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"Trash Bin Special"
Custom-built mite car of unknown origin
This car was found in a scrap barrel behind a small machine shop in Los Angeles, CA.
The car is only 9 1/2 inches long and has a very compact cast aluminum body. Both the cylinder head and the exhaust of the early-1949 McCoy 19 race car engine required extensive modification in order to fit inside the body. The gearbox is from a Thimble Drome Champion with a
1 3/4 to 1 gear ratio. The rear wheels are also from a Thimble Drome Champion and fitted with the larger 2 3/8 inch diameter, ribbed tread,
semi-pneumatic tires which Cox offered as an accessory for competition use.
The front wheels are 1 3/4 inch diameter model airplane wheels and are mounted on a two-piece swing axle with a short transverse leaf spring.
The brass fuel tank was custom-built and was designed to channel air into the engine's venturi. The bridle brackets were made from stainless steel.
Unfortunately, I have no other information regarding the origins of the car. I have seen a couple other examples which had the same cast aluminum body, but the rest of the parts and finish work on those cars were not identical to this car.
