Pedal cars for children first appeared in the late 1880s, when Karl Benz introduced his three-wheel Patent Motorwagen for adults. By the early 1900s, pedal cars were widespread, especially in the United States, England, France, and Australia.
One of the first companies to make three-wheel velocipedes for children was Whitney Reed, whose wooden horse pulling a sulky is a classic of the early form—the horse’s jointed legs moved when the operator pushed the pedals. Because automobiles are the main type of pedal toy sought by collectors, pedal toys like the early Whitney Reeds can be surprisingly easy to acquire.
Around the same time, Butler Brothers was making “Juvenile Steel Automobiles,” which is how the company described the pedal cars in its catalog. These cars had sheet-steel bodies, open steering systems and bottoms, and double-spoke wheels. Models included the Scorcher, the Wizard, and the Speedwell. The pedal version of the best-selling Ford Model T was especially popular among kids, and is highly prized today.
Before the war, the Bon Marché in Paris had been selling pedal cars designed after Grand Prix Peugeots. After the war, French toy maker Eureka continued this trend, making pedal cars fashioned after Peugeots, as well as Renaults and the Citroen Rosalie.
The U.K.’s Lines Bros offered its customers 30 pedal cars in its 1937/38 catalog, from the basic Prince, which was designed for 2-to-4-year olds, to the Electric Rolls, which had a wooden body and a 12-volt electric motor driving the rear axle. Naturally the car had working brakes and headlights, real Dunlop tires (including a spare), and chrome-plated rims. As for its performance, it could travel 12 to 15 miles on a single charge and had a top speed of 5 mph.
The heyday for pedal cars in the United States occurred between the World Wars. For example, pedal cars were fixtures in Sears catalogs. Unfortunately, they could only be sent to customers who lived near railroad tracks because mailing a steel car, even a small one, was simply not possible. Other companies that made pedal cars in the ’20s and ’30s included American National Automobiles of Toledo and Steelcraft of Murray, both based in Ohio.
Among other products, Steelcraft made GMC pedal trucks, as well as Mack dumptrucks, Model T Roadsters, Dodge Runabouts, and a Chrysler Roadster, which had bullet-shaped headlight...
Today these prices sound cheap, but the toys were not cheaply made. In fact, they were often as lavishly detailed as the real things. The steel was typically enameled to ensure rich colors, while pedals were adjustable to give young drivers a comfortable ride. Like the cars that adults drove, models ranged from economy (Whippet) to luxury (Studebaker). On the better models, steering wheels and other solid parts were custom cast.
After World War II, the J-40 (or Junior Forty) made by Lines Bros. in Wales by retired miners and modeled after the 1949 Austin A-40 was probably the most popular pedal car in England. In the 1950s, the company offered 33 pressed-steel-body pedal cars, its heavily chromed Tri-ang Centurian being the top of the line.
By the early 1960s, the company experimented with novelty cars such as the Noddy, which was like a small go-kart, but as the decade progressed it reverted back to pedal cars based on real automobiles such as the MG Midget.
Pedal cars were also popular in Australia. In fact, they have such a rich history there that the government recently issued a series of toy-theme stamps, including one with a red Cyclops pedal car from 1953. Though based in Australia, many of Cyclops’s pedal car designs were based on U.S. models and manufacturers, from Buick and Chevrolet, to Pontiac and Packard.
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Recent News: Pedal Cars
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Custom-Painted, Hand-Airbrushed Comet Pedal Cars For Sale At Linear ...Press Release Rocket, December 20th
Linear Automotive has made quite a statement by providing a new line of custom-airbrushed artwork on these Comet Pedal Cars. Each pedal car has its own original design, which means another one will not be found exactly like it. These custom-designed ...Read more
Are Power Wheels the Way Car Companies Turn Children Into Lifelong ...autoevolution, December 18th
Say your three-year old girl loves her Barbie doll, but you'd be really proud to see her holding the wheel of the pedal car you used to drive when you were a kid. No worries, just sell that old wreck and buy a Barbie Ford Mustang, she'll even have the...Read more
Restored Classic Pedal Cars Are Amazing [Photo Gallery]autoevolution, December 17th
The entire collection counts for about 15 20th century pedal cars to choose from which includes a 1941 Pontiac, 1952 General Sad Face, 1958 55Chevy Lancer, 1958 Champion Fiat Face and even a Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud pedal car from Tri-angs...Read more
By: Ken BeckWilson Post, December 12th
Granville native Randall Clemons, who lives in Lebanon, received a swell pedal car for Christmas in 1955 when he was 31?2 years old. He practically wore the car out, and before the rising waters of Cordell Hull Lake claimed his parents' home and land...Read more
Was the Sinclair C5 30 years too early?BBC News, December 9th
Jack is the presenter of Science in Action on the BBC World Service. He trained as a mechanical engineer (with automotive and aeronautic design) before becoming a journalist. He has worked at the BBC for over a decade and has reported from areas as ...Read more
Stokes: Innovation can yield positive results for brave at heartHilton Head Island Packet, December 6th
Perhaps the worst thing I did was upgrade my younger brother's pedal car. By extending the rods that move the pedals, that thing would fly. I forgot the brakes. But it sure was funny the way his knees smacked him under the chin on a downhill run. As I...Read more
Kim Phillips: Denton gets all dolled upDenton Record Chronicle, December 6th
Pots and pans hang from the axles of a mid-20th-century child's pedal car bolted to the kitchen wall. A refurbished, full-sized library card catalog in the den has neat handwritten labels identifying what each drawer holds: buttons, pencils, markers...Read more
Pedal-Car Auction Brings in Over $500K for NAAA Scholarship CharityAuto Remarketing, October 2nd
The four remaining awards went to the following auctions: McConkey Auction Group for the "Most Creative Pedal Car;" Greater Milwaukee Auto Auction for the "Best Custom Pedal Car;" Pittsburgh Auto Auction for the "Best Accessories;" and, Akron Auto ...Read more