Sheet steel cars date from 1850, when American sheet steel production began to thrive. Steel had many uses, especially for making toys.
Around 1900, toys made of steel began to be produced. Many of these toys were rideable, such as miniature cars and bicycles. Soon, toys made of heavy gauge steel followed. These were created by companies such as Tonka Toys, Buddy Firestone, and Dayton.
The first toy car was created in 1901. It was made of sheet steel and was a reproduction of the popular Oldsmobile. Many sheet steel cars, which were friction drive, were created in Dayton, Ohio before 1910.
Early cars were created to look like carriages, with a high block shape and open seats used for passengers and drivers. Early toy cars were made to look like these cars, with some looking much like carriages without any horses to pull them! As the look of modern cars changed, so did the look of miniature cars.
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Miniature cast iron cars soon came onto the scene, taking over the popularity that sheet steel cars once saw. Just about any type of car model was made, making them all the rage. It wasn’t long before these cars also lost popularity, because, as they had once done when it came to sheet steel cars, white metal and plastic models soon took their place.
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