Pedal Cars of the Past

Pedal Cars As Childhood Memory and Collectible

Pedal cars are kid-powered, scaled down vehicles that were operated by pushing their pedals. They were geared for 2- to 6-year-old children and were usually ridden in driveways and down sidewalks. It took a little work on the part of the child to propel them, but that was half the fun. Unlike a lot of today’s toys, pedal cars did not have a motor, a battery or a computer chip. My brother had a beautiful red hook & ladder fire truck pedal car. Part of the joy of pedal cars was that they were made with heavy metal and shiny paint like our dad’s car.

Pedal cars evolved along side full-size cars, even imitating the colors, lines and look of the big cars. The major manufacturers of pedal cars were American National, Gendron, Steelcraft, Garton, Murray, AMF and Todeo Wheel. In the 1920’s and 30’s pedal cars were typically only enjoyed by the wealthier classes. In the postwar prosperity of the 1950’s, pedal cars became a more common sight, and if you didn’t have one, you probably knew someone that did. In their heyday, the metal pedal cars were outfitted with accessories like battery-operated lights, horns, chrome detailing, wide whitewall tires and custom paint jobs. In the 1970’s, plastic models replaced the formerly steel pedal cars, and they no longer resembled what your dad was driving.

Today pedal cars have moved from the sidewalk into gamerooms, livingrooms and offices of collectors. Because of their former outdoor use, a pedal car in good, original condition is very difficult to find. Especially difficult to find are pre-WWII models, since these would have been collected in metal drives and melted down to contribute to the war effort. Depending on their condition, a new or even a restored pedal car can run you from several hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. Replica cars are available for a few hundred dollars today and have become increasingly desirable and collectible. A pedal car is a collectible that can still be used, as it is durable enough to last for generations.

Take a look in the Retro Museum at some of the beautiful examples of pedal cars that were restored by Vintage Vending. These include a ‘59 AMF Hook & Ladder, a ‘66 AMF Ford Mustang and a ‘56 AMF 600 series pedal car. Please blog in with memories of your pedal car or to brag about your collection.