If I told you the best toy cars money can buy are 4" long, made of plastic, and cost under $5 apiece, would you believe me?

Behold the Chubbie.

We first discovered these toys at the ABC Kids' Expo in September. British company Viking Toys' U.S. distributor, International Playthings, didn't give us a brochure or a press release or a CD-ROM to promote Chubbies. They gave us a Chubbie. Why? First, because they are one of the cheapest takeaways a company can offer - as is reflected in their retail price. But there's another, better reason to market Chubbies in this way. When you hold a Chubbie in your hand, any preconceptions you might have about plastic toys being inherently cheap and forgettable are gently shoved aside, and you get it.


BPA-fee and phthalate-free Chubbies will probably never be advertised, because brands with consumer evangelists do not need to advertise. If you've heard of Viking Toys' Chubbies, it's probably because another parent pressed one into your hand, because you stumbled across what at first glance looked like a cheap plastic car at your otherwise high-end local toy shop, or because you were drawn to an Amazon listing for what users would apparently give 10 out of 5 stars if they could. So what's so special about Chubbies?

Chubbies can be played with in any play environment - hardwood floors, concrete, sand, water - and are virtually indestructible. Their slightly soft rubber wheels make the cars roll as though they had ball bearings, but the vehicles are a basic plastic shell with wheels clipped into the bottom. (The sole nod to complexity is the dual axle height settings of some Chubbie vehicles.) Their molded plastic forms are thick-walled and sturdy. They can be washed in the dishwasher. There is nowhere dirt or sand can get trapped and gum up moving parts, and nowhere for water to get in but not get out.

In addition to several styles of cars (convertible, sedan, coupe, and Jeep), "Medium" Chubbies come in airplane (single-engine and jet), helicopter, train (engine and attachable train cars), and more I'm sure. Larger models ("Super" Chubbies) offer more complex construction and service vehicles with moving parts, a sure boon for sandbox play.

Also, for a company with a toy that sells itself, Viking Toys is remarkably engaged with developing new variants to its toys. You can see some of their latest models on the company website.

They make great cheap gifts for your own children, but you can also buy them in bulk and give them individually or in pairs for a "friend's child" gift which will offer a large return in gratitude on a small budget.

You can get a bucket of 15 assorted vehicles for $40 on Amazon.com. Customers who took the leap of faith to purchase the unspecified mix have written in praising the blend of vehicle types.