The
Green Machine was kind of an
other-worldly Big Wheel. It was mostly green and black and looked liked a cross between a
cricket and a
Transformer. Longer than the more-popular (or
perhaps just "more-sold") Big Wheel, the Green Machine had the
appearance of a
chopper or a
souped up hot-rod. If the two were sitting side by side and you asked any
six-year-old which one could go
faster, there would be no
hesitation: the Green Machine just
looked faster.
Although the Big Wheel and the Green Machine were both front wheel drive, it was the latter's rear wheel that turned — much like a forklift. Being physically longer, the Green Machine had a larger turning radius than the Big Wheel — this may explain their lack of use as Zambonis at ice rinks — making it more difficult (than with a Big Wheel) to do spin-outs.
The Green Machine was also steered differently; the rear wheel was turned by the means of two levers a'la BattleZone. This "different" control mechanism may have limited the number of it's sales — indeed I only knew one or two kids with them.