PEDAL CARS
Over one hundred and ten years of joy and make-believe.
The introduction of the motor car created intrigue not just among adults but also children.
Pedal cars were made using similar materials to the marques and models they represented and gave children a feeling that they were actually driving a real car.
However, because of their high price pedal cars were mainly purchased only for children in wealthy families.
The 1950’s post war economic boom led to improved prosperity and to increasingly affordable pedal cars, some now being chain driven and much more accurate in terms of replication, having features like horns and headlights.
Pedal cars have become very collectible, and in many instances have sold for unbelievable prices. They have now become an adult toy with many models now being available in reproduction format, built to the exact specifications of the originals.
Perhaps the most famous among all of the designs and models ever produced are those made by the Austin Motor Company Limited; the Junior 40 (J40), based on the 1948 A40, Devon, and the Pathfinder Special, styled on an Austin 7 racing car of the 1930’s.
continued opposite...
Admission Prices
CLICK FOR TICKETING INFO
Local Attractions
WINDERMERE LAKE CRUISES
LAKESIDE & HAVERTHWAITE RAILWAY
Education Visits & Courses
CLICK HERE
- Open daily except Christmas Day from 10.00
- -
- Closing at 16.30 until the 30th March then 17.30 until the end of October
- -
- Enquiry line: 015395 30400
Austin Pathfinder Special
Austin’s pedal car factory opened in July 1949 at Bargoed in South Wales, financed by Government funds, to operate as a not- for- profit activity, purely to create employment for disabled miners.
The Pathfinder did not sell very well and was withdrawn after only one year. It is now sought after by collectors and commands much higher prices than the J40.
Austin Junior 40 (J40)
A total of almost 32,000 J40’s were produced from 1950 to 1971. They were made using off-cuttings of metal supplied by Austin’s Longbridge factory.
Although the model was labelled ‘Junior’ in sales catalogues they were known as ‘Joycars’ by the Austin factory and came with a dummy engine, complete with sparking plugs and leads, battery operated headlamps, horn and chrome trim.
