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B.B. Korn Indianapolis Series 29
Manufactured by Barney Korn of Hyde Park Model & Supply Co.
Barney Korn worked for several of the major film studios in Hollywood during his career making detailed scale models for movie classics like "Hell's Angels", "Moby Dick", and "To Please a Lady". While working at Universal Studios, he built a number of miniature race cars powered by compressed air which appeared in crash scenes in several movies. But arguably the best known of Barney's miniature race cars were his Meteor and Indianapolis gas powered miniature race cars.
Barney Korn also produced a smaller gas powered miniature race car, the Indianapolis Series 29 car which was sold in kit form. The Series 29 car was introduced in 1948 with little fanfare. The car was designed to be powered with a .29 cubic inch engine which qualified it for competition in the AMRCA Class A for cars with engine displacements of .36 cubic inches or less.
The Series 29 kit included a polished cast aluminum pan, Veco wheels and tires, a rough finished pre-cut block of balsa wood for the body, the front axle, a flywheel, all of the other bits and pieces of hardware needed to complete the car, plus a set of detailed assembly drawings and parts list ... all for a price of $19.50 less engine. An "economy kit" was also available at a price of $15.00.
It has been estimated that only 50 of the Series 29 kits were produced, very few were sold, and fewer still were actually completed and entered in tether car competition. Perhaps because of the almost non-existent marketing effort behind the car, or perhaps because of the outdated direct drive design in which only the left rear wheel was powered ... whatever the reasons, the car simply did not sell in great numbers and did not enjoy success on American tether car tracks.
While most Indianapolis Series 29 cars which were eventually built were powered by glow engines, the car shown in the photos is powered by a .29 cubic inch K&B Torpedo spark ignition engine.
