Okay, I’ll be right up front, here: I don’t know anything significant about baby buggies, baby carriages, strollers, prams or perambulators. True, I did ride around in a pretty fancy little German buggy in my day, but it’s a whole different perspective from the inside. Looking at things from the outside, I must say, this super-rare, drop-top survivor, offered here on eBay from a seller in Ohio, is pretty darned adorable!

From its chrome exhaust ports to its fully-sprung suspension, this little buggy is a miniature automotive tour-de-force. The number of design cues it has taken from other full-sized vehicles of the day is pretty remarkable. It doesn’t look too different from a late-40’s/ mid-50’s Buick, what with the portholes and swoops and all, but it also features fully-developed tail fins and, from the front, it’s the old Fiat Cinquecento. Unlike the Fiat, though, that front end hinges down like the business end of a D-Day landing craft.

The Italian carrozzeria, Giordani, is still a going concern, specializing in products for your bambini since 1875, so you know this is quality. But, like a lot of ancient Italian offerings, this tiny exotic will need some care. While not exactly babied, the body panels look pretty good for their age and have nearly all body trim in place. Not sure if it had any sort of on-track history, but it does show some minor front end damage. Meanwhile, the bumper out back (which is NOT rubber, the Rubber Baby Buggy Bumper test notwithstanding) has had a run-in with something, possibly the result of an overzealous push vehicle or maybe a contest of wills at Woolworth’s. Note the original tires and wheels. Love that tambour trunk panel, too.

Rust is really not an issue here, and although we don’t have a shot of the trunk floor, we have something better: a view of the entire under-carriage. (Hah! See what I did there? Under-CARRIAGE? Good times!)  Anyway… it is missing its convertible top, so for those especially sunny or rainy days, you’ll want to get that replaced. Which. Will. Be. A real adventure in itself. Maybe you’ll get lucky and find a warehouse full of spares! (you’re not going to find a warehouse full of spares) Otherwise, you may have to do a bit of stainless fabricating, Perspex forming and lace tatting. I might consider simply running it with a tonneau and a helmet.

Now, the situation with the electrical is also going to be a challenge. I think we’re looking into the battery compartment here; just look at this absolute birds nest. Good luck, Mr. Restoration Expert! Not sure what the electrical system did, probably illuminated the baby box so mom and dad could keep a watchful eye on Junior. Maybe some totally awesome neon ground effect lighting could be added…

See the trunk compartment to the right, behind the seat? And to the left, the tactical flop-down nose? Is it just me or does it seem to you like it should have an ashtray? Incredibly, the interior looks to be all there, so it should provide a sound basis for your upholsterer. It even has the original floor mat and safety belt! Be aware that if you decide to run it with the original skins there may be some staining in the usual places. Eww.

Finding cool vehicles and seeing them for what they were or may be is what this hobby is all about. So, take a look at this intact survivor in Australia and picture our l’il stateside beater back in the pink…or blue, maybe. I’m pretty sure there are collectors of infant conveying devices and one of those folks would love to get his or her hands on this really unique vehicle, if not for restoration, at least for, dare-I-say, parts.  When in tip-top shape, they are really quite striking, enough so to make the other parents down at the latte shop say “oooh!” and “ahhh!”

Finally, the seller includes in his description the Taylor Tot name. Not to get too deep in the ol’ memorabilian weeds, here, but I am led to believe that Taylor Tot strollers were from a different company altogether…but possibly they imported them, like Sears and Roebuck did with the Allstate-badged Italian Vespa? Can any of you tell us more about this unique vehicle?