what is it

What Is It???

All pictures are links to larger images, click on them to take a look.

Do you have a vehicle you can't identify. Please help identify these cars! Send the information & it will be posted.

Hello, I recently bought this car in New Zealand and I would like to find out who made it and when. It is very heavy / solid and looks like it originally had a front and rear bumper. The bumper shown in the photo is not an original part. The car is currently under restoration. Appreciate hearing from anyone with some information please. 8/10

Can you give me any information about this "Duo Drive" pedal car I have? Thanks, Neal Garrison

The car is semi coachbuilt in wood and pressed steel panels.

A short chain turns the rear axle. The dimensions are metric, overall length being 1.8 meters. The original tires were white rubber and

beaded edge. The car is based on the 1914 Mercedes Grand Prix car, which finished 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the 1914 French Grand Prix.

Can you find out the name of the manufacturer? Many thanks, Katrina Black 3-29-10

This is the photo of my unknown pedal car. Thanks, Colin 2-27-10

Hi, on your website there is a question from Rodger Coote to indentify a pedal car. Please let him know it is a Cyclops Lighting indeed and if he wants more information he can contact me. Joop Vendrik Netherlands, www.triang.nl 2-27-10

Hi, I have found a pedal car which I would like to restore for my son. Can you please post this on the ‘what is it’ section of your website to see if anyone can help identify the model? I think it might be a Cyclops Lightning, but I am not sure. regards, Rodger Coote, Canberra - Australia

Attached are photos of a Tri-ang pedal car. I wonder if you could please put the pictures on your website to see if anyone out there can give me an idea of it's age? I can remember using it as a kid in the 1950s, but am not sure whether it was, perhaps my father's beforehand. He was born in 1920. Many thanks, Fran Drake

Craig,

I have attached a page from the book the Evolution of the Pedal Car volume #4 page 100. It shows your pedal car was made by the Garton Toy Company in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. The page is from a 1969 catalog and it show up again on page 106 in a 1971 catalog. Your pedal car is a Model #3-4750 G T Auto. You can purchase the book from pedalcarbooks.com and they also sell copies of original sales catalogs that they have. I hope this helps and if I can help you again please let me know.

Dave Kleespies, D & S Pedal Car restorations. 7-20-09

I wanted to know if you can help me identify my pedal car. I had it in the early 70's. It had a plastic body. I wanted to know who made it and what was the model. I want to try to find one and put it in my collection of cars. Attached is a few photos of my red pedal car. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Craig 7-16-09

Hello: These photos were taken around 1947 .. I am trying to find what the pedal bike is and where I might find one? Could you help me ? Thank You ... Thom Lauver

Any and all help in ID'ing this, I believe, pedal car is very much appreciated...... trying to get make, model, any pictures of original car, etc. Car is missing numerous original items, wheels, windshield, steering wheel, seat, grill, etc. Thanks to all for any help, Matt Stahlecker Napa Valley, CA

Hello Sno, I was wondering if you could identify a pedal car from Australia, this car has been in my wife's family for 50 years or so. I am unable to tell you anymore, as I don't know. sorry. I am hoping to panel beat and restore back to original, not sure where to start..hehehe. 12-29-08

Thank you, Matt www.farmsim.com.au www.netsafeservers.com.au

Hi
Just to let Matt know the green pedal car was made by Cyclops and was called ' The Dodge ' it was made in the late 1930's.The wheels on the car are not original, they should have twelve slotts in each wheel. It also is missing the front bar and head lamps. Matt should you want more information on buying parts I will e-mail you. Good luck on the restoration. Cheers Ange Dore 1-2-09

Hello, Can anyone help with identifying this car (origin and a year of construction) ? The photos are around the year 1957 in Brazil. Was this a representation of some model of real car? Any help will be appreciated. Thank you for your time, MMR. magno@paris.com 7-15-08

Hello, I am trying to gather information regarding my pedal kart. I am in the process of restoring this item and I am looking for sources for parts as well as what it is. The only identifying marks I have seen are the hubcap which has either a W or a M embossed in it. During disassembly the bearing at each wheel are made in USA. I played with this kart as a child and it was an antique then. I am 40 yrs old. I am restoring it for my 4 yr old. Thank you for your time, Brad Harmon 2/19/08

