The Marx "Reversible Coupe"
$1100.00
Produced by Louis Marx & Company in the 1930s (often officially cataloged or known by collectors as the "Marvel Bumper Car”).
This is an exceptional piece of pre-war American toy engineering, highly regarded for both its imposing size and its distinct Art Deco streamline styling.
The deep red paint, sweeping teardrop fenders, bullet-shaped cabin, and minimalist chrome/silver metal trim inserts perfectly capture the mid-1930s fascination with aerodynamic, futuristic transit.
Famous for its "mystery" action - when fully wound via the clockwork mechanism on the side, it doesn't just drive forward; if either the front or rear bumper hits an obstacle (like a wall or a chair leg), the impact shifts the internal gearing, causing the car to instantly reverse direction. Note that the windup key is missing on this object and thus would not mechanically act accordingly.
However, the sheet metal body lines are remarkably straight, without the major roof-crushing or fender-flattening that often plagues these heavy steel toys when dropped.
On many surviving examples, the bumpers - flexible steel bands - are missing, badly bent, or replaced. This item has the correct double-loop shape and tension hooks are intact.
The object is 17” long, 3.5” high, 4” wide. Note that the rear back left tire is functional, but spins a bit out of sync.
