A 50-YEAR-OLD toy car believed to have been used by children at an Oxford primary school was one of star displays at an open day.

More than 200 visitors explored 60,000 items when Oxfordshire County Council’s museums’ resource centre in Standlake opened its doors to the public.

Scores of people browsed objects ranging from a Roman baptism font to a mid-19th century sewing box, all with links to the county.

But the children’s pedal car, which was built at the Austin Junior Car Factory in South Wales in the 1950s, proved to be one of the most popular items on display.

Modelled on an Austin J40 Roadster, it is thought to have been used by pupils at Botley Nursery School until the late 1960s.

But mystery still surrounds its exact origins and museum staff are appealing for clues.

The cars were built with offcuts from the ‘real’ Austin factory in Longbridge, Birmingham, using Government funds to help disabled coal miners back to work.

The toys, which sold for £27 plus a £6 purchase tax, featured working headlights and horns, detachable wheels with Dunlop pneumatic tyres and leather seats.

Centre manager Christiane Jeuckens said: “The car was first catalogued when we transferred collections from outlying stores to our new purpose-built centre here at Standlake. So we don’t know who donated it or when.

“It appears we have a quote from a person using a red J40 at Botley Nursery school as a child in the 1960s, but there is no proof it was this particular model.

“We are carrying out a collections review at the moment to ensure our collections have good records and a strong Oxfordshire link.

“We would really like to know more about who used this car or one like it in Oxfordshire and specifically if anyone remembers donating it to the museum between 1964 and 1993.

“It’s in excellent condition for a toy car that has been used a lot and it hasn’t been restored.”

She added: “We had a record 230 visitors on the open day, our most successful day yet.

“The visitors were people of all ages and there was something to be explored for everyone.

“We always try to offer visitors a different experience from the previous open day and this time we tried to give people more free time to browse and wander among the stored collections in addition to guided tours.”

The next open day will be in May.

tairs@oxfordmail.co.uk

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