When he was a boy, Emiliano Diez placed a brick on the grass in the yard of his house, stuck a stick into the ground, and used the pulley of a pump to act as a flywheel. And so she spent hours “driving his car.” Today it also passes hours, but building pedal cars so that other children can drive the car of their dreams.
The pedal vehicles that Emiliano builds are a dream. He often doubts whether the elder who orders him a unit does it as an act of love for a son or grandson or does it more thinking of wanting to have one of these fantastic miniatures nearby, even though he cannot drive them.
Emiliano, his wife Macarena and their two children carry out a project that they named Piquiritos and that it was born precisely as an act of love: “Everything came about to give a gift to my son Valentine,” says this self-taught manufacturer who has his workshop in the back of his house in Longchamps, in the south of Greater Buenos Aires.
From there they come out with their version of a Ford 32 Roadster, designed by him and built 100% by hand, with pedal traction and intended for children between 3 and 7 years old. There are also some pickup versions that may include a hitched trailer.
Emiliano had such faith when he faced this project that he ended up resigning from the position he had in a tire factory to dedicate himself fully to the production of pedal cars. Time has proven him right, since In four years he has built about 200 examples.
Pedaling to replace screens
Piquiritos’ workshop is at the bottom of the Diez family’s property. While some would have prioritized building a barbecue area with a grill, this mechanical technician knows his abilities to solve and create and that is why he prioritized a small workshop that grew over time.
It all started in 2018, “when Valentín was four years old. That’s when I started with the idea and made a couple of sketches, looking for the size and format so that everything fits according to the measurements,” Emiliano recalled. But he quickly realized that “if I can do it to sell, if the kids like it” it could work for something bigger.
-But not everyone who wants to make a car for their child can do it. What is your training?
-I am a mechanical technician and I always liked to design things, solve things… solve, solve. I worked for 18 years in a multinational company in maintenance, whose idea was to solve the problem of machines. And I always tell you when you do everything you are self-taught. And I said: I’m going to do it. And I started looking for ideas everywhere. I based it a bit on the Ford 32 Roadster.
Emiliano Diez has his workshop in the back of his house in Longchamps, in the south of the GBA. Photo: Juano Tesone-How long did it take you and how much material did you spend until you had the final design?
-Material perhaps not so much because it was cardboard that is used to make technical drawings. And time… Borrowed time, since I finished defining it during the pandemic: I was there for a month and a half every day. It was my work at home.
-And when did you have the first car with the design that is seen today?
-The first car was ready in August 2020. The first one came out there. The four of us were here, all day immersed in math and talking. The bodywork took me two and a half months because I already had the chassis figured out. Valentino used it with the pipe chassis and wheels.
-Do you do the entire car?
-Yeah. I now outsource some things because I was finding good people for what I do and because I couldn’t do everything due to demand. I also kept the paint and the sheet metal, I did the bodywork.
The Piquiritos brand arose from the concern of making a pedal car for his son Valentín. Photo: Juano Tesone-What is the production process like?
– I start from the chassis. Then I move on to the bodywork. I make the entire body by hand: weld, grind, putty like any conventional vehicle, paint and then assembly.
-What is the most difficult part of the manufacturing process?
-The design of curving the sheet metal, making a design harmonious, sized for the baby. I like that it is a roadster car design, without a roof, because otherwise the baby would come out through the roof. So the challenge was, it was the sheet metal, bending it because it’s all by hand.
The production process of Piquiritos is 100% artisanal. Photo: Juano Tesone-Don’t you have a matrix to do it?
-No. Everything by hand: hammer and tinsmith’s pump to make the ribs.
-In times of so many screens and connectivity, what do those who order you a car ask of you?
-There is a little bit of everything. There is a lot of fanaticism among parents regarding the car, who perhaps see a little more of the work that goes into the paint or design. The baby may only see the game. And yes, my idea was always for the baby to interact with the car. Not only walk, but they park, they pretend they are in a city, they pretend to do everything. And also take out the screen that you have there, leaning on the chair.
-What reaction do people have when they see your cars?
-When people see me at events they ask me if they are imported, where I buy them, where I bring them from. And I invite you to a thousand workshops. I tell them that I make them in my house, so they can come whenever they want to see the process. And yes, they are amazed because they have never seen anything like this, much less something done here.
-What was the most extravagant request you had?
-There is everything. But I think it was a truck with a trailer, with a whitewall tire and a stainless steel tire… Crazy. Then I had a request from a person who has several Torino who asked for one that has the same original color as one of his cars. And we get the same color of Torino. She ordered it for her grandson.
The body is folded by hand and shaped with a hammer. Photo: Juano Tesone-It seems more like a personal order…
-Yeah!. I think that many buy it saying: Yes, it’s for my grandson. But the grandson is going to grow up. And then they grab it and put it in the room. (laughs)
-Do they ask you for some with an electric motor?
-Yes, they have asked me. But the idea is for the baby to interact with the car. I mean the pedaling. The reverse gear and the forward gear they do to park. It can also be done with electric, obviously, but the dynamics are different with the pedal car. And then the eternal struggle with the issue of values. A capable electric car that costs the same or a little less than what I sell it for, but it is made of plastic. And this sheet metal and it lasts longer.
Emiliano Diez, with the little cars he makes in the back of his house. Photo: Juano Tesone-Did you have a pedal car as a child?
-Not quite. She had a go-kart that she drove everywhere.
-And what was born as a project for your son is today a life project.
-Yeah. And today I have the two best testers for the cars: Valentín and Guadalupe.
