The first issue in 1960 was the impressive Chevrolet Impala in sedan form in January as catalogue number 220. The State Patrol edition had been issued at the end of 1959 so this was not the first time people would have seen the Impala although I suspect that in most shops this and the 223 State Patrol may have arrived at the same time.
The first models would appear to have been the salmon colour and the blue model with a lemon interior and they would have had smooth fixed wheels. They would also have had the base type as shown in the centre of the illustration below. Later, models with shaped wheels and, towards the end of production and somewhat scarcer, with free spinning wheels will come along and, at some point in the fixed wheel period, with the different base.
I have also noticed a slight variation in the plastic interior piece. It appears to fill the space available better in the middle one shown here. At the rear edge there also appears to be a gap at the corners on the later models.
This will prove to be a very popular and long-running model, to be revived in 1965 when someone slices the casting in two and inserts a chrome section which makes four new and still impressive models.
The chart above shows how I have found the various Impala editions spread with regard to wheel types over the years.
Hello Corgi lover. There are some model 200 Impalas I've seen with very different wheels covers that appear to applied over regular wheels. These different wheels have the look of white wall tires - Here's one on ebay: https://www.ebay.ca/itm/187388693205
ReplyDeleteAre these genuine? Applied after-market? Rare?
Mark Malone in Montreal, Canada
Hello Mark, Corgi had what they called Accessory Packs and one of these contained discs which could be stuck on to the smooth fixed wheels fitted at the time to many of their models. This made the wheels look more interesting and, in the case of the American models, more authentic. I am not so sure they were intended for trucks and Austin A40s but you'll find them on all sorts of things now!
ReplyDeleteThe adhesive is very strong and they're not that easy to remove so they've survived 60 years or so, although where the young lad didn't get the position right they don't look so good.
These Accessory Packs also included number plates, tax discs, AA and RAC badges, small triangular pennants, L plates and a whole host more which you'll find attached to many models. Original packs are also available but quite expensive now.