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History of Pedal Cars

Posted on 2023-01-25

You might remember a time when pedal cars were the ultimate kid's toy. Maybe one of your neighbors had one. You might have even owned one yourself.

Today's high-tech kids' toys just don't have the same simple charm. Pedal cars were stylish yet simple, providing hours of fun for kids of all ages. All you needed was your imagination and a little bit of leg strength, and you were set for a great time.

Feeling nostalgic yet? Read on to relive the exciting history of these classic toys.

The Beginning: When Were Pedal Cars Invented?

Children's Toy Motor Cars

Pedal cars, also known as “Children's Toy Motor Cars” or "Juvenile Steel Automobiles," appeared around the same time as the first cars, first showing up in the 1890s. They looked like simplified versions of full-sized cars and were made from wood and metal.

In general, early pedal cars used smaller wheels in front and larger ones in the back. These wheels often had wooden rims and metal tires.  

Few people owned cars, and few people owned pedal cars. Although simple in design, they were expensive to produce and difficult to transport. This limited their target audience to upper-class children living near railroads.

Still, kids all over the country dreamed of getting behind the wheel of their very own cars. To give their children a chance to join in the fun, some families made their own basic pedal cars at home using inexpensive materials. 

Growing Popularity and Evolution

The American pedal car's popularity soared over the next few decades, and its design evolved throughout the century.

By the mid-century, pedal cars were all the rage among American families. They were still on the expensive side, but they became less costly and easier to get as the century went by.

Design Updates in the 1910s

First off, the 1910s did away with the original wood-bodied design and switched to sheet steel, which made mass production possible. 

Manufacturers also replaced the original chain-drive pedal mechanism with a crank axle in the rear. This change improved the pedaling experience by providing a smoother, more comfortable ride. 

Sometimes, kids even got plush, upholstered car seats, which created an even more enjoyable riding experience. They were riding better than some adults at the time!

Rising Popularity: The 1920s and 1930s

Pedal Car Production

American pedal car and go-kart production ramped up between the World Wars, peaking in the 20s and 30s. Around this time, pedal cars began appearing in department stores and mail-order catalogs.

In 1937, you could order a New Streamliner from Sears for $9.69 — with a free helmet and pair of goggles thrown in. While that may seem like a bargain today, it was expensive at the time. Today, that same package would cost about $186.26, plus shipping and handling.

Pricier models often featured custom castings, paint jobs and parts. Imagine zipping around the block in your one-of-a-kind ride. The whole neighborhood would be jealous.

Manufacturers often exported pedal carts to other countries, including France, Russia, and the United Kingdom.

World War II

Pedal car production halted completely in the 1940s due to the war. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, toy manufacturers redirected all their steel to making military supplies.

Pedal cars and other wheel-goods toys did not return to the market for some time after the war.

The Pedal Car Golden Age: The 1950s and 1960s

Post-War Era Boom

Pedal cars experienced a massive boom in the postwar era. American families became wealthier, and consumer goods became cheaper, so more people could afford them. Pedal cars became a staple product in the Sears catalog, as well as in toy stores nationwide.

And since shipping technology had improved significantly, the toys were more accessible to families across the country. Some car dealerships also started selling discounted pedal car versions of their cars as part of promotional campaigns. For example, Ford sold a discounted version of the 1965 Mustang juvenile car to dealership customers. 

As real automobiles evolved, so did pedal cars. By the mid '60s, kids basically had their own mini luxury vehicles with state-of-the-art features and accessories like: 

  • Chrome detailing
  • Working lights and horns
  • Upholstered seats
  • Hood ornaments
  • Adjustable windows and windshields
  • Custom paint jobs
  • Attachable trailers
  • Gas pumps

Manufacturers also saw an opportunity to diversify their pedal toy offerings and jumped on it. They began producing pedal vehicles of all kinds, including:

  • Rockets
  • Airplanes
  • Scooters
  • Boats
  • Trains
  • Tricycles
  • Horse-drawn carriages

Almost every vehicle imaginable had a miniature version. If you can name it, someone probably made a pedal car out of it!

Decline in Modern Times

All good things must come to an end. Sadly, that truth also applies to our favorite toys. Major manufacturing innovations in the late '60s and early '70s changed the pedal car industry forever. 

The 1970s: The Beginning of the End

Plastic Production

With the advent of plastic in the 1960s came a final explosion in pedal car manufacturing. Plastic was cheaper and easier to manufacture than steel, so toy companies jumped at the new material.

Due to new safety standards, many manufacturers began moving away from realistic designs. The newer versions resembled colorful cartoons more than actual vehicles.

These updated cars could be mass-produced at a scale that was impossible using steel. Cheaper production and rising supply led to decreasing prices, making these toys more accessible to middle and working-class families.

This change is the most likely reason for the pedal car's popularity hitting an all-time low. The new designs just weren't as appealing to kids, and the hype died down quickly.

The 2000s and Beyond: Pedal Cars Today

Nowadays, trends rise and fall at breakneck speed. Companies release new products rapidly that consumers need to replace within only a few years — and that goes for toys, as well. 

