The vintage toy pedal cars

The pedal car was a toy marketed to the wealthy families after the automobile became popular in the late 1890s. This was the ultimate toy that all children wished for. The production of these toys was very prolific during the 1920s, but the Great Depression greatly reduced the production and popularity of the mini vehicles.

Of course, no pedal cars were produced during the 1940s because all metal was going to help the war effort. After the war, pedal cars appeared on the scene again and were wildly popular and more affordable during this time of American prosperity. Some collectors prefer the cars from the ’20s and ’30s, but others prefer the mid-century models with the cool fins, working headlights and other bells and whistles. Some folks like to collect cars that were copies of their favorite car like, perhaps the 1966 Mustang.

Pedal trucks, fire trucks and airplanes were also produced. A lot of these toys from the past have survived intact because they were often made of pressed steel. They are still very collectible and I have seen them bring hundreds and even over a thousand at auction.

Metal pedal toys are still being produced. When I had the antique shop, I had some lovely vintage style pedal airplanes and tricycles that I would display outside in the yard. I once saw a funeral procession pass by and some of the people in the procession came back and bought the toys from seeing them in the yard!

In this day and age, you don’t see many kids outside playing anymore, but a pedal car was a treasured toy when I was a child and you got great exercise pedaling as fast as you could down the street! Of course, a child only gets to enjoy a pedal toy for a few years because you get too big and your legs too long to pedal!

I was determined to find a pedal car for my first son when we lived on base in Ohio. They sold for a lot of money when they came up at auctions, but I got lucky one day when I found one out in a pile of metal behind a barn at a farm auction. It didn’t sell until late in the day when most of the crowd was gone. It was a ’50s model with a horrible pinkish purple paint job.

Now, purists would want to have it restored, but we were young and poor and got the car for $50 and took it home and painted in blue with a white stripe. My son loved it and would pedal up and down the sidewalks in base housing. I still have that car in the attic waiting for a grandchild to enjoy it.

I know these toys are tough because one day he left it behind my truck and I ran over it! It survived with just a few scratches.

Here are some current prices that pristine pedal car models have sold for at auction:

1965 Chevy $1,750

1920 Model T $2,800

1930 Sad Faced Fire Engine $2,400

Happy Collecting!

Jillinda Falen has been buying and selling antiques for over 30 years and is a licensed REALTOR and estate liquidation specialist.

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