Corgi Toys @ 60: A smart Citroën and a new Transporter

 

April 1966 brought two new models to the shelves of your local toy shop. First, the Citroën DS gets rebuilt as a 'Le Dandy' Coupé. This had nearly all the features that I wanted Corgis to have as a child: wire wheels, opening doors and boot, not just jewelled headlamps but lovely, separate, jewelled fog lamps in chrome and a glorious paint finish in luxurious metallic maroon. It was definitely one of my favourites in 1966. I had no idea then that there was also a rather attractive edition in metallic blue and white, with a quite different interior colour too. I have to admit that even in 1966, that bright yellow that Corgi used on several models was just a bit too much for my taste.

The suspension has failed on many of these models now, being provided by plastic elements that have become brittle and many that you will see sag rather sadly, especially at the back. The individual fog lamps are vulnerable and easily snapped off so nice examples can be expensive now, especially for the blue and white version.

At least Corgi did finally get the rear axle in the right place, compared to the embarrassingly misplaced position on the long-running 210, 210S and 323 models (nor does the 259 have any semblance of a differential at the back!)

The second new arrival is the Ford Carrimore Car Transporter as Corgi Major 1138.

This was a much overdue improvement on the ageing Bedford cab, the Ford cab first being seen on the Express Service truck 1137. With its tilting cab and an engine that even had a rotating fan, this was much more detailed and modern-looking. Frustratingly, the nice little touches like movable mirrors were made of plastic and came adrift too easily, as did the ladder and exhaust at the rear of the cab. Even the twin horns seldom survive the intervening 60 years, often now being bent downwards. Try to straighten them at your peril!

The transporter will take six cars without too much trouble and is a completely fresh design with very 60s style branding. The model also features the new type of wheel used from scratch for the first time. The Express Service model was initially issued with big shaped wheels.

The Ford Carrimore was a popular model, especially when loaded with six models in Gift Sets 41 or 48 and stayed on dealers' order lists through to early 1969 when it gets replaced by the Scammell edition. That, though, was a much cheaper cab to produce with only jewelled lights to give it a little appeal. The Ford remains as an example of Corgi design and engineering close to its peak at this time.