One thing many collectors have discovered is that barn finds come in smaller sizes, too! Looking through eBay this morning led to some really neat discoveries–perhaps some of you have grandkids like I do, and what better way to get them into the hobby early than to introduce them to mini barn finds! This 1950’s Murray “dip side” model is available here on eBay with a buy it now of $400! How about sneaking one of these under someone’s tree?
This one is a Murray Tot Rod! Only $79.99 here on eBay, but you’ll have some work ahead of you!
If your tastes run to 1950’s Buicks, try out this Murray Comet Torpedo available here on eBay. This one is said to be quite rare–the seller is looking for $400 despite the obvious issues with the front end!
Naturally, there are barn find tractors as well! This Farmall is available here on eBay where bidding is just over $213 as I write. Looks like some new tires were fitted to the front to get it out of the barn–but at least the flipper took it off the back of the pickup!
Not to slight blue oval fans, this Tee-Bird is available here on eBay for only $135. I’m feeling pretty dumb right now for letting one of these go for $25 not that long ago that was in a lot better shape. I intended to restore it for my daughter but didn’t get to it before she grew out of it. Oh well!
Finally, here’s a Garton Tin Lizzie that has just the right level of the p-word! It’s available here on eBay for close to $500! I like this one, but that’s a lot of money for pedal power! I remember getting a green and yellow pedal tractor for Christmas one year that I loved, and considering what my day job is, it was foreshadowing my future–I wish I still had it! What pedal cars do you remember getting under your tree for Christmas? Do you still have any of them?
Yes the First car! 1964
The tin Lizzie looks like the best of the bunch. Merry Christmas and to all the mods and reader, and I don’t care if you gave me a thumbs down still enjoy this place! Again Merry Christmas
Some good finds. Found some for my kids, fixed them up and started a tradition of giving it to them for thier first birthday.
My first one was just like the first new car I had in 1955
I have always loved the pedal cars, never had one as a kid. So like most of us I have a few now. However, pedal cars are in the same boat as the big collector cars. The re-pops are very in-expensive (I have paid less than $100), so if its really for the kids, its a much better way to go.
Cool finds, Jamie–especially the Garton Tin Lizzie!
Anyone know how far back they go–especially Garton’s “Tin Lizzies”? Badnikl’s pic is 1964, and I found and/flyer from 1965, for sale on ebay.
If they don’t go back beyond the 1960’s, that would explain the reasonable prices–the one on ebay is $400.+, but on an antique toy auction site I belong to, there are many, restored, some that went for as low as $200.! (Now, opinions vary, and the “Survivor Movement,” which is the hottest segment for collector cars, ATM, MAY just have got it’s start in the Antique Toy collecting hobby because, generally, unrestored, non-pedal car toys bring more than most restorations (I should add that a lot of “restorations” are very sub-par, IMHO).
Now, I say the “Survivor Movement” MAY have gotten it’s start in the Antique Toy Collecting Hobby not because I ctually believe it (as I think everyone agrees the “Corvette Boys–and Girls” got the Survivor Movement off the ground first) but PATINA’d toys have brought more money than restored toys, generally, for many years now.
So, what first seemed like a good price on the instant, BF Garton Tin Lizzie, listed on ebay, seems like it might not be so hot, price-wise, except that it IS a survivor, so who knows (I’m not up on the pedal car market, whereas I do have some knowledge of antique transportation toys).
So, if anyone knows of where Garton got it’s start, I’d appreciate it.
Whoops! Answered my own question:
[b]Garton Toy Co. lasted nearly 100 years[/b]
http://www.sheboyganpress.com/story/news/local/2014/12/19/sheboygan-history-column/20668511/
Our family was a little poor when I was growing up so my first wheels were roller skate. Yep, the kind with a key to tighten them up. These days I’m a little too big to enjoy riding a pedal car but do have a couple hanging around. The airplane pedal car was home made and the tail dragged wheel is attached to the steering.
I didn’t grow up getting a peddle car, but I do remember waking up one Cristmas where there was a small boy sized gas engine powered fire truck next to the tree for my older brother and myself. My dad was quite a good fabricator in his younger years and our little fire truck was one of many things that he built. At the time I was only about two so my older brother got to do all the driving and I would sit in the back as we lumbered down the side walk at about walking speed. At the time I was to small to get the word “machine” right and would call it the “chiner” and is what it ended up being known as. Good memories.
My paternal grandparents gave me a BRG Lotus pedal car for Xmas about 1970. My parents gave it away about 6 years later. Wish I had it now.
I think when I was 5 I got a home made peddle car. The drive mechanism was similar to a steam engine. It had a cut down steering wheel from a car. It would fly around the side walks with me peddling that thing. I was scaring old ladies on a daily basis in that thing. it had I think a 1 to 1 ratio. Hard to get moving but once you did wow. My dad was an inventor/engineer. He actually invented gas shocks or actuators that you see on most hoods and trunks of cars. Unfortunately his drawing of the system was stolen by a professor he worked with at the University of Calgary and sent into the patent office under his name. My dad was way to trusting.