Power Car Company

The Power Car Company of Mystic, Connecticut produced power driven kiddy cars at their willow street plant in Mystic from 1954 through 1967. With George A. Ford running the company. After reading an article on the new sports car that the Ford Motor Company was coming out with in the Feb. 22nd 1954 issue of Time magazine he contacted the Ford Motor Company about making a miniature version of the new car. Not only did he receive their blessings, he also received some assistance. Production began with the 1955 Thunderbird Jr. As each year went by the body style of the miniatures changed to match that of their full size cousins, and they were introduced at the same time as the full size cars. Built in 1/3 scale with a fiberglass body on an all steel welded chassis complete with functioning head and taillights. Power to run everything was provided by a 6-Volt battery. The drive train was a modified ford starter motor that was connected to the rear axle via a V-belt. Forward and reverse were selected with a polarity reversing switch and the accelerator could put the car to the break neck speed of 5 M.P.H.. If you wanted to go any faster you could drop in a 12 volt battery or wait until 1964 when you could get one with a two stroke gas engine connected through a Fairbanks Morse transmission with an automatic clutch. This would get you to the 15-mph range and was considered an adult model. Construction was not a simple task the fiberglass bodies were made on-site along with approx. 60 other pieces and another 60 were purchased from outside vendors. They also produced the Mercury Jr. and the Mustang Jr. with the cooperation of the Ford Motor Company. Production for the Thunderbird Jrs. is estimated at 5,000 over the 12-year period they were produced. And approximately 600 Mustang Jrs., no estimates are given on the run of Mercury Jrs. The company also produced the Plymouth Fury Jr. kiddy car from 1958 - 60.

In 1967 the assets of the power Car Company were sold to Conval Industries. Conval continued to produce the older body styles of the cars for a couple of years. They declared bankruptcy in the early 70s.

Subject ID: 32486

More

The Power Car Company of Mystic, Connecticut produced power driven kiddy cars at their willow street plant in Mystic from 1954 through 1967. With George A. Ford running the company. After reading an article on the new sports car that the Ford Motor Company was coming out with in the Feb. 22nd 1954 issue of Time magazine he contacted the Ford Motor Company about making a miniature version of the new car. Not only did he receive their blessings, he also received some assistance. Production began with the 1955 Thunderbird Jr. As each year went by the body style of the miniatures changed to match that of their full size cousins, and they were introduced at the same time as the full size cars. Built in 1/3 scale with a fiberglass body on an all steel welded chassis complete with functioning head and taillights. Power to run everything was provided by a 6-Volt battery. The drive train was a modified ford starter motor that was connected to the rear axle via a V-belt. Forward and reverse were selected with a polarity reversing switch and the accelerator could put the car to the break neck speed of 5 M.P.H.. If you wanted to go any faster you could drop in a 12 volt battery or wait until 1964 when you could get one with a two stroke gas engine connected through a Fairbanks Morse transmission with an automatic clutch. This would get you to the 15-mph range and was considered an adult model. Construction was not a simple task the fiberglass bodies were made on-site along with approx. 60 other pieces and another 60 were purchased from outside vendors. They also produced the Mercury Jr. and the Mustang Jr. with the cooperation of the Ford Motor Company. Production for the Thunderbird Jrs. is estimated at 5,000 over the 12-year period they were produced. And approximately 600 Mustang Jrs., no estimates are given on the run of Mercury Jrs. The company also produced the Plymouth Fury Jr. kiddy car from 1958 - 60.

In 1967 the assets of the power Car Company were sold to Conval Industries. Conval continued to produce the older body styles of the cars for a couple of years. They declared bankruptcy in the early 70s.

Subject ID: 32486

Less