Masudaya Modern Toys Lever Action Tin Car, 1950s

This little toy tin car was produced by Masudaya Modern Toys of Japan in the 1950s. It is lever activated, meaning you pull back on the lever, release, and the car takes off. The mechanism still works perfectly and it has a strong spring. This toy has been played with. The paint is worn off the rolling surfaces of the wheels. There may have been a cover attached at some point, and there are a couple of scratches in the litho printing on the tin. The front wheels look crooked because they're made to flop around and steer the car. This is a very attractive, functional, vintage toy. If you don't like the patina, we're sure it would wash off. It looks really good on the shelf as it is.