Category Archives: Dooling

Anyone interested in miniature gas-powered race cars is familiar with the name. Possibly the most famous and successful of all model race car manufacturers, the Dooling brothers not only mass-produced seven different race cars of their own design, but also developed and marketed one of the finest high-performance miniature racing engines: the Dooling .61.

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om, Russell, and Harris Dooling began building racers in 1937 for their own pleasure. These early crude, buggy-type creations, powered by model airplane motors, nurtured what would become a thriving business beginning in 1939.
The Doolings’ first car, the Mercury Midget, also known as the First Series Front Drive, was produced in 1939. As the nickname implies, the car was a front drive model with cast aluminum frame, grill, and axles. The body was formed of sheet stock with a wood center-section running the length of the tail. The car was over nineteen inches long. This car had the distinction of being the first of the trio of Mercury series cars.

The second car, the Mercury Deluxe, more commonly known as the Rear Drive, was produced in late 1939. A favorite of collectors, this car had a two-piece cast aluminum body, grille, and frame. Hood and belly pan were formed of sheet aluminum. Four coil springs mounted on each corner of the frame provided suspension. True to its nickname, the car was rear-driven with bevel gears in a cast aluminum housing. On the gear-case cover was embossed “Dooling Bros, Mercury, Los Angeles.” The car measured eighteen inches long.

The last of the Mercury series of cars was produced in the fall of 1940 and was known as the Front Drive, or Second Series Front drive to collectors. The body was a one piece aluminum casting with a separate enclosed cast motor mount/drive unit. Underneath, a shallow, gently curved sheet aluminum belly pan covered the internal workings. The hood was also formed of sheet aluminum.

Dooling introduced the Streamliner in 1939. Because of the car’s overall appearance and squat stature, it was affectionately nicknamed the “Frog” by enthusiasts. The car was driven by a horizontally mounted engine with spur gears. The entire motor mount assembly, including the drive-axle, could be lifted out of the car by removing just four screws located beneath the belly pan. The cast aluminum body separated to reveal a two-piece front axle. By virtue of a torsion bar system, each spring-loaded front wheel assembly could be adjusted for ride height and varying track conditions. Both axles were locked down by hexagon nuts after adjustment.

In late 1940 the Dooling brothers produced the Pee Wee, a twelve inch long racer designed for the medium class (cars with engine sizes .36 to .45 cubic inches). With a polished, two-piece cast aluminum body and direct drive off the engine crankshaft to the left-rear wheel, the Pee Wee was potent and simple. Advertisements of the era proclaimed that these cars, with Bunch engines, could run seventy-plus miles per hour. A little cousin to the Second Series Front Drive.

After the war, in April 1946, the Dooling brothers produced the “F” car. Probably the easiest Dooling car to find, the “F” car is sixteen inches long with a two-piece die-cast magnesium body. Once again bevel gears were used to drive the rear axle. A separate, stamped aluminum Kurtis midget-type grille was riveted to the body top. Front axles were of two-piece cast aluminum knee-action design, supported by a bracket bolted to the belly pan. Rubber grommets surrounding the axles provided more support at the body openings. Cars from the factory came painted in many combinations of colors. Optional tires and a front axle could be had for rail racing.

The last of the mass-produced Dooling cars, the Arrow, hit the market in April 1948. The Arrow was the fastest of all Dooling designs. When equipped with Dooling’s own .61 engine, the Arrow was a racing force to be reckoned with. Body design consisted of a lightweight fiberglass body and an aluminum belly pan. The Arrow could be purchased race-ready from the factory, complete with the Dooling .61 engine, fuel tank, coil, shut-off, and batteries for $125.

Considering the Doolings’ longevity in the model race car business, the number of cars they produced was large in comparison to other makes, although exact production figures are not known. The magnesium “F” car is the easiest to find today. The Arrow and the Mercury Deluxe (or Rear Drive) turn up occasionally. The rest of the Dooling cars are even rarer.

Volumes could be written about the Dooling brothers’ accomplishments, their cars, and their engines. Some enthusiasts, in fact, concentrate on assembling Dooling-only collections. The Dooling brothers’ facet of the miniature race car hobby alone would be a considerable investment of time and money— and satisfaction.

The last of the mass-produced Dooling cars, the Arrow, hit the market in April 1948. The Arrow was the fastest of all Dooling designs. When equipped with Dooling’s own .61 engine, the Arrow was a racing force to be reckoned with. Body design consisted of a lightweight fiberglass body and an aluminum belly pan. The Arrow could be purchased race-ready from the factory, complete with the Dooling .61 engine, fuel tank, coil, shut-off, and batteries for $125.

DOOLING BROTHERS
3433 West 59th Street
5452 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles 16, California[/spoiler]

ORIGINAL DOOLING “F” TETHER CAR

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DOOLING F TETHER CAR 1
ORIGINAL MAGNESIUM DOOLING "F" TETHER CAR POWERED BY A MCCOY .60 BLACK CASE IGNITION ENGINE, RUNNING IN THE GLOW CONFIGURATION. THIS IS AN OLDER BUILD, CIRCA MID 1990'S. EVERYTHING APPEARS ORIGINAL INCLUDING THE WHEELS AND TIRES AND ALL RUNNING GEAR. THE PAINT IS IN GREAT...
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DOOLING “PEE WEE” ALUMINUM FRONT DRIVE TETHER CAR

