Le Toy Van Retro Racer
Approx. price: £18.99
Age range: 3+
Website: www.letoyvan.com
Video clip: ToyTalk TV
Le Toy Van’s Retro Racer taps into the timeless appeal of the wooden toy car, capturing attention with its retro styling and bold design.
The box is the first thing that jumps out at you – lovingly created with beautiful artwork, it really stands out. The car itself is available in either bright red or deep blue, both presented with a gorgeous glossy finish.
There’s great attention to detail, with the ‘Racing Grand Prix’ artwork at the rear, realistic markings on the wooden wheels and patriotic British flags on the sides.
Topping it all off is the racing driver himself. Louis is part of Le Toy Van’s Budkins range – flexible figures scaled to fit in with the company’s large range of playsets and vehicles. Louis wears white racing overalls festooned with sponsor logos and has a Stirling Moss-style helmet, with moveable goggles.
The set is rounded off with a chequered flag, which can be stuck into the rear of the car or held by Louis on his victory lap.
Our testers were instantly captivated with this car. It rolls smoothly along and has a solid, weighty feel that suggests real durability.
After a few test laps with Louis at the wheel it was decided that he didn’t look determined enough, but the addition of a couple of sterner pencil-stroke eyebrows soon altered that. This unexpected customisation worked a treat and with careful use of a rubber Louis could easily be restored to his former self.
Extra play value is added by the removable tyres. They can be made to fly off on tight corners, or be removed during pit stops – the poseability of Louis works well here, it’s easy to make really effective scenes of him changing the tyres.
A pair of these cars would make for some exciting days at the track and even on its own it is an engaging, beautifully crafted car that has all the hallmarks of a classic heirloom toy.
Durability: 4/5
Longevity: 5/5
Value: 4/5
Score: 92%
Conclusion: A brilliant wooden racing car that children really enjoy getting to grips with.
