Distler American-Style Convertible Toy Car (Yellow)

$6.00

Distler American-Style Convertible Toy Car (Yellow), made in Germany, postwar. Image is 1100px wide.

Description

Was this toy the inspiration for Fordโ€™s 1949 Custom Convertible or was it the other way around? In the late 1940s or early 50s, the Distler Toy Company of Germany produced an unpretentious American-style, tin two-seater in its US Zone facility. Shown here in blanched yellow with a red interior and minimal chrome trim, this no-frills open top nevertheless offered Distlerโ€™s amazing wind-up clockwork mechanism and working steering wheel. The key-wound motor was controlled by a dash-mounted gearshift that operated three forward gears as well as neutral and reverse. Although modest in style, there was still some flash to be found in the roadsterโ€™s solid rubber whitewall tires, each mounted on an eye-catching red metal rim. Image is 1100px wide.