diff --git a/python/fastsim/__init__.py b/python/fastsim/__init__.py
index 70f17608..3dd9afe0 100644
--- a/python/fastsim/__init__.py
+++ b/python/fastsim/__init__.py
@@ -6,7 +6,10 @@
 import logging
 import traceback
 from typing import Dict
+from typing_extensions import Self
+import inspect
 
+import fastsim
 from fastsim import parameters as params
 from fastsim import utils
 from fastsim import simdrive, vehicle, cycle, calibration, tests
@@ -55,3 +58,35 @@ def _as_numpy_array(self, *args, **kwargs):
 setattr(fsr.Pyo3ArrayU32, "__array__", _as_numpy_array)
 setattr(fsr.Pyo3ArrayBool, "__array__", _as_numpy_array)
 setattr(fsr.Pyo3VecF64, "__array__", _as_numpy_array)
+
+# creates a list of all python classes from rust structs that need to_pydict and
+# from_pydict added as methods
+ACCEPTED_RUST_STRUCTS = [attr for attr in fastsim.__dir__() if not\
+                         attr.startswith("__") and\
+                            isinstance(getattr(fastsim, attr), type) and\
+                                attr[0].isupper() and\
+                                    ("fastsim" in str(inspect.getmodule(getattr(fastsim, attr))))]
+
+def to_pydict(self) -> Dict:
+    """
+    Returns self converted to pure python dictionary with no nested Rust objects
+    """
+    import json
+    return json.loads(self.to_json())
+
+@classmethod
+def from_pydict(cls, pydict: Dict) -> Self:
+    """
+    Instantiates Self from pure python dictionary 
+    """
+    import json
+    return cls.from_json(json.dumps(pydict))
+
+for item in ACCEPTED_RUST_STRUCTS:
+    setattr(getattr(fastsim, item), "to_pydict", to_pydict)
+    setattr(getattr(fastsim, item), "from_pydict", from_pydict)
+
+setattr(fsr.RustVehicle, "to_pydict", to_pydict)
+setattr(fsr.RustVehicle, "from_pydict", from_pydict)
+setattr(fastsim.vehicle.Vehicle, "to_pydict", to_pydict)
+setattr(fastsim.vehicle.Vehicle, "from_pydict", from_pydict)
diff --git a/python/fastsim/demos/pydict_demo.py b/python/fastsim/demos/pydict_demo.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4a2e8360
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/fastsim/demos/pydict_demo.py
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+"""
+Script demonstrating how to use to_pydict() and from_pydict() for FASTSim
+classes.
+"""
+import fastsim as fsim
+from fastsim import fastsimrust as fsr
+
+# load 2012 Ford F-150 Ecoboost from file
+veh = fsim.vehicle.Vehicle.from_file("2017_Ford_F-150_Ecoboost.csv").to_rust()
+print(veh)
+
+# saving vehicle as pydict
+veh_pydict = veh.to_pydict()
+print(veh_pydict)
+
+# getting fastsim vehicle from pydict
+from_pydict_veh = fsr.RustVehicle.from_pydict(veh_pydict)
+print(from_pydict_veh)
+
+# spot checking to see if the pre-pydict and post-pydict Rust Vehicles are the same
+assert(veh.scenario_name==from_pydict_veh.scenario_name)
+assert(veh.drag_coef==from_pydict_veh.drag_coef)
\ No newline at end of file