Self-propelled toy

A battery motor driven toy has articulated front and rear sections that are extended and contracted about a horizontal pivot in a scissor-like action. Each of the sections carries a surface engaging wheel mounted for rotation only in the forward direction. A biasing force pulls the sections together while the motor drives the sections apart against the biasing force through a gear train that includes gear segments on each section. When the front section is driven, the rear section remains stationary but is pulled forward by the biasing force at the end of the drive cycle while the front remains stationary. Placement of the motor and other weight over the rear wheels results in the vehicle doing a "wheelie" when forward movement of the rear wheels is obstructed so that the front section rises up above the play surface while continuing to extend and retract in a snapping-like action. A counterweighted sound device is mounted under the rear section so that it is activated when the vehicle does a "wheelie".