I was wondering if you can help me identify this tricycle. All I know is it was made in Taiwan. I would like to know what is the name of the character on the seat when it was made. I think that KIDS MATE made it, but I am not sure. I hope you can help me. Tell me what ever you can. Thank You, De Laina Briggs 10-12-07

I am afraid i cant tell you who made the tricycle but the character on the seat is from a 1980's Japanese animated series called battle of the planets that was released in the UK, if you look on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoO5H_UKCrw or if need be do a search on you tube for battle of the planets it has the introduction from the series on there, we believe the character is princess from the series. Colin 11-12-07

Can anyone please identify the year etc of this car? I intend to restore it for my son. It was advertised as a Tri-ang Bermuda but I cannot find hide nor hair of one on the web. Without info have no idea where to start as don't know what it should look like! Many thanks, Eleanor (UK) 8-4-07

Your Bermuda was made around 1968 and is known as a TM 0731 in the Tri-ang catalogues, yours is missing two hubcaps and the windscreen frame, unfortunatley these are no longer available but i had a full set of these decals made up by a local graphic designer for mine when i restored it and may still hold them on a disc. Colin 11-12-07

Good day, On your site in the "What is it" section there is a question about a Tri-ang Bermuda pedalcar. Elanor can contact us for more information and pics. Best regards from the Netherlands, Joop Vendrik, www.triang.nl 11-12-07

Please could people help me to find out what this Tri-ang sit on car is? The dimensions are 1 metre by 25 cm and can obviously be used as a "sit on vehicle" not just a model car. It says "Sharna" on the wheels and "Made in England" on the gearbox. I would also like to know what battery it runs on. Is it 6V or 12V? The steering wheel you see here in the photos is not the original. Is it possible to get spare parts? Lastly how many of these were made? Are they rare and what are they worth? Many Thanks indeed. You can contact me direct at j.p.mulholland@btinternet.com

John Mulholland (England) 6-1-06

C.Phillips asked for help identifying a tricycle. It looks a lot like a "special needs" tricycle built by Creative Playthings, Rifton, NY. John Fulton 7-9-07

I got this trike at an auction and I have no idea what kind of trike it is. Can anyone help me? It appears to be cast aluminum. The only marks on it appear to be casting numbers. Any help is greatly appreciated. C.Phillips 5-15-06

I recently purchased this Jeep on eBay and am trying to find out what it is? It almost looks like a Sherwood but I have not been able to find another picture like this one. It has two screws on the top of the hood where something was mounted, a hole on each side by the middle rail support, and another hole in the truck area. I'm not sure if it had a tow truck boom on it?, it also has an eye bolt in the trailer hitch area. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks, Bill 3-22-06

Hi can anyone help with identifying these cars? In particular is the antique red car by Lines Bros perhaps? Thanks John Anderson 3-16-06

The blue car with the orange wheels is a Triang / Thistle model T60 Ariel (or very close to it.) The Ariel had a different bumper, but this car's is home made, and the beading on the hood was added later. I can't find a car with this beading. The car was repainted, so we can't tell from the original paintwork what it was. The rest of the car is identical to the Ariel, and was produced around 1955.

The second blue car is also Triang / Thistle, T30b Lightning.(Model TM0910) The 1961/2 had larger hubcaps, and since this car has the smaller ones, this must be after 1963. Since the 1965 Lightning had two-tone paint, this must be a 63/64. There should be a bulb horn on the right hand side at the windshield.

The cream car is an Austin Pathfinder from 1948. A search of the internet on either Austin Pathfinder or Austin J40 should give you all the information you might need. Actual production figures for these cars are unknown, but it is believed to be around 2000, and only built in 1948/9 by the Welsh miners. This model was replaced by the J40 in 1949, and lots of parts are available.

The red vintage car looks like a Lines Bros car, circa 1934. The clues are the grille, which I seem to remember from somewhere (I'll re-check all my photo's), and the wood chassis. The seat is unusual for a Lines Bros. I'd like to see more detailed pics of the grille, underside and back axle to be able to try to positively identify the car.

