Jalopy

Jalopy, manufactured by Williams in 1951, is a classic slice of early-1950s pinball built around a mechanical backbox racing animation. Designed by Harry Williams and Sam Stern, with artwork by George Molentin, Jalopy is closely related to Williams' 1951 'Hayburners,' sharing nearly identical mechanics but differing in artwork and in how the backbox score is displayed.

This 5-ball, 5-cent game boasts two flippers and six pop bumpers, giving players a lively playfield to work with. What sets Jalopy apart is its mechanical backbox animation, in which cars race toward the finish line as players score points, adding a visual, kinetic payoff to good play that was distinctive for its era.

Jalopy's playfield artwork carries an auto-racing motif in keeping with its Sports theme, an approach common among Williams' sports-themed EM machines of the period. While little else is documented about the machine's specific reception, its close kinship with Hayburners and its distinctive mechanical animation make it a notable piece of early-1950s Williams pinball history.