JOE'S CAR BY CENTURY 21 TOYS

When I first watched Joe 90 on TV in 1968, the Jet Air Car, the fantastical flying vehicle designed by Prof. McClaine and generally referred to outside the series as Joe's Car was the thing that stuck in my mind when that first episode finished.

Designed by the great Derek Meddings , it was bound to be the popular toy from the series.

When it came to the Joe 90 series vehicles, Century 21 Toys produced just the two . A friction drive Sam's Car, which, while  the design is quite attractive, it was just a friction drive toy with a couple of bland features like an opening bonnet  and spring suspension. On top of that it is a surprisingly small toy.

Joe's Car on the other hand came as a friction drive, as well as the much more appealing  battery operated version.

It's a much bigger toy than Sam's Car, and quite robust.

Although both types look exactly the same, the battery operated version has illuminated headlights as it moves forwards and backwards using the remote control . The wings spring out automatically, and the car can be steered by altering a lever at the back which turns the back wheels.