Schaper’s U-Drive-It Action Set taught children ages five and up the fundamentals of driving a car.
The tabletop driving game was released in 1974 and ran on two D-batteries. Kids could drive a toy car through twisting roads on a board using the connected steering wheel, ignition switch, gear shift, and foot accelerator. One side of the board featured a series of country roads while the other gave the experience of city driving. Kids could choose their terrain and practice starting the car, changing speeds, and stopping.
A variety of three-dimensional accessories, including orange cones and a bridge, further simulated real-life road conditions.
After the success of U-Drive-It, Schaper released other U-focused toys, including Baja Bike Scrambler, Max Machine, TOBOR, Vic the Voice Controller ‘Vette, Ranger ATV, and Bulldozer U-Drive-It.
Todd Coopee is Editor-in-Chief of Toy Tales, an online publication that covers toys and games past and present.
