Tin toy race car with manatee tail

[t walgamuth]

I bought this yesterday. Anybody know anything about it or where I might look for information?

[t walgamuth]

I think it looks like a land speed record car copy ... sort of.

[Frank X. Morris]

Howdy Tom,
Try Lilliput. e-mail is info@lilmoco.com Or their phone # is 1-800-tin-toys. I know they sell a lot of stuff like this. They are a part of Deutsche Optik. Hope this helps.

[P.C.]

Very cool Tom! Nice catch!

[INSIDIOUS]

If it wasn't tin I'd say it was a pinewood derby racer

[t walgamuth]

Thanks guys! I found one that is similar except for the very unusual tail treatment. The one found has a windup mechanism and rubber tires.

[barry12345]

Nice toy. Must be toy sites to find out all you want to know about it. I cannot even guess the era of production.

Also do not remember ever seeing one of these before. I have been to Hershey and Carlile many times in bygone years where there are a lot of earlier car toys as well. So it was not all that common either I suspect.

[t walgamuth]

I have done some searching with no luck. It's about 9" long.

[TX76513]

The simple single stamp style resembles PENCO cars from the 40's but I didn't find a match

[t walgamuth]

I think it might be English.

[barry12345]

It almost has to be in one of the extensive toy catalogues out there. To me it looks like something that may have seen sold when gravity race tracks where in vogue.

[Mike D]

Can't be British. No oil spots beneath it.

[chasinthesun]

Interesting ,my father who was given a toy car when he was a young boy has something similiar ,it dates to around the year 1941 and is called the thimble dome special ,l.m. cox manufactoring out of Santa Annna California is stamped underneath .The size is about the same ,but his has a seat ,hard rubber tires and an exhaust pipe running down one side ,no tail like yours.A 20s road -track opened wheel racer .Yours has an earlier look ,maybe rarier .