A Brief History of the Cozy Coupe | Innovation | Smithsonian Magazine

Can you name the very popular automobiles of all time? Consider them thoroughly. Made your picks? Well, you most likely missed out on an important one.

The top three areas worldwide are held by Toyota Corolla, Ford F-Series pickup and Volkswagen Golf. No surprises there. However, close behind them is Cozy Coupe. Yes, the “Flintstone”-like vehicle produced for kids by Little Tikes is a constant top-seller, year in and year out.

Cozy Coupe outsold all engine-powered cars in Excellent Britain in March. More than 85,000 were acquired that month as parents faced the prospect of being trapped at home with energetic young children throughout the COVID-19 lockdown.

Present sales figures are not readily available, on the 30th anniversary of the invention of Cozy Coupe in 2009, Little Tikes reported annual sales of 457,000 cars and trucks– quickly outselling Toyota Camry and Honda Accord that year. In 2012, a toy industry trade publication mentioned the business had offered an overall of 22 million automobiles around the world given that the very first one left the factory flooring.

The little red car with the yellow roof that is propelled by foot power has been a hit with children because its creation in 1979. Creator Jim Mariol, who was granted a design patent for a “Toy Automobile” in 1982, was inspired to produce the toy as he ran around on his office chair one day. It was an “eureka” minute for the former auto designer, who understood nearly right away that his practical yet enjoyable automobile would be perfect for kids 18 months and older to scamper around in.

“Papa knew it would be a success from the start,” says among his boys, John Mariol, who worked for a time at his dad’s industrial style company, Style Alliance Inc. in Cincinnati. “He was designing toys for Little Tikes and took it to the president, Tom Murdough. They chose to get it into production as soon as possible. Father constructed a full-blown model and did all the engineering for the plastic-molding process.”

Before Cozy Coupe rolled off the assembly line, the creator made certain the toy would be an ideal suitable for young hands. John says his children were the “test dummies” to see if percentages were right for smaller sized bodies.

“My kids got to evaluate the Cozy Coupe model,” he remembers. “Papa would take pictures of them in the cars and truck to see how they suit it.”

It took simply a few months to go from preparing table to production. Quickly after it turned up in shops in 1979, sales started to soar– very first in the United States and then around the world. By 1991, with a yearly production of 500,000, Cozy Coupe was America’s top-selling vehicle. Toddlers craved the adorable automobile with a working door, trunk and independent rolling wheels. Even kids who couldn’t walk screeched with pleasure as their moms and dads pushed them around in it.

Mariol blazed a path into a new market for the toy industry. Prior to Cozy Coupe, there were couple of big toys that young children might enjoy. A lot of were smaller portable toys that didn’t provide the movement of a foot-powered cars and truck. According to Michelle Parnett-Dwyer, curator of toys and dolls at the National Toy Hall of Fame, it was the ideal item at the correct time.

“There weren’t numerous moving toys for more youthful kids,” she says. “Certainly none like the Big Wheel, which was created for older kids. Comfortable Coupe was an opportunity for youngsters to experience what grownups do. Kids enjoy to mimic mom and dad. It was perfect for young children.”

Producing Cozy Coupe was a dream come true for Jim Mariol. He was interested by vehicles maturing in Cincinnati during the Great Depression and desired to become an auto designer. An automobile principle he established as a teenager made Mariol a scholarship in 1947 to the University of Cincinnati, where he was a co-op trainee creating hubcaps, steering wheels and hood ornaments for Chrysler. Unfortunately, he didn’t get to finish his education due to the fact that he was prepared into the U.S. Army for the Korean War.

After military service, Mariol founded Design Alliance and developed ideas for store vacuums, air compressors, radios and campers for clients like Proctor & & Gamble, Crosley Corp. and Emerson Electronics. Securing contracts and making payroll for his own business was difficult, and Mariol recognized he required a big design to produce sales from royalties. Relaxing Coupe was his ticket to success.

“That got it started, however Daddy had a great deal of other crucial ideas,” says one of his daughters, Tina Mariol. “He developed a ride-on electrical train for Little Tikes that was a big seller. It was truly cool.”

In addition to the car and train, which was marketed in the 1980s, Mariol got patents for other popular toys he developed, including folding doll-houses with deals with for bring, activity sets, sand and water level and the ever-popular Celebration Cooking area where children might practice their cooking skills.

Still produced by Little Tikes, Cozy Coupe continues to be a popular toy all over the world. The line of product has grown to include a fleet of lorries, consisting of police vehicle, fire engine, racecars, even those with ladybug and dinosaur designs. The fundamental model still includes a red chassis and yellow roofing system today includes eyes for headlamps and a smile on the front grill. The maker’s recommended retail price is $54.99.

Throughout the years, Cozy Coupe has actually been acknowledged as one of the most successful cars and trucks made in the United States. In 2009, the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum in Cleveland, which houses historically substantial cars, aircrafts and bikes, obtained an initial 1979 Cozy Coupe along with a 30th anniversary edition for its collection. That was among Jim Mariol’s proudest moments.

“I ‘d have never ever believed that I ‘d wind up developing a toy cars and truck, let alone one that ended up being as famous as that Cozy Coupe,” Mariol said in an interview that very same year.

Success never changed the creator. Tina states her daddy was the mild sort who took it all in stride. All he truly wished to do was design toys and cars.

“Word got around pretty fast,” she says. “People would come up to him and say, ‘Aren’t you the person who created that kids’ vehicle?’ He was genuine laid back and very quiet. He never ever boasted.”

Mariol ultimately retired after a long career and passed away earlier this year at age 89. Family, buddies and admirers collected for his funeral service and to commemorate his life in January. The inventor was provided a final honor for his big sendoff.

“The funeral house made a Cozy Coupe with flowers,” Tina says. “It was an actually great surprise. I think Father enjoyed.”