We want to buy every one of these crazy kids' cars

It’s an eclectic toyshop, too. Goodwood’s favourite, the Austin J40 pedal car of Settrington Cup fame at the Revival, is of course among them (unrestored, $2,500-3,500) along with scale versions of everything from a dump truck, fire chief’s truck, a rocket car and even something fashioned to resemble a Spitfire aircraft. Most of the guide prices are well under $1,000 – but the top ones are expected to go for $20,000.

The majority of the kids’ machines are pedal-powered but not all. The Miller Model 91 is a gravity racer, a one-off custom build of steel body over wooden frame that well evokes Indy racing before WW2 ($600-800). It’s all in original condition – with the patina of age to prove it.

Equally racy and in a similar price bracket is a Ferrari 500 F2 pedal car made in Italy in the 1950s by Corrado & Remondini. Largely complete and unrestored, it’s the perfect choice for the six-year-old who dreams of being Alberto Ascari driving to victory in the 1952 World Championship. With touches including working headlights, Bonhams says it is among the finest child’s cars of its era – as you might expect of the ex-Gordini workers who made it.

More expensive pedal cars (around $1,800-2,400) include a Morgan Plus 4 made in the UK by the Little Pedalers Car Co – it comes with Morgan badges, pneumatic tyres, wire wheels, a sprung rear axle and electric headlights. For the vintage fan, there’s a Vauxhall racer from the 1930s which looks the part.

For the more hands-on six-year-old there are some restoration/recommissioning projects like a Bugatti Grand Prix boat tail-style pedal car made in the late 1920s – plenty of work needed here but then the guide price is $400-600. The same money could bag you a 1960s Tri-Ang Jaguar E-type Series I – it’s original but needs upholstery and a windscreen.

All another E-type in the sale needs is…a keen young driver. This is a very complete and quite beautiful miniature recreation of the classic in Series I roadster form (flat-floor of course). It was hand-built by Half Scale Cars with a fibreglass body over a steel chassis and boasts details including chromed brass trim and burgundy leather upholstery. And, of course, there’s no pedalling needed, motive power (up to 7mph for seven miles) is provided by a 140-Watt electric motor. Price guide? Right at the top of the sale, at $15,000-20,000 but then as Bonhams says it’s just as collectible as the real thing.

Among the other powered cars in the sale are some beauties. There’s a 1963 12-volt Corvette Stingray, made under licence from GM in 1963 to promote the Corvette’s debut ($7,000-10,000). Kids big and small love Corvettes and another in the sale is a junior recreation of the 1998 Indianapolis 500 pace car, correct right down to its race decals and powered by a Briggs & Stratton 3½PS petrol engine ($6,000-8,000).

Another for the budding petrolhead is a 1984 Mercedes SL500 Junior with the same guide price. Also made under licence, it was the work of tuning firm Lorinser and sold through Mercedes dealers alongside the full-size SL. It’s powered by a 3PS Honda four-stroke petrol engine with two-speed gearbox (plus reverse) and foot operated clutch. Even the badges are from a grown-up SL.

These are all impressive machines, but for us one that really stands out is another Jaguar, a two-thirds scale replica of the XK120 made by Little Cars of Florida. Alas this is another piggybank-busting buy, at $15,000-20,000, but you get what you pay for and this Jag does look terrific in British Racing Green with its racing roundels and exacting details. It should go well too, thanks to a 107cc petrol engine and semi-automatic three-speed transmission. It even starts on a key! And the best news? Bonhams says it’s just about big enough for grown-up children to enjoy too…

The Bonhams Audrain Concours Auction in Newport, Rhode Island, is on 30^th September and you can see the full lot list here.

Images courtesy of Bonhams.