NÜRNBERG (Germany): The sound of an approaching Bobby Car is unmistakable. The plastic toy car’s wheels scrape across the floor unforgivingly as the toddler driver pushes their feet into the ground as hard as they can.
Bobby Cars have been a favourite among kids in Europe and beyond for decades. The little four-wheel plastic cars were first presented at the Nuremberg toy fair in Germany some 50 years ago.
Since then, German manufacturer Big has produced more than 20 million units. The company currently makes about 2,000 Bobby Cars per day – going far beyond the classic red model with the white steering wheel.
So far, there have been some 100 different (sometimes limited) editions, from different colours to police or fire brigade looks and models from famous artists and designers like James Rizzi and Philippe Starck.
An unforeseen success story
When the Bobby Car was launched 50 years ago, the only other toy vehicle available for small children was the tricycle.
Today, the red plastic car, originally designed for toddlers from 12 months to help them learn how to walk, faces more competition: from balance bikes to three-wheel scooters and a large number of Bobby Car imitations, the market is inundated with options.
But demand for the Bobby Car continues unabated, according to the manufacturer. "It is the typical gift when a child is born or at the latest for the first birthday," explains Thomas Röttenbacher, managing director of Bobby Car maker Big.
"We also benefit from the fact that the generations that grew up with the Bobby Car are now parents themselves or, in some cases, grandparents."
Nevertheless, the Bobby Car success story is one that only slowly gathered momentum. The toy was initially often ridiculed because of its functional shape with the ergonomic seat. But that soon changed.
According to industry expert Ulrich Texter, the red model with the white steering wheel and horn has come to be recognized as a toy design classic just like the Lego brick.
"It's an iconic design that isn't based on any vehicle. But everyone immediately sees what it's for," he says.
Unlike other children's vehicles, which are only interesting during a certain period of time, the Bobby Car is basically ageless, says Texter, editor-in-chief of the trade magazine Planet Toys.
"You can still rattle around on it when you're 10 years old,” he says, citing his own children. "They kneel on it so they get real speed."
Organised races for grown-ups
Adults can still have a lot of fun with the Bobby Car, as can be seen not only in various videos on TikTok. One of them is Holger Späth, a 51-year-old German butcher, and a huge Bobby Car fan.
Späth doesn’t only enter Bobby Car races but collects everything to do with the legendary four-wheeler. He has gathered more than 300 exhibits in his own Bobby Car Museum in Braunfels - some 70km north-east of Frankfurt - ranging from the original 1972 model to a hand-signed limited edition.
He became passionate about collecting and racing in 2008 when his daughter was born – and given a Bobby Car. "I guess that's the child in you," Späth says.
He began racing his daughter's car for fun - and immediately broke it, even though it was supposed to endure his weight. So he had to buy a new one. "That's basically when I got into collecting."
Together with other enthusiasts, Späth eventually founded the German Bobby Car sports association which organizes the official championships.
In addition to his museum treasures, he also owns several racing sleds tuned according to the rules, with special ball bearings and pneumatic tires. Normally - that is, before the pandemic – Späth drives down steep slopes at a high pace several times a year in the adventurous races, reaching speeds of more than 100 kilometres per hour.
Whisper tyres and shoe protectors
"When you're driving yourself, it doesn't seem that fast," he says. There is no need to train for the races, according to Späth, except for braking.
Everyone who has driven a Bobby Car before knows that you don’t only use your feet to move it forward but to stop the vehicle as well – which can take quite the toll on your shoes.
The manufacturer has therefore long started selling special shoe protectors. For the races, Späth himself sticks car tyres to his shoe soles.
"Otherwise there are no shoes left after you've braked at 120kph."
For those wanting to spare their neighbours the rumbling typical for the Bobby Car tyres, there are also special whisper tyres to dampen the sound.
But some enthusiasts might argue that the noise is an essential part of the fun.