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DOOLING PEE WEE 1
DOOLING "PEE WEE" ALUMINUM FRONT DRIVE TETHER CAR Manufacturer: Dooling Offered on: eBay eBay ID: xaviator Price realized: $760.00 A BEAUTIFUL REPRODUCTION DOOLING "PEE WEE" CONFIGURED FOR FRONT WHEEL DRIVE POWERED BY A STRONG DOOLING .29 RACING GLOW ENGINE. A LUCAS-SMITH GEAR BOX WAS MODIFIED TO FIT THE...
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MARTIN MITE DOOLING 29 POWERED RAIL TETHER CAR

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$(KGrHqJ,!hYE2ei6mQ3UBNvzUsS!Uw~~_12
Offered: on Ebay By: lelandwolf2003 Text by: Leland Wolf Photo credit: Leland Wolf MARTIN PRODUCTS CO DOOLING 29, GAS POWERED RAIL CAR The engine is .29 cubic inches. Fiber Glass is used for the Race Car Body Top. Incredible engineering – narrow race wheels, balanced flywheel drive shaft, with...
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DOOLING YELLOW MERCURY TETHER CAR WITH CHAMPION 60 GAS ENGINE

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$(KGrHqIOKpkE26L3RhNqBNv+jT4pZw~~_3
Offered: on Ebay By: lelandwolf2003 Text by: Leland Wolf Photo credit: Leland Wolf DOOLING MERCURY WITH CHAMPION 60 ENGINE #3, MERCURY TETHER CAR, AUTHENTIC TIRES AND WHEELS, SPEEDWAY METALLIC YELLOW PAINT, SPIN OFF HUBS, SPRING SUSPENSION, LEATHER SEAT, FULL DASH, SIDE FUEL PUMP, SIDE BRAKE LEVER MEASURES : 7 1/2 INCHES TALL X 17 1/2 INCHES LONG...
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ORIGINAL DOOLING WHITE ARROW DOOLING 61 ENG TETHER CAR

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ORIGINAL DOOLING ARROW 9.2
DOOLING ARROW TETHER CAR,  AUTHENTIC DOOLING TIRES AND WHEELS, SPEEDWAY METALLIC WHITE PAINT AND GOLD AND BLACK TRIM WITH WHITE PAN. MEASURES : 6 1/2 INCHES TALL X 19 1/2 INCHES LONG X 7 INCHES WIDE Offered: on Ebay By: lelandwolf2003 Text by: Leland Wolf Photo credit: Leland Wolf...
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DOOLING RED ARROW WITH DOOLING 61 ENGINE TETHER CAR

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DOOLING ARROW 9
DOOLING ARROW TETHER CAR,  AUTHENTIC DOOLING TIRES AND WHEELS, SPEEDWAY METALLIC MAROON RED PAINT AND METALLIC ORANGE TRIM, WITH POLISHED PAN MEASURES : 6 1/2 INCHES TALL X 19 1/2 INCHES LONG X 7 INCHES WIDE Offered: on Ebay By: lelandwolf2003 Text by: Leland Wolf Photo credit: Leland Wolf...
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DOOLING FROG #777 TETHER RACE CAR HORNET 60 GAS POWERED

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DOOLING FROG 7
Offered: on Ebay By: lelandwolf2003 Text by: Leland Wolf Photo credit: Leland Wol fDOOLING FROG CAR, HORNET 60 POWERED FEATURES:VERY INNOVATIVE WHEELIE GUARD, METALLIC SPEEDWAY YELLOW, PAINT WITH RED PIN STRIPES, AND, EXCELLENT 777 NUMBER, CUSTOM FUEL TANK, DOOLING BROS FRONT AND REAR, WHEELS AND TIRES. MEASURES 20 1/4 INCHES LONG X 10 1/4...
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DOOLING F #7 TETHER CAR WITH HORNET 60 ENGINE

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$(KGrHqMOKj0E2LEv3gfJBNv+kCQgq!~~_12
Offered: on Ebay By: lelandwolf2003 Text by: Leland Wolf Photo credit: Leland Wolf DOOLING F CAR HORNET 60 ENGINE #7 TETHER CAR. AUTHENTIC DOOLING TIRES AND WHEELS, SPEEDWAY METALLIC LIGHT GREEN PAINT AND RED, WHITE AND BLUE TRIM MEASURES : 6 1/2 INCHES TALL X 16 1/2 INCHES LONG X 8...
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DOOLING BLACK ARROW TETHER CAR with DOOLING 61 ENGINE

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$(KGrHqJ,!i!E2Tn-rISFBNv+kJ8WMQ~~_12
DOOLING ARROW WUTH DOOLING 61 ENGINE #11 TETHER CAR, AUTHENTIC DOOLING TIRES AND WHEELS, SPEEDWAY METALLIC BLACK PAINT AND SILVER AND RED TRIM, WITH POLISHED PAN MEASURES : 6 1/2 INCHES TALL X 19 1/2 INCHES LONG X 7 INCHES WIDE Offered: on Ebay By: lelandwolf2003 Text by: Leland Wolf Photo credit:...
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Dooling F Tether Race Car

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Dooling F Tether Race CarMeasures 18" long by 8" wide at rear wheels. No tank etc.Offered: April 19th 2008By: Dirk Soulis AuctionsPhoto credit: Dirk Soulis AuctionsPrice realized: $1325 [nggallery id=48]...
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1948 Dooling F Prototype Tether Race Car

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MH12_L437_01
Gas-engined race car featuring a .61 ignition and in beautiful restored condition. Liveried as the "Dooling Special" in orange and cream and wearing race number 31. Features extensive brightwork and is immaculate. Wheelbase: 11 in. As-new condition. 8.5x18.5 inches. Part of the Milhous Collection Photo...
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