Hardly any German children’s room would be without it – the bobby car. What many do not know: A company from Fürth, Bavaria, brought the cult push-car onto the market 50 years ago. Now the design classic is being given a great honor in its home country.
First smiled at because of its idiosyncratic design, then a cult following: the Bobby-Car is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The Stadtmuseum Fürth is therefore devoting an exhibition to the red push-along car, which sheds light on its development and shows a large selection of the toy vehicle, which is no longer just popular with children.
In 1972, the Fürth-based company Big-Spielwarenfabrik presented the Bobby-Car for the first time at the toy fair in Nuremberg. According to the museum, it soon conquered children’s rooms, garages and many a racing track. Even adults throw themselves down steep slopes on it in adventurous races.
Today, the ride-on car with steering wheel and horn is one of the timeless design classics. Those who grew up with the Bobby-Car now like to give it as a gift for a newborn or a first birthday. In 2010, football world champion Mats Hummels auctioned his own push car to a tire dealer for a whopping 11,111 euros. The proceeds went to a foundation against child prostitution.
So far, more than 20 million Bobby Cars have rolled off the production line at the manufacturer Big. Around 2000 pieces are manufactured daily in the Burghaslach plant. The old plant in Fürth was destroyed by fire in 1998. In addition to the red speedster, numerous different models are now part of the range: in all sorts of colours, as a police or quad edition or designed by well-known artists or designers.