The Big Wheel, the first superstar toy of the 1970s, was introduced as a symbol of freedom for young adults in pre-digital childhood. The trike, introduced in 1969, was seen as a gateway to motocross, skateboarding, off-roading, and today’s electric scooters. The toy, created by Louis Marx and marketed by genius and design paragon, has been subject to family drama, corporate machinations, and disputes over ownership and provenance. Despite corporate consensus, the Big Wheel has remained popular and still defines itself as much as its origin. The story of the trike is also a tale of shifts in American manufacturing.