We call them tether cars, but as this classic clip from 1967 shows, the Brits called them “Cable Racers.” The hand-built, fuel-burning cars are undeniably cool, and “Bill Bennett of Maidstone’s” hat game is obviously fire. Add a swingin’ Austin Powers soundtrack, and you’ve got a solid gold slice of powered-car-modeling history from the Pathé collection.
Watch for:
0:34 – You can stop cranking, Jeeves.
0:57 – “Oooh, this is close enough Gladys.”
1:12 – Respect for the greasy fingernails and recent cut on the finger. Man stuff.
BONUS: see Matchbox cars getting made in England, 1965