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SHIPPING AVAILABLE > A vintage Testors Sprite Special gas-powered tether car, offered in its original packaging and discovered in unused, mint condition.
This meticulously preserved example retains all original accessories, manuals, and decals as shown, which appear complete and were discovered within the box. The set includes the car, a bag of parts and tools, decals, instruction sheets, and Testors branding material. Due to its pristine condition and collector value, this example has not been tested for functionality.
This model, introduced in 1970, represents a collaboration between Testors Corporation and Sprite, a soft drink brand under The Coca-Cola Company. The Sprite Special features a sleek open-wheel design, rubber tires marked "600x16," and a .049 cubic inch displacement engine powered by a methanol-based fuel mixture. Its tethered operation allowed hobbyists to experience high-speed racing in a controlled setting. The promotional "Enjoy Sprite" branding highlights its dual appeal to both racing enthusiasts and Sprite consumers, marking an innovative cross-brand marketing effort.
Gas-powered tether cars like the Sprite Special were popular in the mid-20th century, particularly during the 1940s-1970s, as they combined engineering, speed, and the excitement of competition. Testors, a leader in model kits and hobby supplies, capitalized on this trend by producing high-quality miniature racing cars. Sprite, launched by Coca-Cola in 1961, became an iconic lemon-lime beverage, and its collaboration with Testors reflects the growing synergy between hobby culture and consumer goods during this era.
This set, in its original Testors-labeled box, is an exceptionally rare and sought-after collectible, blending the appeal of vintage motorsport replicas with advertising memorabilia. It offers a snapshot of innovative marketing and product design from the early 1970s, appealing to collectors of both gas-powered models and Coca-Cola branding history.
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