Physiotherapy departments used to have single small person sized vans that were pedal powered, You could put weights in them. It was designed to get spastic and other injured children to build up the mobility and strength of their legs and often followed by walking lessons in the pool. My Mum was a Physio, nicknamed 'The Sargent Major' funnily enough, not least as she took the men's knee class which was always one of the more difficult tasks for ill discipline. I occasionally had to go into the hospital over school holidays when she was at work and got to play with them if they were not in use. I wonder if such fun treatment is available nowadays? At least one of these vans went into private hands and had an engine put in the back of it. It used to do the rounds of the local shows. I am pretty certain they had spoked wheels similar to a Corgi but would that be Welbike as I recall this one of the differences between the designs? The engine was certainly one from a lawn mower but I do not recall if it was JAP, Villiers or something else two stroke. I also would say these vans were old when I was playing with them so I would put them at 1950-54 which would fit the style of the bodywork. The converted one was not road worthy but I believe some of the miniature buses were.
There are miniature Trojan Brooke Bond vans which are pictured with Chimps driving them. I stupidly cannot recall if the hospital ones were Trojans, they could have been. One previous owner, Chimp!
