Plastic Predecessors By Steve Butler

IN THE EARLY 1950s the Ideal Toy Corporation introduced its line of unassembled plastic toy cars that were considered a “STARTER KIT FOR THE YOUNG HOBBYIST”. The popular English MG sports car was their initial kit. Pictured are two of the Ideal MGs. One is solid red and the other is primarily red but with some components in blue. More observant readers by now may have noticed that curiously and inexplicably the box for the solid red car is labeled “MG” while the box for the other is labeled “MC”. Both cars used identical exterior molds.

The red/blue MC has three distinct differences ,making it likely to having been ssued first. It has rubber tires mounted on spoked plastic wheels. Some of its steering components were made of die cast white metal. Most interesting is that the car was equipped with a “REAL LIFE 3-Speed Gear Shift.” Between the seats is a die cast white metal floor shift lever with a paper label on the transmission hump marked “FORWARD” and “NEUTRAL” and “REVERSE” thus making it actually a 1-speed with reverse. The car clicks in forward and in reverse but cannot move in neutral (a.k.a park).

Explore more collector stories, vintage toy highlights, and market insights in the Antique Toy World Magazine – October 2026

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