years Old.

Giant Crocodile Fossil Wall Plate, Germany. 180 Million Years Old.

Located in London, GB

This outstanding fossilised skeleton is that of the ancestral crocodile species Steneosaurus bollensis that lived during the early Jurassic period. The skeleton, complete with armour...

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier German Decorative Art

Materials

Other

Paul McCobb Wall-Mounted Floating Console
Paul McCobb Wall-Mounted Floating Console

Paul McCobb Wall-Mounted Floating Console

$4,000

H 19 in W 38 in D 10 in

Paul McCobb Wall-Mounted Floating Console

By Paul McCobb

Located in Culver City, CA

Introducing an extraordinary mid-century wall-mounted floating three-tier console, a sought-after piece designed by the esteemed Paul McCobb for Bryce Originals in the 1950s. With it...

Category

Vintage 1950s Mid-Century Modern Shelves and Wall Cabinets

Materials

Steel, Cut Steel

1930s French Large Tow Truck Toy in Red Metal
1930s French Large Tow Truck Toy in Red Metal

1930s French Large Tow Truck Toy in Red Metal

$742Sale Price|30% Off

H 13.39 in W 26.78 in D 10.24 in

1930s French Large Tow Truck Toy in Red Metal

Located in Sofia, BG

Large toy tow truck made in red lacquered metal with nice details and opening compartments. France, circa 1930.

Category

Mid-20th Century French Toys and Dolls

Materials

Metal

French Style Wrought Iron Greenhouse with Door and Windows in Green Color
French Style Wrought Iron Greenhouse with Door and Windows in Green Color

French Style Wrought Iron Greenhouse with Door and Windows in Green Color

Located in Marbella, ES

French style wrought iron greenhouse with doors and windows that open outwards in white color. Ready for glass panels to be installed.  

Category

2010s French Garden Ornaments

Materials

Iron

Large Model Tristar Jetplane With A British Airways "Landor" Livery, England
Large Model Tristar Jetplane With A British Airways "Landor" Livery, England

Large Model Tristar Jetplane With A British Airways "Landor" Livery, England

Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent

A stunning vintage fibreglass and plastic composite model of a Concorde in full British Airways livery mounted on a tripod stand by Space Models, circa 1990. This 1:36 scale aircraft...

Category

20th Century British Models and Miniatures

Materials

Metal

Art Deco Chrome Streamline Sink By Henry Dreyfuss Circa 1936
Art Deco Chrome Streamline Sink By Henry Dreyfuss Circa 1936

Art Deco Chrome Streamline Sink By Henry Dreyfuss Circa 1936

By Henry Dreyfuss

Located in Bernville, PA

Very rare Art Deco sink by Henry Dreyfuss. The sink was designed for The Crane Company of Chicago in 1936. Called the “Neuvogue” sink with “Futura” faucet handles. Manufactured by Tr...

Category

Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Bathroom Fixtures

Materials

Chrome

Columbus Avenue NYC c. 1920s/30s American Scene Ashcan WPA Modern 20th Century
Columbus Avenue NYC c. 1920s/30s American Scene Ashcan WPA Modern 20th Century

Columbus Avenue NYC c. 1920s/30s American Scene Ashcan WPA Modern 20th Century

By Bernard Gussow

Located in New York, NY

Columbus Avenue NYC c. 1920s/30s American Scene Ashcan WPA Modern 20th Century "Late Afternoon, Columbus Avenue, New York", impasto oil on canvas, signed lower left, signed verso (u...

Category

1920s American Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Art Deco Boeing 314 Airplane Pan American 'Clipper', circa 1938
Art Deco Boeing 314 Airplane Pan American 'Clipper', circa 1938

Art Deco Boeing 314 Airplane Pan American 'Clipper', circa 1938

Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos

Art Deco Aviation Model Boeing 314 Airplane Pan-American 'Clipper', circa 1938 A superbly crafted rendering of the legendary transoceanic Boeing 314 Pan-American Clipper, strikingly ...

