Last year we wrote about finding this rarer 1952 BMC "Senior Police" Pedal Car at a local Yard Sale. It was a good, solid original car - complete with original paint - but missing the steering wheel, windshield, and seat cushion. It sold online to a customer here in Virginia who picked it up, giving us a chance to chat about the car and other pedal cars he had restored. I really thought this car had a lot of potential if properly restored, and asked him to shoot me a few pictures if he did restore it. Last week the pictures arrived. Wow.
Below are what it looked like last year when we sold it.
Below are what it looked like last year when we sold it.
As these pictures show, the car was completely stripped, the body properly filled, sanded, primed and painted. He wrote that finding original parts was a bit of a challenge, especially the windshield. But I'll let him tell the story:
"Good morning Stu . I always take lots of photos of my restorations. Here's a few more of the police car if they help . I think part of your story can be as with probably any toys, folks want to find the unusual or the ones no one else has. This was the case with this BMC. I knew it was unusual . I had only ever seen one other. The down side with that is finding parts for that rare pedal car or toy . If you want to try and truly restore your item to its original condition, it becomes more of a challenge. I could have put any number of aftermarket parts on , but didn't really want to do that. Long story short was trying to find the windshield. I couldn't even find an aftermarket place who sold this particular one.
As I started calling around the country I found that there are a few old guys who have purchased the original presses who could press me a new windshield from an original mold. These older fellows don't have a "stock ", but if you can talk them into it, will go into their shop and make you one. You also find some of the men are so old and frail, that they don't really make parts any longer but still have the equipment . Anyway , I got one pressed. I had to cut it out myself and trim it up. I was just very thankful I was able to find this gentlemen, and develop enough of a relationship that he would go to the trouble to press this for me. It sounds like this fellow is making parts for many of the aftermarket vendors. When he does that he makes 100's at a time for their stock .
Thanks for showing interest. I currently have four projects I'm working on and would be happy to keep you up to date on those if you want. Trying to get the wife interested in selling a few. We are planning to go to an antique toy sort of show in Pigeon Forge in May, just to see what others are doing."
"Good morning Stu . I always take lots of photos of my restorations. Here's a few more of the police car if they help . I think part of your story can be as with probably any toys, folks want to find the unusual or the ones no one else has. This was the case with this BMC. I knew it was unusual . I had only ever seen one other. The down side with that is finding parts for that rare pedal car or toy . If you want to try and truly restore your item to its original condition, it becomes more of a challenge. I could have put any number of aftermarket parts on , but didn't really want to do that. Long story short was trying to find the windshield. I couldn't even find an aftermarket place who sold this particular one.
As I started calling around the country I found that there are a few old guys who have purchased the original presses who could press me a new windshield from an original mold. These older fellows don't have a "stock ", but if you can talk them into it, will go into their shop and make you one. You also find some of the men are so old and frail, that they don't really make parts any longer but still have the equipment . Anyway , I got one pressed. I had to cut it out myself and trim it up. I was just very thankful I was able to find this gentlemen, and develop enough of a relationship that he would go to the trouble to press this for me. It sounds like this fellow is making parts for many of the aftermarket vendors. When he does that he makes 100's at a time for their stock .
Thanks for showing interest. I currently have four projects I'm working on and would be happy to keep you up to date on those if you want. Trying to get the wife interested in selling a few. We are planning to go to an antique toy sort of show in Pigeon Forge in May, just to see what others are doing."
Here is the finished Pedal Car, properly restored. Great Job! There is a lot of satisfaction seeing those old toys returned to their original condition.
If you have an interest in seeing this project, along with his other cars, here's the link to the event in May: The Smokey Mountain Antique Toy and Pedal Car Show