Posted 12 months ago
Czar
(1 item)
For your consideration: this is a Canadian restoration of a Japanese reproduction of the popular American "Sad Face" pedal car by Murray/Steelcraft.
The item itself was distributed in Canada by the now-defunct Cooper's Antiques (run by Ian Cooper), and this kid's car was a major prize for a contest hosted by the Coast Capital Savings Credit Union of Vancouver BC in 2003. Restoration work was performed by Signs Now at their (now-shuttered) Burnaby BC location, who retained the original blue color scheme and "pedal power" striping, but replaced the "Boss" logos with Coast Capital vinyl decals. Additional decals for the Orca mascot Wally and the Beautiful British Columbia license plate "WALLY-1" were added to the hood and tailgate, respectively.
Provenance of the item before its 2003 restoration can been traced back to Japan, thanks to this auction listing by Leland Little of a similar vehicle modelled on the Murray "Sad Face": https://www.lelandlittle.com/items/434067/boss-pedal-power-car-for-child-drivers/
This pedal car shares the same "R"-stamping on the hubcaps and unique pedal mounting system (where the pedals are mounted on the driveshafts and can be moved forward or backward to accommodate various children's heights) as the Leland Little lot item.
Original date of manufacture of this Japanese reproduction can be ascertained from the Leland Little listing, which provides a proof-of-purchase receipt from New York store Mythology dated "4/12/1986", and specifies both the country of manufacture (Japan) and an appraisal of the car as originating from the 1950s. Leland itself also describes the vehicle as being from the 1950s/60s.
