Ride on cars first appeared in around 1890, with the production of Daimlers, but became very popular in the 1950s and 1960s. Right when I was growing up in fact.

In those days we like to think we made the cars ourselves, but Dad probably did most of the work! And for well-off kids – well their parents probably bought them ready made from the shop. The cars were made from wood or metal and they were generally copies of the “real thing”. Since they generally used lead paint they probably weren’t safe as modern ride on cars.

Why would you buy a ride on car these days? Is there any educational benefit, for instance? Well there probably is. As children grow up, learning is going on all the time, and zipping along in a ride on car is providing both mental and physical stimulation at the same time. Ride on cars are great for eye-hand coordination, and help to prepare kids for their later driving experiences.