The other red car in this collection is unrecognized, but the same applies. If John will email me pics, I'll do some research. Pieter email - pietervdb@absa.co.za 7-7-06

My Dad bought the car you'll see in the attached photos. I think it is a battery powered Sharna Rolls Royce Corniche, maybe from around 1984, but I'm not sure. Well, it needs to be redone - but where to find parts? It needs - hubcaps - front grill - front and rear lights. I'm happy to get any information about this car. Maybe "what is it" will be the right place to post my inquiry. Best Regards, Patrick Castelberg Switzerland 2-26-05

This is a Triang-Sharna Rolls Royce. In the late 70's Triang also built a Rolls, but it was a Silver Cloud lookalike. Check out www.pedalcar.co.uk . There is a pic of a mint Sharna Rolls. As far as I know no parts are available, and your best bet is to find a similar car, draw molds from the missing parts with plaster of paris, silicone or playdough, and re-cast in resin. Also see page 83 G G Weiner's book Collector's guide to Children's automobiles. Description reads:

Tri-ang Sharna Ware PLC Rolls-Royce Corniche convertible, produced from the early eighties through the early 1990's. All-plastic monocoque with dummy drop-down top, molded windscreen with perspex windshield. Spray chromed radiator grill with rubber "Spirit of ecstacy" (flying lady) mascot on top. Working twin headlights and side with rear indicators and stop lights. Authentic dashboard with turn-key operation for lights and horn. Two versions were produced , one pedal powered and the other powered by a 12 volt electricity through registrations RRM1 to RRM6 in red, white and blue. All were retailed with miniature road fund license (tax disc) windscreen sticker and owner's log book. Mainly retailed in top London department stores. The very last batch was produced by CARS of Brighton in 1991. Pieter email - pietervdb@absa.co.za 7-7-06

I picked up this pedal car at auction and would love to know more about it. It appears to be made from a pair of AMF fire engines, but I don't know by who or why. It appears to be very well made and the only markings on the car are a front and rear custom made plate that says "PRECOURT" Steve Clements 2-1-06

This pedal car was brought back to England from Germany 12 years ago but the previous owner never restored it due to running his own business, we bought it about two years ago and restored it but have no idea who made it or its original use, it had two large metal brackets attached to the seat which makes us think it may have possibly once been attached to a fairground ride. It has a go kart style chassis which had been broken in half due to constant twisting and was generally in very poor shape, can anyone help identify it and how old it is. Colin 11-24-05

Dear Linda the red Pedal car was produced by Werner Bächtinger from Dessau East Germany DDR. It produced from end of the fifties to late sixties. He had a wooden rear seat with a vinyl cover. Best reg. Walter Kroegler. 1-11-06

During our remodel, my husband found this tricycle in the ceiling. Can you help us identify when it was made, and what kind is it? Suzanne Waggoner 11-24-05

HI Everyone! This is car that I recently purchased, I could use some assistance with the make and or model. thanks, Rick 8-24-05

Hello from Alan Duke. What is the Mfr & model of this Pedal Car. Thank You... 8-24-05

Alan, your car is a 1937 Triang/Lines Bros Epoch, model number 2658. From the pictures you supplied, the following appear to be incorrect compared to the catalog pic I have.
1. The car never had headlights mounted on the grille. They were mounted on the front bumper/frame. Different style also.
2. The grille you have looks made or at least different from the one in the catalog. Your grille doesn't match any of the other models Triang made either. With that said, the body, fenders etc... are identical to the catalog pic.
3. Your car is missing the windshield and hubcaps also.

Let me know if I can be of any other help with your car. Best of luck, Rick 8-30-05

Rick. My reference material shows this as a 1935 Triang Citroen. See pic attached. Peter van den Berg 9-20-05

Hi Peter and Allan,

Citroen or Epoch? I'm not sure what 1935 reference material you have, but, my 1937catalog differs. The 1937/8 indicates with pictures, and description that the Triang is an Epoch, not a Citroen. The additonal photos that you suplied of the "Citroen" would also be of an Epoch acording to my catalog. Infact, the grille on the red car is the exact grille on the Epoch. I do belive the grille on the brown cars was hand made.

