I would be interested in hearing from you if you have additional details on any of the mystery Jeeps seen here. My e-mail is at the bottom of the page. Thanks! -- Derek Redmond
This Jeep has a logo on the dashboard (210K JPEG) reading "Coelho Enterprises, Bombay," but it's believed Coelho may have had factories elsewhere besides India, and this example turned up in Poland.
It has a simple but convincing windshield frame, a seat that appears to be upholstered in leather, and the remains of something attached in the center of the hood.
The wheels on this Coelho appear to be plastic, possibly replacements for the originals, and it looks like the steering wheel maybe has a horn that beeps.
Anybody have any information on Coelho Enterprises?
This pedal jeep is a unique design featuring oversized wheels and front fenders, a one-piece steel seat, and a half-round windscreen. The remains of a "USA 19..." stencil are on the front bumper.
Ian Beeton in Scotland took the photos and says, "Thought you might be able to identify this pedal car; the body is aluminium with the front wings and chassis made of steel. We're just trying to find out what make it is or where it was made."
See also an interior view (110K JPEG) showing the pedals and detailed dash, and a rear view (130K JPEG) showing details including the faint remains of a logo (70K JPEG).
Mike Read in Canada says, "In 1946, while we were living in Guernsey, Channel Islands, UK, my Dad (who was in the RAF) gave me a similar Jeep for my 4th birthday. My pedal car was identical to the one in the photos above, except for the following: The windscreen on Ian's Jeep appears to have been replaced. The one on mine was a square frame like the actual Willys Jeep (without glass) and could be folded down. My Jeep was painted in a very pale colour, and had an RAF roundel on the hood. I have reworked the photo to show the Jeep as it looked in the version given to me by my father. Unfortunately Dad does not know the maker of the Jeep, but remembers it came from Largs, Scotland, where he was stationed."
Aside from the high hood that makes the front end look like a CJ-3B, this looks like it was inspired by a Willys wagon. Undated photo courtesy KC Scherer.
Denis Silva in Sao Paulo, Brazil sent this photo of himself as a child. Is this possibly a Broadway from Argentina?
Here's a photo from the Carousel Jeeps page, showing a merry-go-round with some riding Jeeps that I can't identify.
The latest pedal car found by Jérôme Stevens in France is this Jeep. Katrien Lingier suggests it's actually a Tri-ang with a Devillaine steering wheel and an unknown replacement seat.
Along with full-size WWII jeeps, Jérôme has been collecting pedal Jeeps since 2001; the photo below shows Jérôme and his family with the first three toys in the collection in Paris in 2001.
The toy on the left is a Tri-ang, and Rick Leroy suggests the red one may be an early "Jeepy" made by Sigurd W. Odegaard in Oslo, Norway. He says the fenders are distinctive, and Jerome confirms that it has an adjustable seat. It has solid rubber tires, which would make it an early Odegaard model, from the 1940's. (The Jeepy was manufactured until probably 1952.) Jérôme says the toy was used by his local Police Department to teach children about traffic regulations.
The black one on the right in the photo is also unidentified so far; it has the high hood of a CJ-3B.
We're looking for more details on the origin of Colin Peabody's "Anchor" Jeep, which is very similar to a Tri-ang; see more details on the Tri-ang Pedal Jeeps page.
Jerome also sent a picture of a Fire Brigade pedal Jeep (60K JPEG) he acquired more recently. It has a rubber hose reel in the back, and the body has four sockets that appear to be designed for an overhead ladder rack, which would probably make it the most realistic of the pedal-car Fire Jeeps.
This photo shows another pedal-car fire Jeep which is also clearly not a Hamilton; it has a longer hood, and a grille stamped out instead of in. The manufacturer is unknown. See also a bottom view (20K JPEG) showing the pedal drive.
This riding toy was found in France by Yann Cuenin. Its unusually realistic proportions are enhanced by the canvas top. The only major clue to go by is the spoked wheels with Dunlop rubber tires, which suggests British origin.
This chain-drive Jeep seen by David Collins in the Philippines is perhaps something built locally. They certainly produce lots of full-size Jeep tubs there, so why not a pedal car?
A rear view photo (50K JPEG) shows the chain drive.
Another period photo shows a young Bart Schoonvliet sitting in a riding toy in the early 1970's near the beach on the coast of Belgium. Bart says the toys are still for rent there during the summer months, but he doesn't know their origin.
Andy Doran in the UK bought this Jeep in Belgium, and thought it might have been made there by Torck. But Torck collector Katrien Lingier in Belgium confirms that it wasn't. So who did build this toy? Andy mentions that "Interestingly the hood and grill are made of galvanised metal, hence they have not gone rusty. Shame they didn't do the lot."
See also a large front view photo (90K JPEG) and side view photo (80K JPEG).
Thanks to all the contributors. Further information or comments are welcome. -- Derek Redmond
Also on CJ3B.info, see Pedal-Drive Jeeps from the better-known manufacturers.
D & S Pedal Car Restorations has lots of information on pedal car identification, including photos of Jeeps by Midwest, Hamilton and Sherwood.
Return to the Toy Jeeps Pages on CJ3B.info.
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