From my much younger childhood!
Wow.. as you say Alsatian health and safety would have a field day.
MOBO if memory serves, you pressed down with both your feet and it "lurched" forward all of 6 inches, well that one we had did. Some of our relatives were moving {in the 50's} so gave us a load of used toys as they couldn't take them with them. Some of those edges on some of the toys would take your finger ends off if you didn't watch out.
I found a guy on you tube, in I think Australia, that restores old "Dinky" type vehicles, although very fascinating to see the end result I can't but imagine he doesn't get out much.