Today, toy cars are high-tech, motorized plastic vehicles kids can drive like real cars. Like their pedal-driven ancestors, these toys often resemble real luxury cars, like Bentleys and Lamborghinis. They also tend to be expensive, costing upwards of $200 on average.

The original pedal car is still around, but it's mostly a niche collector's item. It's not so much a kid's toy anymore as it is an interesting antique. 

Pedal Car FAQs

The history of pedal cars is long and fascinating, and it says a lot about us as Americans and our attachment to cars. 

Still have questions about antique pedal cars? Here are some answers to the most commonly asked questions about the toys.

Who Invented the Pedal Car?

Garton Toy Company

Although no definite inventor has been named, it's thought that Garton Toy Company was the first American pedal car manufacturer. Founded in 1879, the company quickly developed a reputation as the premier producer of wheel-goods toys in the United States.

What Companies Made Pedal Cars?

Various companies produced pedal cars — many of these companies began as automotive manufacturers and diversified into toy cars. 

By the 1930s, American National rose to prominence as the world's largest pedal car manufacturer. With the iconic slogan “Raise the kiddies on wheels,” the company was a conglomerate of merging Ohio-based companies:

  • The Witzler Woodwork Company
  • The National Wheel Company
  • The American Metal Wheel Company

In its heyday, American National introduced innovative, streamlined manufacturing methods with the Skippy Airflow line. The product line featured models based on full-size Ford, Chevrolet, Chrysler and Pontiac cars. Production halted during WWII, bringing American National's golden age to a close. 

One of American National's biggest competitors was Murray Ohio Manufacturing Co., which also made parts for automobiles. They produced their pedal cars, marketed as Steelcraft Wheel Goods, with the same steel and production methods they used to make full-size automobile parts. 

Were Pedal Cars Popular Outside of the U.S.?

You already know pedal cars were all the rage with American kids. But did you know they were popular around the world? Other countries that joined the pedal car craze include:

  • France: Bon Marché was the main pedal toy manufacturer in France before WWI and sold pedal cars modeled after the Grand Prix Peugeot. During the post-war era, French toy company Eureka continued the trend by producing Citroen Rosalie and Renault pedal cars.

Pedal Cars - Soviet Union

  • Russia: Pedal cars were coveted items in the Soviet Union, though few families had the means or the space to afford them. Some cities provided kids with the option to rent out a pedal car for a few laps at the local park, an activity that was often reserved for special occasions.
  • United Kingdom: Welsh toy company Lines Bros., which later changed its name to Tri-ang, was the top pedal car supplier in the UK by the 1930s. Post-WWII, the company released the wildly popular J-40 pedal car, designed to resemble the 1949 Austin A40. 
  • Australia: Pedal cars were big Down Under, with the Cyclops, Tri-ang, Hi-Speed and Wizard ranking as the most popular models. The Aussie government even featured the red Cyclops pedal car in a toy-themed postage stamp series in 2009 — clearly, it was and still is a culturally relevant toy.

Does Anyone Still Make Pedal Cars?

People still make pedal cars today, but it's mostly seen as an old-fashioned hobby. Some American artisans keep the tradition alive by building handmade custom models or restoring vintage ones. 

Most modern replicas are mass-produced, so quality is far from guaranteed. Additionally, modern safety standards have required manufacturers to make some new design modifications. They're still acceptable for use by kids — they're just not worth as much from a collector's standpoint.

The pedal car's closest relative today is the Little Tikes Cozy Coupe, which looks less like a real car and more like a cartoon. Kids drive it by essentially walking through the hole at the bottom of the toy. These toys maintain the pedal car's simplicity, but not its style.

Aesthetically, the closest thing to the pedal car is the battery-operated kid's car you can find at most big box retailers and toy shops. Modeled to resemble real-life luxury vehicles and monster trucks, these little cars take the original pedal car idea and upgrade it for the modern age. 

Are There Pedal Cars for Adults?

Kids shouldn't be the only ones to have all the fun! You can find full-size pedal cars — also known as quadricycles — on the market for a few hundred dollars. Although their design is extremely basic, they provide all the fun and simplicity of an old-school pedal car. 

Endurance Sport

Adults have also upgraded these toys to be racing machines. Pedal car racing is an endurance sport that involves teams driving these cars around a track for up to 24 hours straight. Each driver pedals for as long as they can before passing it on to their teammate. Racing pedal cars are typically prototypes built for or by the teams who will race them, so they tend to be bare-bones in appearance. The sport is exciting for athletes and pedal car enthusiasts of all ages.

Additionally, in the interest of developing more sustainable cars, several companies have released pedal cars for adult drivers. 

Two notable examples include Organic Transit's ELF car and Better Bike's PEBL, which are pedal-assisted electric vehicles that resemble a hybrid between a bicycle and a car. Those nostalgic for the pedal cars of their youth might enjoy pedaling such a vehicle around town. You'll save gas, get a little exercise and relive your childhood memories, all at the same time.