As we all know, the bodies of these little gems were made inot several differant models, so it would not surprise me if they made the car into a citroen as well as an epoch. I guess it is YOUR choice on what you want it to be. best wishes, Rick 11-8-05

Hello from Australia, I have attached two photos of my pedal car. It is a Cyclops of some description, but I unfortunately have no idea as to the model and approximate age, Can anyone help? Thanks Patrick Flinn 8-1-05

This is a Fifties Cyclops Clipper. Earlier Clippers were known as Ford Clippers, but the trade name was dropped later. Peter van den Berg 9-20-05

PRESIDENT above

DIPLOMAT below

Update: From a similar car found recently, we’ve established that the car is a Pavemaster. This particular model name is the Diplomat, and the larger version is a President. The Diplomat has the number 1 on the side, while the President has the number 2. Construction and look is very similar, except the President is a longer car with the grill slightly recessed, and it has mudguards similar to the pram’s of the same period. Year of manufacture is unknown, but the President was bought slightly used around 1972, so my guess is late sixties.

I don’t know anything about the Pavemaster company, but I believe it to be South African. As far as I can tell the sticker on the Diplomat’s seat has no relation to the origin of the car.

Peter van den Berg 9-20-05

I believe this car is from Europe , due to a sticker on the seat area from Switzerland, advertising some tourist attraction. The seat is made of wood, and the grille is made from thin round-bar and fits inside the body, which is made of metal. The hood had a decal originally that said “Diplomat”, and you can still make out a portion of another decal, but not enough to learn anything from it.
Looks early seventies to me, but I could be wrong. Peter van den Berg 5-12-05

Hi, from Phoenix Arizona. I bought this pedal Jeep in Portland, Oregon, USA, a few weeks ago and have been trying to identify the manufacturer. So far, Dave Kleespies, his wife Sno and Pieter van den Berg have helped me narrow it down. While it appears to have Triang and Torck origins, it is different in the following respects: It has a solid grille, no openings, with an electric horn at the lower portion of the grille. It has a steering wheel that has both a horn button and a decorative horn ring in chrome. It has different wheels and tires than either Triang or Torck Jeeps. It has a chrome rail around the rear of the body. It has open headlights, indicating it possibly had electric powered headlights.
It has the words "Anchor" and "Trade Mark" on each tire, along with the tire size "1 1/4 X 8 1/4" on each tire. Between the words "Trade" and "Mark" there is the symbol of an anchor. On the top front of the grille, centered, is a sticker with the word "Anchor" on it. Also on the sticker is a black cat head, and a checkered flag which also contains an anchor symbol. The Jeep is about 40 inches long and 18 inches wide. Pieter sent me photos of a pedal Jeep which was on eBay in Feb. 2003, that is nearly identical to this Jeep. It has the word "Anchor" done in the same style on the hood (bonnet) along with the anchor symbol. I think both Jeeps have the same manufacturer, which may be Anchor, however
no one has any information on that company. Does anyone know where this Jeep was made and if made by Anchor, were they a subsidiary of Triang or Torck? Also, any ideas of when it was manufactured?
Thanks for any help you might provide in identifying this pedal Jeep. Colin Peabody 5-13-05

Update on Colin Peabody’s Jeep:

We’ve since found three more Anchor Jeeps that sold on Ebay over the last five years. This is definitely a previously unknown make of car. No details found yet on where they originated from. One car is in Germany, one in the USA and one in Australia, so no leads there. Peter van den Berg 9-20-05

I've just got a very old Triang pedal car that I would like if you can help identify its model , I assume by the information I've got that It's a late 20's car. I've attached some pictures of it hoping that someone could help me find at least an original picture of this beauty. Please do not hesitate to ask for any further piece of information. Thanks in advance 5-27-05

Hi there. I am afraid I will have to burst the bubble. Your car is in fact a Triang, built in the early sixties to resemble a 1920’s car. The car was green and yellow originally, with black fenders, and they used plastic headlamps. The same car was built in Australia under the name Cyclops, but the Cyclops and Triang cars were identical. I am not sure if Thistle built the same car in Canada, but I will look into it. The rubber on the wheels should have some reference to “Lines Bros” printed on them, which is a link to the parent company in England that built Triang cars. I have various pics on my home computer which I will copy, and then I will email them to you. The car appears in the catalog reprints in the “Juvenile Automobile” books by G G Weiner. I have included some pictures for your reference. Best regards, Pieter van den Berg 6-20-05

