Germany’s lasting success story: The toy Bobby Car

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The sound of an approaching Bobby Car is unmistakable. The plastic toy automotive’s wheels scrape throughout the ground unforgivingly because the toddler driver pushes their ft into the bottom as arduous as they will.

Bobby Cars have been a favorite amongst youngsters in Europe and past for many years. The little four-wheel plastic automobiles have been first introduced on the Nuremberg toy honest in Germany some 50 years in the past.

Since then, German producer Big has produced greater than 20 million items. The firm presently makes about 2,000 Bobby Cars per day – going far past the basic crimson mannequin with the white steering wheel.

So far, there have been some 100 completely different (generally restricted) editions, from completely different colors to police or hearth brigade appears, and fashions from well-known artists and designers like James Rizzi and Philippe Starck.

Unforeseen success

When the Bobby Car was launched 50 years in the past, the one different toy automobile accessible for babies was the tricycle.

Today, the crimson plastic automotive, initially designed for toddlers from 12 months to assist them discover ways to stroll, faces extra competitors: From stability bikes to three-wheel scooters and a lot of Bobby Car imitations, the market is inundated with choices.

But demand for the Bobby Car continues unabated, in accordance with the producer. “It is the typical gift when a child is born or at the latest for the first birthday,” explains Thomas Rottenbacher, 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 which solely slowly gathered momentum. The toy was initially typically ridiculed due to its useful form with the ergonomic seat. But that quickly modified.

According to trade professional Ulrich Texter, the crimson mannequin with the white steering wheel and horn has come to be recognised as a toy design basic, similar to 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 different youngsters’s autos, that are solely fascinating throughout a sure time period, the Bobby Car is mainly ageless, says Texter, editor-in-chief of the commerce journal Planet Toys. “You can still rattle around on it when you’re 10 years old,” he says, citing his personal youngsters. “They kneel on it so they get real speed.”

Organised races for grown-ups

Adults can nonetheless have a number of enjoyable with the Bobby Car, as may be seen not solely in varied movies on TikTok. One of them is Holger Spath, a 51-year-old German butcher, and an enormous Bobby Car fan.

Spath doesn’t solely enter Bobby Car races however collects all the pieces to do with the legendary four-wheeler. He has gathered greater than 300 displays in his personal Bobby Car Museum in Braunfels – some 70km north-east of Frankfurt – starting from the unique 1972 mannequin to a hand-signed restricted version.

Part of a private collection of Bobby Cars belonging to Holger Spath. He has more than 300 exhibits in his own Bobby Car Museum in the German town of Braunfels. Photo: dpaPart of a personal assortment of Bobby Cars belonging to Holger Spath. He has greater than 300 displays in his personal Bobby Car Museum within the German city of Braunfels. Photo: dpa

He grew to become enthusiastic about gathering and racing in 2008 when his daughter was born – and given a Bobby Car. “I guess that’s the child in you,” Spath says.

He started racing his daughter’s automotive for enjoyable – and instantly broke it, though it was alleged to endure his weight. So he had to purchase a brand new one. “That’s basically when I got into collecting.”

Together with different lovers, Späth finally based the German Bobby Car sports activities affiliation which organises the official championships.

In addition to his museum treasures, he additionally owns a number of racing sleds tuned in accordance with the foundations, with particular ball bearings and pneumatic tires. Normally – that’s, earlier than the pandemic – Spath drives down steep slopes at a excessive tempo a number of instances a yr within the adventurous races, reaching speeds of greater than 100kph.

Whisper tyres, shoe protectors“When you’re driving yourself, it doesn’t seem that fast,” he says. There is not any want to coach for the races, in accordance with Spath, apart from braking.

Everyone who has pushed a Bobby Car earlier than is aware of that you simply don’t solely use your ft to maneuver it ahead however to cease the automobile as nicely – which may take fairly a toll in your footwear.

The producer has subsequently lengthy began promoting particular shoe protectors. For the races, Spath himself sticks automotive tyres to his shoe soles. “Otherwise there are no shoes left after you’ve braked at 120kph.”

For these desirous to spare their neighbours the rumbling typical of the Bobby Car tyres, there are additionally particular whisper tyres to dampen the sound.

But some lovers would possibly argue that the noise is a necessary a part of the enjoyable. – dpa/Irena Guttel



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