What Were Some Popular Pedal Car Models?

While manufacturers produced many different pedal car varieties, some stood out more than others. Some of the most iconic pedal cars throughout history included:

  • 1965 Ford Mustang: Modeled after the original Ford Mustang, this little muscle car is one of the most sought-after wheel toys ever produced in the United States. 
  • 1922 Ford Model T: With its classic thin wheels, chrome detailing and big grill, this old-school pedal car was stylish and functional. It also came in multiple colors, including red, black and gray.
  • 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray: If you were driving this bad boy as a kid, you had game. These were highly sought-after in the 50s — and they still are! If you've got one in especially good condition, you might be able to get thousands for it.
  • 1950s Murray Sad Face Fire Engine: Don't let the nickname fool you — kids weren't sad driving these around! One of the most coveted by collectors today, this pedal car is known for its classic hood ornament, bright red body and, of course, its “sad face” grill. 
  • 1941 Alfa Romeo Alfetta: Featuring a bright red, bullet-shaped body, thin spoke wheels and movable wheel, the Alfa Romeo Alfetta was an absolutely adorable pedal car. While replicas are fairly easy to find these days, it's difficult to get your hands on the real deal without breaking the bank.
  • 1929 Eureka Baby Bugatti: Eureka was a French pedal car manufacturer known for their high-quality pressed steel pedal cars. The company produced a limited run of “Baby Bugattis” modeled after the luxury car, the Bugatti Type 52. Exclusively offered to civil and military officials and celebrities, this little car was truly a luxury product.
  • 1955 Murray Atomic Missile: Not so much a pedal car as a pedal rocket, the Atomic Missile took advantage of the Space Race to provide kids with a pedal toy that sparked the imagination and excited the mind. 

How Much Did Pedal Cars Cost?

The average pedal car could retail anywhere from $10 to around $60 for high-end or custom models. That may sound inexpensive according to modern standards, but back in the day, it was a pretty hefty price tag for a toy. That's especially true for pedal cars sold during periods of hardship, like the Great Depression.

For context, $30 in 1930 is roughly equivalent to $535 today. On the higher end, a pedal car costing $60 would be about $1,070 in today's money. This largely explains why they are worth so much today in addition to their value as antiques. 

How Much Are Pedal Cars Worth Now?

Pedal Car Appraisal

Depending on the model, its age and its condition, an authentic vintage pedal car could cost anywhere from $200 to over $1,000. The rarer a pedal car, the more it'll be worth.

That said, if you've got an authentic original pedal car on your hands, it's best to either keep it or give it to someone who will appreciate it. Simple, stylish toys like these are hard to come by nowadays, making them valuable relics of a bygone time.

You can also often find parts and accessories for sale online, such as car bells, wheels and hubcaps. So if you want to do some DIY repairs, you're all set. 

How Do I Evaluate a Pedal Car's Worth?

If you've got a pedal car you're thinking of selling, or you're considering buying one, here are some factors to keep in mind:

  • Paint: Collectors typically look for original enamel colors as well as pristine paint jobs.
  • Parts: Typically, a pedal car with original parts in good condition is more valuable than one with incomplete or replaced parts. 
  • Material: Is the body made from metal or plastic? In general, the old plastic pedal cars are worth less than the antique steel models. Plastic ones also tend to be more difficult to restore.
  • Condition: Make sure the pedal car is in good or excellent condition. Look for any rust, corrosion or chipped paint — this will decrease its value.
  • Rarity: Is it a one-of-a-kind custom pedal car, or a standard model? Like with any collectible, the rarer your car, the more it will likely be worth.

If you need help identifying your pedal car and what it might be worth, it might help to get in touch with a professional appraiser or an expert in toy history. They can help you understand your pedal car's condition, as well as its cultural and historical significance, so you might get a fascinating lesson thrown in with the appraisal.

Where Can I See Original Pedal Cars in Person?

Aside from visiting an antiques auction or private collection, you can find vintage pedal cars at automotive or toy museums, like The Volo Auto Museum.

Located in Volo, Illinois, the Volo Auto Museum presents an extensive collection of rare, original pedal cars from the 1920s to the 1950s. Our pedal cars all come from one singular collection from a serious collector who compiled these little vehicles over more than 30 years. From tractors to Bugattis, we've got all sorts of unique pedal cars for your viewing pleasure. 

Bring your family or friends along to share in the nostalgia. You can even make a day of it by exploring the rest of the museum, grabbing lunch and catching a film at one of the on-site theaters — all in the same day!

Pedal Cars - Volo Museum

See Historic Pedal Cars at the Volo Museum

Want to see original pedal cars in person? Come visit the Volo Auto Museum! Our 35-acre property offers an exciting all-day experience, from viewing historical artifacts to savoring a slice at our on-site pizza parlor. With more than 33 unique exhibits, we've got something for everyone in your group. 

Click here to get started planning your visit, or call us at 815-385-3644 for more information.

 

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