Miniatures News, December 1979

Although I deplore full-size replicas of vintage and p.v.t. cars, and of veterans and Edwardisms for that matter, for reasons previously given, replicas are quite acceptable when scaled-down for the use and enjoyment of children. In the past there have been very fine replicas of Bugatti and Citroen cars for rich parents’ children to have fun with, and less exact ones of Alvis, Cadillac, Packard, Austin, Rolls-Royce, Vauxhall, etc. Now the Flivver Car Co., 667 Fulham Road, London SW6, are importing from America a number of similar little cars, intended for children but usable as estate tow-wagons, tractors. etc. A certain racing team is intending to use one for carting tyres and equipment up to the pits. It is said that 15,000 have been made. The chassis and body are of 20-gauge steel and there is a safety power cut-off. The engines are 3 1/2 h.p in 5 h.p. Briggs & Strattons, giving a top speed of some 15 m.p.h., and one of these cars resembles a brass radiator Model-T Ford two-seater. Prices start from £650 plus VAT, and various accessories are available. A Christmas-stocking filler for some lucky child, perhaps? — W.B.