Before his journey in the Kingdom of Wisdom, Milo owns a small electric car. Despite the fact that he hasn't driven it for months (or maybe years), it serves as his main form of transport throughout the Kingdom of Wisdom.
In the Book[]
Upon encountering the Phantom Tollbooth, Milo uses the small electric car that he hasn't driven in months as his means of transportation throughout the Kingdom of Wisdom. During his travels, Milo encounters Tock the Watchdog and the Humbug who become his passengers and friends.
After his journey comes to an end, the Tollbooth disappears a few days after Milo arrives home, but the car is kept in his room with all his other toys.
The Car's make, design and appearance differ depending on the illustrations of the republished versions of the book with different illustrators.
Movie[]
In the 1970 Chuck Jones film, the Car is depicted as a small red, square-shaped-looking, convertible "Galvanized Automobile" that appears in both live-action and animated once Milo enters the Kingdom of Wisdom. The movie features an "Indecision Gauge" saying "Going?" and "Staying?" with the needle pointing to either one depending on Milo's decision on whether he wants to go or stay. Unlike in the book, it was a one-time-use object for the trip rather than an old possession of Milo's.
When the Phantom Tollbooth first appears in Milo's home, it presents him with the Car which appears as a black board which slides under Milo's feet and spins around (With the startled Milo still on it) until it magically becomes a car.
Afterwards, Milo proceeds to use his car as a means of transportation throughout his adventure in the Kingdom of Wisdom meeting new friends like Tock the Watchdog and the Humbug.
Unlike in the book, where the car is stated to be electric, Milo's Car is powered by his thought and seems to become affected when Milo isn't thinking. An example includes the scene where Milo accidently drives into the Doldrums, the Car proceeded to melt slightly, due to the fact Milo wasn't thinking. During the song "Don't Say There's Nothing to Do in the Doldrums" when the Lethargians sang "We gather our strength to start a new", Milo becomes more awake and at the same time, his Car reforms into it's solid shape, but when Milo becomes more tired, the Car melts more showing that the more tired Milo is, the more his Car melts. When Milo decided to stay in the Doldrums, the Lethargians proceeded to swarm the Car which slowly melted more with one of the Lethargians forcing the Indecision Gauge from "Going?" to "Staying?" in an attempt to prevent Milo from leaving. But when Tock arrived, he managed to convince Milo to escape the Doldrums, he uses thought to get the Car working and reshape it from its melted state.
Unlike in the book, the Car magically disappears with the tollbooth when Milo arrives home and his journey comes to an end.
Gallery[]
-0.jpg "Download (1)-0.jpg (11 KB)")
.jpg "Download (8).jpg (10 KB)")