I purchased this car and Have no idea of its origin. Can you please post on your website so I can put this challenge to rest? It is a two seater pedal car with wood seats. Also the forward crest states " Brights mastermaker of kids rides". I am ready to restore this car and would like to really know where it came from and the makers history. Thank you in advance, James Wilmot email 2-12-05

The car was built by Brights in England, and came in single seater or tandem configuration. I am not sure of the years, but from the bodyshape my guess is early sixties. Peter van den Berg 9-20-05

Hello from Holland can some one help me I have this pedal car but I don't now anything about it can some one help me the car is from wood and steel and had some painting on it also on the back and the doors. greetings peter 1-8-05

Have you ever seen this? My name is Alex and I am in Spain (Ibiza). I found this pedal car in Argentina and shipped to Spain. 1-8-05

Yes it is a Wizard and yes it is from the 1930's. I also have one of these cars. I understand they had something to do with the famous Long Distance Record breaker "Wizard" Smith, though I am unsure if he made them or if they were simply named after him. I too cannot find any info on the cars themselves, but info can be found on Wizard Smith. He broke records like Melbourne to Sydney timed runs, etc, but they banned this practice from NSW roads in 1934. I have not seen any 2 of these cars appearing exactly the same. I attach pics of mine, though mine does not have its original wheels, though they are the ones that came on the car when I bought it. Hope some of this helps. Cheers, Craig Jeffriess (NSW, Australia 7-29-07

8/31/04 HI Everyone! This is an Australian racer that I recently purchased. I have been told that it is from the 1930's. I have also been told that it is a "Wizard car". Can anyone confirm the make model etc...... I too believe it is from the 30's but have not found any information that confirms is maker or model.

thanks, Rick

Hello, My name Is Stefan and I come from Germany. I found this Pedal Car in the Cellar. Can you determine an origin and a year of construction? Are there still spare parts for these vehicles? Was this a representation of a Ford? Plymouth? ....Greetings from Wuppertal. Stefan

9/27/04 Reply to Stefan: I agree with the other guys regarding this car (it is a TM0720), and as far as I know only some replacement parts can be obtained from Australia, where the car was made under the Cyclops name. In South Africa the car was marketed under the names Hurricane and Tornado, and the main difference is the paint scheme. One of them had a battery powered buzzer/ horn on the hood. I also seem to remember the first catalog listing this car as a 1962/3 and the last ones around 1967. The indicators, headlamp, mirror, horn and tail lamps on this car is not original.

Wheels were the same on the Triang Police Car (and maybe the Triang Vanwall Racer), and I suggest you look for a good used wheel or try the baby push carriages. They use similar wheels. As a last resort find an Ice Cream Scoop and cut it down to size. (larger soup ladles can be used in the same way to replace the Triang Hubcaps) If Stefan wants he may contact me and I will scan and email the South African catalog page for him. Peter van den Berg

8/31/04 The Pedal Car is a 1967 Triang/Lines Bros, Florida Model TM0720

8/30/04 Hello Stefan, The car is a Florida, but it was made a bit later than 1964, its more around 1967 as the earlier models had working headlights in the front panel and a horn and battery carrier inside. I do know someone who can supply reproduction hubcaps. I also heard someone in New Zealand remade the steering wheel but they were black with yellow centers rather than white with a red center. Colin

8/31/04 The Pedal Car is a 1967 Triang/Lines Bros, Florida Model TM0720

8/27/04 Stefan I found the car in the hard back book Collector's Guide to Children's Automobiles by G.G. Weiner on page 119. It is shown to be a 1964 Tri-ang Florida. It was manufactured by the Lines Bros. Ltd. in the UK. It resembles a 1958 Ford Fairline automobile. I don't know if any parts are currently being made for Tri-ang cars. Hope this helps you out. Dave

Hit Counter