Category

Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Aviation Objects

Materials

Wood

WWI American Scene Ashcan Modern 20th Century Historical Realism Industrial WPA
WWI American Scene Ashcan Modern 20th Century Historical Realism Industrial WPA

WWI American Scene Ashcan Modern 20th Century Historical Realism Industrial WPA

By Gerrit Beneker

Located in New York, NY

WWI American Scene Ashcan Modern 20th Century Historical Realism Industrial WPA "Constant Driving Will Win the War," 30 x 40 inches. Oil on canvas. Signed and dated 1918 lower right...

Category

1910s Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

1 BANGA space age micro architecture prefab house bungalow by Carlo Zappa, 1971
1 BANGA space age micro architecture prefab house bungalow by Carlo Zappa, 1971

1 BANGA space age micro architecture prefab house bungalow by Carlo Zappa, 1971

By Carlo Zappa

Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE

here we offer one of 2 bangas, with black interior. the second one with light grey interior is offered in another listing. a banga shows ways in which we could live more sustainably...

Category

Vintage 1970s Italian Space Age Architectural Elements

Materials

Fiberglass

Large Early Tang Dynasty Painted Pottery Model of a Prancing Horse, TL Tested
Large Early Tang Dynasty Painted Pottery Model of a Prancing Horse, TL Tested

Large Early Tang Dynasty Painted Pottery Model of a Prancing Horse, TL Tested

Located in Austin, TX

A magnificent and large early Tang dynasty (618-906 AD) model of a prancing or dancing horse, circa 7th century. The majestic animal is caught mid-motion, one leg raised, head grace...

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Chinese Tang Antiquities

Materials

Pottery

20th Century Large Boeing 757 With British Airways Landor Livery By Space Models
20th Century Large Boeing 757 With British Airways Landor Livery By Space Models

20th Century Large Boeing 757 With British Airways Landor Livery By Space Models

Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent

A late-20th Century vintage fibreglass and plastic composite model of a Boeing 757 in full British Airways livery mounted on a tripod stand by Space Models, circa 1990. This 1:25 sca...

Category

20th Century British Other Aviation Objects

Materials

Metal

Spindizzies Green Racing Model
Spindizzies Green Racing Model

Spindizzies Green Racing Model

$1,507 / item

H 6.89 in W 20.67 in D 9.65 in

Spindizzies Green Racing Model

Located in Paris, FR

Model Spindizzies Green Racing with aluminium structure, with plastic and aluminium details. Model in green paint finish.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Dutch Models and Miniatures

Materials

Aluminum

A German 19th Century Louis XVI Style Burr Walnut Bechstein Concert Grand Piano
A German 19th Century Louis XVI Style Burr Walnut Bechstein Concert Grand Piano

A German 19th Century Louis XVI Style Burr Walnut Bechstein Concert Grand Piano

By Bechstein Piano Company

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A Very Fine German 19th Century Louis XVI Style Burr Walnut Bechstein Concert Grand Piano, Serial No. 5655. The beautifully crafted Grand piano, raised on three tapered barrel shaped...

Category

Antique 19th Century German Louis XVI Musical Instruments

Materials

Bronze

White Rounded Square Fiberglass Quad Coffee Table by Mike Ruiz-Serra
White Rounded Square Fiberglass Quad Coffee Table by Mike Ruiz-Serra

White Rounded Square Fiberglass Quad Coffee Table by Mike Ruiz-Serra

By Mike Ruiz Serra

Located in Brooklyn, NY

The Quad is a low, sculptural coffee table with four hemispherical legs that acts as a quiet yet powerful visual anchor in the room. Cast in fiberglass, it has a unique satin finish ...

Category

2010s American Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Fiberglass

Get Updated with New Arrivals
Save "Tether Cars", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.

Tether Cars For Sale on 1stDibs

There is a range of tether cars for sale on 1stDibs. The range of distinct tether cars — often made from metal, aluminum and plastic — can elevate any home. Tether cars have been made for many years, and versions that date back to the 20th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 20th Century. Art Deco and Mid-Century Modern tether cars are consistently popular styles. Many tether cars are appealing in their simplicity, but All American Co. and Vega produced popular tether cars that are worth a look.

