Toys

If you're an automotive enthusiast, long before you took apart engines or lusted after Ferrari Californias, chances are you had a collection of toy cars. Whether it was Matchbox, Hot Wheels, or even Micro Machines, there were few better ways to celebrate your love of four-wheeled transportation than by snapping up the latest die cast models of your favorite rides. But the toys had limits -- with solid metal bodies and plastic wheels you couldn't really take them apart, and there were few ways to customize them beyond scraping off the paint. Sure you could put your limited-edition Hot Wheels Racer on a track and dream of piloting Schumacher's Ferrari, but what if you wanted to try designing a car instead? Well thanks to new toys called Automoblox, not only can today's kids race their cars around the living room, they can take them apart and mix them up to create the vehicle of their dreams.

Originally conceived by Patrick Calello while he was a student at Carnegie Mellon University, instead of forcing children to follow assembly directions, Automoblox are designed to inspire experimentation and foster the imagination. Out of the box they look like normal wood cars -- though nicely-finished ones with printed logos, rubber tires, rear wings, and tiny people inside -- but a closer look reveals them to be much more. Automoblox stand apart because of their potential for customization -- with changeable body blocks held together by removable connectors, kids can swap front and rear ends, combine sections from different models, even string them together to form enormous super vehicles. Six standard variants from coupes to SUVs allow kids to experiment, for example by joining a truck back end and sedan front, or making a massive sports car limousine. And even though the models have separate tires and ride heights, most new creations can be "driven" just as well as the originals.

Besides the ability to mix and match body sections, Automoblox cars include a raft of additional features to keep kids entertained. Models come with unique wheels and tires, which are interchangeable with other vehicles. Roof canopies and passengers can be swapped out, and each car even comes with its own 17 digit VIN number that can be registered online -- those who do can print out an official registration card, receive extras like posters and decals, and get access to limited-edition models not available in stores. The cars also include many thoughtful features to help prolong kids' play times, give them a sense of accomplishment, and encourage brain development. Designed with input from a child psychologist, for example each car's removable connectors come in their own color and shape, so to combine parts from different cars kids must learn to match the right pieces together. And because there are so many different ways to play with them, the toys can last for several years.

Made from wood blocks coated in non-toxic lacquer, the Automoblox cars feel sturdy in the hand -- even the plastic pieces seem solid and unlikely to snap off. In fact, the company has designed the toys to withstand 110 pounds of downward force, so even if Junior accidentally steps on one it should hold up fine. However because the small people inside each car can represent a choking hazard, they aren't recommended for children under age three.