The History of Pedal Cars

Origin

• Pedal cars started in the 1890s on the heels of the invention of the automobile. However, because of their high price, pedal cars were restricted to being toys for children in prosperous families, a trend that continued through the Great Depression. During World War II, pedal car production was limited as metal was needed to support the war effort.

Resurgence

• In the 1950s, pedal cars experienced renewed popularity in large part due to the postwar economic boom. These newer models were chain-driven, and more closely replicated real automobiles by including features like headlights and horns, and custom paint jobs. This era also saw the introduction of other types of pedal toys, such as trucks and planes.

Decline

• In the 1960s, interest in pedal cars began to wane as the burgeoning field of space exploration began to capture the attention of children. New safety standards for children's toys also made them less cost-effective to manufacture. By the 1970s, plastic pedal toys like the Big Wheel had virtually put pedal cars out of business.

Modern Era

• Pedal cars have become collector's items, in some cases selling for thousands of dollars. They can be purchased on the Internet at sites such as PedalCars.com and PedalCarUsa.com, to name two. Many have remained in good condition because of their construction, as most were made of metal or steel.

Popular Models

• According to ClassicPedalCars.com, one of the most popular pedal car models is the 1965 Ford Mustang, which is a replica of the first year edition of the classic Ford vehicle. Other favorites include the Model T, police pedal cars, and racer pedal cars, as well as fire engines and the "sad face" models.