Sources of Information

The tethered car enthusiast was very well catered for with several books and magazines being published. Any of the items below will provide a valuable insight in to the world of tethered cars.

Motor Racing In Miniature. G.H.Deason. Published in 1947, this book covers the early days and illustrates many of the pioneering home built cars. The appendix contains descriptions of the ‘famous model cars’. Excellent resource.

Model Car Manual. Again by Deason but moving on to 1949. Good range of, designs both simple and sophisticated with full constructional notes. Comprehensive details of ignition, transmission and fuel systems for cars. Numerous illustrations of commercial cars and components.

These are both excellent source books and relatively freely available secondhand or as reprints from Gary Barnes.

Model Race Cars. D.A. Russell and D.B.M. Wright. This is the original book, published in 1945, that featured the 'pioneer' cars and background information about the sport. It compliments the plans that Drysdale for each of these early cars.

A reprint of this fascinating booklet is available from Peter Hill at the Retro Racing Club, as are the plans.

Model Racing Cars. Norman Taylor. From 1955, this book has technical details about classes, regulations and rules, chapters on construction and building a simple car. Line drawings only and several prototype drawings to work from.

More rare secondhand, but again available as a reprint from Gary Barnes.

The Olivers And A Tiger. A comprehensive and profusely illustrated history of the Oliver concern, published by John Goodall, and written with the full cooperation of John Oliver. A must have for all ‘Oliverphiles’ and those interested in cars or engines.

Contact Barton Model Products for hard or softback version of this stunning volume.

Vintage Miniature Racing Cars. Concentrates on the American Scene. This large format book by Robert Ames is a recent publication but went out of print quickly. Plenty of good quality pictures and information.

Spindizzies. Featuring the collection of Eric Zausner, this very large and ridiculously expensive coffee table book has beautiful colour pictures of most production cars from around the world as well as the very best of the craftsmen built cars. A superb resource, but at a cost.

Both the above books can be found secondhand on the net.

Spindizzy by Ron Britzke and Miniature Racing Cars by Arthur Suhr are good sources for the American scene.

Model Car News. Published by Percivall Marshall, 43 issues from 1946-50 cover the growth of tethered cars from the early pioneers to the latest developments. Constructional articles, race reports and adverts give a valuable insight into the British aspect of the sport. Commercial and home built cars are covered in detail. Plenty of useful research material.

Can be found occasionally but available as a two-volume reprint from Gary Barnes.

Model Cars. As well as the two excellent books, Drysdale Press published 24 issues of this magazine between 1947 and 1950. Similar content to MCN but in a larger format and more material per issue, Model Cars provides a better insight into the personalities involved in the sport.

Very rare to find copies of this magazine.

Model Engineer. Car content in several issues prior to the publication of MCN and continued with a more comprehensive coverage after that magazine ceased publication.

Model Maker. When Model Cars ceased publication in 1950, the editorial team produced Model Maker, which was of more general interest to modellers. Most issues have articles relating to tethered cars and the changes in the sport can be followed through to 1956 when interest in tethered cars faded.

Both these magazines are freely available on the secondhand market.

Rail and Cable News. Model Race Cars. American magazines, available as reprinted volumes from Gary Barnes.

Model Mechanic. Model Craftsman. Both these magazines have car content and Model craftsman has numerous constructional series.

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