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Baby Decor DIY Family Farmhouse

The Story Behind Our Retro Pedal Car

retro-pedal-car-lucy-driving1

One piece of decor that we get asked about quite a bit is this bright red retro pedal car that sits in our upstairs hallway. It’s an interesting piece that both adults and kids gravitate too, especially Lucy. She is big enough now to climb in and out of the car on her own, and you can often find stuffed toys in the front seat that have been her passengers for the day.

retro-pedal-car-before

I recently came across this picture of what the car looked like when we first got it over thirty years ago when I was about Lucy’s age. My dad has been an avid car collector since he was a teenager and has rebuilt many classic cars. He’s known for restoring projects that most people would give up on, so when my dad’s friend found this rusty old pedal, he knew just who to give it to.

retro-pedal-car-before-underneath

It was bent out of shape, and missing most of the pedal mechanism, but my dad could see the potential.

retro-pedal-car-1960s-murra-flat-face

My dad didn’t know this at the time, but thanks to the power of the internet, I’ve been able to identify it as a 1960s Murray Flat Face pedal car. You can now find replacement stickers, wheels and hood ornaments.

After my dad restored it, we play with it throughout my childhood. The summer we moved into the farmhouse, my dad pulled it out of storage and surprised me with it. I couldn’t believe he still had it when he showed up on my front porch, but I was so excited to see it. We kept it for decor at the farmhouse until later that fall we found out that we were expecting Lucy and then I couldn’t help thinking about having my own child play with it someday. I mentioned as much when I showed it in a home tour of Cloverhill Farmhouse on our first Chrismas here.

retro-pedal-car-lucy-driving2

Almost sixty years since it’s been built and over thirty years since it was restored – this little pedal car is still a cherished toy.

retro-pedal-car-front-1960s-murra-flat-face

Back when my dad restored it in the late 1980s, he hammered it out, added four new wheels and painted it Ferrari red.

retro-pedal-car-steering-wheel-1960s-murra-flat-face

The back suspension and pedals were missing, so my dad had machined these pieces himself to get the pedal action working again. That being said, it’s definitely not easy to pedal. I can remember how hard it was to pedal and my mom can remember how much we asked to be pushed around in it, ha!

retro-pedal-car-1960s-murra-flat-face-vintage

Now I get requests from Lucy to push her around the upstairs hallway.

retro-pedal-car-lucy-driving1-3

Here’s to giving vintage toys a new life and creating timeless memories. Thanks Dad 🙂

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Comments

  1. Talia says

    January 19, 2018 at 3:06 pm

    I lOVE that car! My husband loves to restore classic cars (and we have a few we drive when the weather is cooperative!) What a great find!

    • Amanda says

      January 21, 2018 at 9:53 pm

      Thanks Talia. We always had classic cars growing up, even if we only had a few months a year to enjoy them as well. Great memories 🙂

  2. Julia at Home on 129 Acres says

    January 19, 2018 at 9:15 pm

    What a great story and a great heirloom. I love that you get so much meaning out of it and seeing Lucy enjoying it now.

    • Amanda says

      January 21, 2018 at 9:55 pm

      Thanks Julia. I’m sure your little one will treasure your toy tractor as well. A perfect addition to the nursery 🙂

  3. Bev Gay says

    January 23, 2018 at 2:51 pm

    Amanda have your Dad rig something you can slide an old broom handle or mop handle into on the back to push. When Lauren was a growing up I didn’t have Uncle Kim around so I just duct taped an old broom to her Tricycle to save my back. By the time Kara came along I invested in a Kittle Kar German made at that time it came with a push handle you could slide on and off. Why didn’t I Patten that? Hugs Bev etc

Hi, I'm Amanda! Join me as I make my family's 1903 farmhouse into a home. I share renovations, DIY projects, recipes, our flower farm and the joy of living in the Canadian countryside
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