|
|
|
THE RETURN OF THE
MUSTANG PEDAL CAR
By Michael Collins, FCN
It wasn't long after Henry Ford began mass-producing Model T's at the turn
of the century that kids took to sidewalks in miniature pedal cars. The
steel covered toys remained high on children's wish-lists until the 70's
when the company stopped producing them.
Just as the 1965 Mustang was a runaway hit, so was its counterpart pedal
car, selling over 93,000 units by Christmas of its first year in
production. Four decades later, the pedal-car with the Mustang logo is
back and demand extends beyond kids, to their parents and grand-parents as
well, some of whom may have owned an original.
"That Mustang became one of the hottest pedal cars of all time," said Mark
Bentley, Ford licensing manager "At first they were simply toys, but now
adults see them as collectables. It's a nostalgia thing."
Created as a promotion, Mustang Pedal Cars sold in Ford dealerships across
the United States for a discount price of $12.95. But plastic gained
ground over metal as a material for toys in ensuing years and the
Mustang's initial pedal car manufacturer AMF-the same company that makes
bowling equipment-sold the tooling to a Mexican company. In the early 80's
that company closed, leaving the original equipment in a warehouse, where
it remained untouched for nearly 20 years.
Enter Mark Luzaich in 2004. As the owner of Warehouse 36, a small company
in Windsor California, Luzaich started importing and producing pedal cars
as collectables. Hearing about the original equipment, he flew to Mexico,
bought it, and prepared to produce the original Mustang Pedal Car once
again. Despite modifications for contemporary safety standards, it would
be exactly the same with all-steel construction, adjustable rubber pedals,
a clear windshield and authentic Mustang markings.
The biggest difference from the original pedal car is the price. While
Ford dealerships sold them at a discount, in stores, they retailed for
$25. But just as the cost of the Mustang has increased ten-fold over the
last 40 years, so too has the price of the pedal car which now retails for
around $250.
“The nice thing is that they’re made out of steel, so when kids outgrow
them their parents can save them for the grandkids,” said Luzaich.
Luzaich contacted the Ford Licensing Office for permission to market the
toy as the original Mustang Pedal Car.
"We were excited when they approached us, it was like finding a piece of
history and bringing it back to life," said Bentley. “Like the Mustang
itself, the pedal car has always been considered an icon,”
But the Mustang wasn’t the only icon Luzaich wanted to license. Having
learned the ropes of the pedal car business, he wanted to try something
that hadn’t been seen before. Working with toy designer, Graham Metcalfe,
they created a 1932 Ford Roadster pedal car based on the lines of what had
become known as the original “Deuce Coupe.”
“The 32 Roadster is the quintessential hot rod,” said Metcalfe. “We worked
very hard to make sure the grill and other markings were just right. We
wanted it to be very retro.”
Metcalfe says not only are a growing number of pedal cars being sold to
car enthusiasts and their kids, there’s also a growing market for hot rod
shops. Hot rod designers are modifying them to look like miniature
versions of their vehicles.
Leslie Kendall, a curator at the Petersen Auto Museum in Los Angeles, says
he is not surprised by the rebirth and growing interest in pedal cars
“People are just as nostalgic about pedal cars as they are the real thing
because they bring back fond memories,” he said. “Besides, they’re easier
to maintain, don’t require oil changes, and they’re decorative.”
The info above was supplied by Ford Motor Company.
Media.Ford.com
|
