Written by:
SPEED Staff
SPEEDtv.com
In 2008, Cozy Coupe outsold every other car in America, topping the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord with over 457,000 units sold. During the 1990s, it outsold the Honda Accord and the Ford Taurus.
The Ohio-built Cozy Coupe has been the first set of wheels for millions of kids since it began production in 1979. (Photo: Little Tikes)
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Having sold over 10 million units in its 30-year history and with worldwide distribution, Little Tikes Cozy Coupe is one of the most widely recognized children's toys and one of the most popular cars of all time.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Cozy Coupe, which has been built in northeastern Ohio since 1979, the prestigious Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum in Cleveland will induct the Little Tikes foot-powered car into its permanent collection on June 6.
"As a father and a grandfather, I have long been acquainted with the Cozy Coupe in my own family,” said Allan Unrein, director the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum. “When I learned it was the vehicle's 30th anniversary and that it was the best-selling car of 2008 and in the 1990s, I knew I had to have it in our collection of historically significant vehicles."
A special guest at the ceremony will be Jim Mariol, who designed the original Cozy Coupe for Little Tikes. Mariol was a former member of the design team at Chrysler.
The Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum is considered one of the top 10 automobile museums in the country, according to Car Collector Magazine. Part of the Western Reserve Historical Society, the museum houses historically and technically important automobiles, aircraft, bicycles, motorcycles, spacecraft and related accessories that illustrate the development of transportation and its connection to the culture and history of Northeast Ohio.
The Crawford Museum will display one the first Cozy Coupes to come off the production line in 1979 as well a 30th anniversary edition Cozy Coupe.
Little Tikes began production of Cozy Coupe in Macedonia, Ohio, before moving about 12 miles to its present facility in Hudson in 1985. Because of Cozy Coupe's Macedonia history, the June 6th induction ceremony and unveiling of the museum's Cozy Coupe exhibit will take place at the museum's Macedonia Preservation Facility.
Later, the Cozy Coupe exhibit will be moved to the main museum in Cleveland.
"We were honored when we learned the Crawford Auto Museum wanted to induct the Little Tikes Cozy Coupe into its collection," said Tom Richmond, general manager of Little Tikes. "Not only does the Cozy Coupe hold such a unique position in automotive history outselling real cars, but it's been a part of the Cleveland-Akron community since its inception.”
