Pedal Car FAQ

Regarding new reproductions pedalcars.

Q) Are they suitable for children to ride in?

A)Yes, they're certified to be child safety approved, and they're made of the same gauge

steel as the original cars, they're not fragile, they'll last for years.

Q) Where are they made?

A) The pedal cars and airplanes are made either in China or in Korea.

Q) How are they shipped and what does shipping cost.

A) We ship by UPS, and in the lower 48 states, we ship for FREE!

Q) Are these accurate reproductions of the original cars?

A) They are very close, the same in size, but some variations were necessary in order to meet today's more stringent safety standards.

Q) Is there some assembly required?

A) On some cars there is, none on the Champion cars, almost none on the Gendron cars, about l hour on the planes, and two hours on the race car.

Regarding restoring old pedalcars.

Q) Do you have parts?

A) Yes, we stock most parts for pedalcars and planes made since 1941. The most commonly needed parts are wheels, tires, hubcaps, and decals. These we generally can ship immediately. Some parts may take a while.

Q) I've got this old pedalcar and I want to restore it, how do I start?

A) Step one is to identify it. See if it looks like any of the cars on our ID page. Most of the cars shown there were made in several different variations, such as firetruck, taxi, ranch wagon etc. Your car may not be exactly like one shown, but if it looks like the body shape is right, the parts are probably compatible. If you don't see anything that looks right, you can send me a picture and I'll try to identify it for you. Once you know what it is, you can decide how much time and money you want to put into restoring it. If it is going to be used as a child's toy, you would do a different class of restoration than if you were going to keep it as a collectible or sell it. Knowing what it would be worth after restoring it will affect that decision. I can give you some guidelines there, give me a call.

Q) Are there things I should look for on a pedalcar?

A) Yes, check to see if the body is metal or plastic, metal bodied cars are generally easier to restore and worth more money. Also check to see if it has hubcaps on it and whether they're metal or plastic. If they're plastic, check to see if there are 3 spinner bars, if so your car is an AMF. If they're metal, see if there is a logo stamped in them, if it's an M in a circle, your car is a Murray. Murray and AMF cars are two of the more commonly found pedal cars around. Look for decals with model numbers or names or logos. See if the car has two or four headlights. Is there a design stamped into the steering wheel?

Q) What's my car worth?

A) There is a very wide variation in the value of pedalcars, some can sell for more than $ 20,000, some can be found at flea markets for $ 20. Naturally, the condition matters a lot, a car with heavy rust may not be worth restoring. AMF cars tend to be on the lower end of the price scale with cars generally selling for $ 50 to $ 500. The AMF Mustang is an exception to this, they will bring $ 300 - $800. Murrays will go from $ 300 to $ 3000. A car with the Steelcraft name on it always brings a premium, they are regarded as premium quality in design and construction, and are more rare.

Q) Would my car be worth more if I left it unrestored?

A) Only if it was in exceptionally nice condition. If it has any rust, or dents, or poor paint, it will be worth more restored. The exception to this is a car that has historical or unique design value, such as a pre-war tandem car or a one of a kind car.

Q) I want to put new tires on my car, but the old tires have a wire running through them, how do I deal with that?

A) Most original cars had wired-on tires, but generally today tires are replaced with "roll-ons". There is a way to wire tires on, but it's difficult and expensive. If you have a car that is worth the extra cost, give me a call. To put a roll-on tire on, you must first remove the old tire by either cutting the wire, or uncrimping it. Then, warm up the new tire by putting it in the oven for 20 minutes at 200, and stretch the tire over the rim. To determine the correct size tire to order, measure the wheel diameter from edge of rim to edge of rim.

(do not include the tire in this measurement.) The two most common wheel sizes are 6 1/2in., and 7 1/2 in.

Q) Are there reference books you recommend?

A) Yes, for general information about pedalcars, CHASING THE KIDILLAC by Garton is very good reading. For identifying various models by reviewing manufacturers literature, the 5 book series EVOLUTION OF THE PEDAL CAR has become the standard reference among pedalcar hobbyists. For "how to" shop hints I suggest PEDAL CAR RESTORATION AND PRICE GUIDE by Gurka. You can find these books on the book page.

If you have any additional questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.

E-mail: sales@prettygoodcars.com