Just over one fifth of UK adults, 22 per cent, surveyed by Honda admit that they still like to play with toy cars, and that they do so even when their kids aren't around. Half of that 22 per cent even said that they're happy to be seen by other adults playing with toy cars.
Honda has carried out the survey on the eve of the Goodwood Festival of Speed, at which Honda's main stand has been designed to look like a giant toy box. The research goes on to further underline the nation's passion for the ever-popular toy car, with almost a third of adults (29 per cent) admitting to still holding on to the models they owned as a child. One in ten (10 per cent) are so protective of their precious mini marques that they hide them away for safe keeping, while a similar number (6.6 per cent) are conversely so proud of their collection that they keep it on display at home.
Such is the passion for toy cars among UK adults that one in seven (13 per cent) have received one as a gift as an adult, while one in twenty (6 per cent) haven't, but wish they had. A quarter (24 per cent) also admit to being excited when buying a toy car as a gift because it brings back happy childhood memories.
The nation's houses, it seems, are packed with toy cars dating back decades, with one in five (21 per cent) having received 'hand me downs' from other family members. And while one in five (21 per cent) have been pleased to in turn hand down their precious toy cars to the next generation, 3.4 per cent wish they hadn't, and the same number wouldn't do so because they mean too much to them.
Peter Jenkinson, professional Toyologist (we're pretty sure that's not a real word...) and founder of 'Toyology' comments: "We love toy cars as kids both big and small; they're aspirational when you are young and still so when you have kids of your own. They look great on shelves at home as decorative display objects and of course are superb playthings with which to role play and create stories - either with or without the kids! It is hardly surprising that almost a quarter of us still get excited about buying a toy car as an adult."
Further underlining the popularity of the toy car over the years is research from leading trade magazine 'Toy News'. In a poll among industry figures published in February 2015 to find the greatest toy of all time, Scalextric came in at number 4, with Matchbox Cars at 8, followed by Hot Wheels at number 38.