Finding the Right Collectibles And Curiosities for You

Antique and vintage collectibles and curiosities can bring whimsy and wonder to any interior. 

Decorating with old scientific instruments, historical memorabilia and vintage musical instruments, as well as other authentic collectibles and curiosities that can be found on 1stDibs, presents an opportunity to create a unique, natural history museum-like atmosphere in your home that can provoke conversation as often as it pays tribute to how far we’ve come in understanding our world. 

And bringing collectibles and curiosities into your space is actually on trend — Wunderkammern, or curiosity cabinets, were all the rage in Europe during the 1500s and continued to have adherents there and in the U.S. in the following centuries. Today, however, they’re experiencing a real surge in popularity and influencing how many interior designers are furnishing and decorating homes — combining contemporary with antique, scientific with tribal, earthly with extraterrestrial, Les Lalanne tables with Flemish tapestries.

The original Wunderkammern were entire rooms filled with objects demonstrating their owners’ worldly knowledge: A proper one included artificiala or preciosa (objets d’art); naturalia (such as skeletons, shells, minerals); exotica (taxidermy or dried plants); and scientifica (scientific instruments), frequently alongside religious relics and ancient artifacts.

Pay tribute to a history of rich and diverse musical traditions that have taken shape all over the world by decorating your home with a collection of antique and vintage musical instruments — with a little help from strong hanging wire or some wall hooks, vintage brass instruments such as a gong, French horn or trumpet can help elevate a home office or complement the efforts you’ve made to ensure a welcoming vibe in your home’s entryway. Bells or antique wind instruments can add provocative metallic contrasts to dark woods as tabletop decorative objects.  

Create an intriguing focal point with Georgian scientific instruments, such as stick barometers with mahogany cases or lacquered brass telescopes. These items stem from an era named for the monarchies of the four King Georges, who ruled England in succession starting in 1714 (plus King William’s reign, which lasted until 1837). Just as there was beautiful jewelry produced during the period that today is coveted by collectors, there is much to be found in the collectibles and curiosities realm too.

Wanderlust, nostalgia and a shared love of good design are contributing factors to certain trends in decorating — just as vintage trunks and luggage have reappeared as furniture or home accents in a bedroom or foyer, decorating with globes, maps or nautical objects is similarly rooted in the allure of travel and a penchant for the stylish finishing touch that collectibles bring to our homes.

Find a wide range of antique and vintage collectibles and curiosities on 1stDibs.

Read More

Dickens Fan on Your List? This First Edition of ‘A Christmas Carol’ Is a Treasure

Produced in 1843, the well-preserved volume is evidence of the author's exacting specifications.

Patchwork Quilts Are the Latest Nostalgic Design Trend

New or old, the coverlets add old-time charm to any space.

Medal-Worthy Memorabilia from Epic Past Olympic Games

Get into the games! These items celebrate the events, athletes, host countries and sporting spirit.

Ahoy! You’ve Never Seen a Collection of Sailor Art and Kitsch Quite Like This

French trendsetter and serial collector Daniel Rozensztroch tells us about his obsession with objects related to seafaring men.

39 Incredible Swimming Pools

It's hard to resist the allure of a beautiful pool. So, go ahead and daydream about whiling away your summer in paradise.

Pamela Shamshiri Shares the Secrets behind Her First-Ever Book and Its Effortlessly Cool Interiors

The sought-after designer worked with the team at Hoffman Creative to produce a monograph that beautifully showcases some of Studio Shamshiri's most inspiring projects.

Moroccan Artworks and Objects Take Center Stage in an Extraordinary Villa in Tangier

Italian writer and collector Umberto Pasti opens the doors to his remarkable cave of wonders in North Africa.

Montecito Has Drawn Royalty and Celebrities, and These Homes Are Proof of Its Allure

Hollywood A-listers, ex-pat aristocrats and art collectors and style setters of all stripes appreciate the allure of the coastal California hamlet — much on our minds after recent winter floods.