Corgi Model Club's Ghia 5000 Mangusta

 

This is a fine re-issue. A very attractive and, I think, faithful edition. Not having to hand an original, i am working from memory but I am sure this is an excellent copy in many respects.

One area that did not seem so good was the comparatively loose fit of the chassis. I recall having a much firmer fix for this with no movement at all once in place. This new one fits in very easily but has movement still. The suspension also seems lighter. Indeed, I don't recall the original having any (although it clearly must have had as it's written loud and clear on the box!)

It is the later edition with the 'T' logo in place of the 'Ghia' logo.

The aerial is in place!! So many of the originals have lost theirs that the price of a complete original is considerable now as it is so scarce. I do worry slightly that these new bodies might make it onto old chassis.

The wheels are very attractive and beautifully produced. (The red axle ends are a reflection.)

The chassis seems darker than I remember. It is the gold block rather than steel-coloured for the engine.

Extracting the chassis takes a while. The Chinese have a way with wire. I needed tweezers and do be careful as the looped section goes over the rear and through some delicate parts which could be damaged by too enthusiastic or desperate pulling.

The yellow plastic tray is very nicely copied and seems somewhat sturdier or more likely to survive use than the original!

A delight for many will be the copy of the ultra-scarce header card. I do hope this has some unique feature to distinguish it from the real ones. Never having seen, let alone have, this header card, I need to rely on the contribution of others in this respect.

Apart from the Chinese side (bottom) the box is superbly made and, to me, looks and feels exactly right.

On arrival, the cellophane panel is protected by a thin sheet of some plastic film.

It also comes with the square information card.

Definitely worth the modest outlay of about £24 in my opinion.

Three smart Whizzwheel models down a narrow lane in Kidderminster

Three very good Whizzwheel editions have made their way through a very narrow lane to a new home near Kidderminster in Warwickshire.

The Chevrolet Corvette is in the scarce shade of metallic pink. The Ghia is quite uncommon too, missing an aerial but otherwise in excellent shape. The Barchetta Runabout is a crazy little Italian fun vehicle but which might not be so good in our weather!

Corgi should have supplied replacement aerials in the box

Two rare Corgi models. The Ghia Mangusta 5000 De Tomaso first appeared in 1969 as #271 and was the second example of a detachable chassis. The Lotus Elan #319 had been the first. It was an attractive car but, apart from being able to take off the body for some reason best known to the production team, that was it. Nothing opened, it was a bit anaemic and the aerial broke on almost every model except this one. (You just try finding one with an original aerial intact!). 

I suppose there might have been a plan to release different coloured versions, maybe even different wheel types so that swapping chassis would be a bit more interesting. Unfortunately, as you all know now, this was Whizzwheels time and so this model didn't even see out 1969 (making good values now for these). 

In its place was #203 - the same body but with its chassis firmly sealed up now, ubiquitous little plastic wheels and a highly vulnerable to chips green metallic paint. If you can find one (and that's easier said than done) then you'll see that the paint falls off if you breathe too hard or there's thunder outside. I am amazed that I managed to find this one which is almost perfect.

I have yet to find a green one with an aerial, though. Corgi really should have put some spares in the box.

#203 didn't last long either and sales appear to have been pretty low. It came off most shelves in 1972, not much more than a year after coming out. It is these changeovers and very short runs, though, that make this period quite interesting. Models in good condition are scarce but, whilst prices for #271 are really high, #203 is all over the scale, from extremely expensive down to a few pounds. No-one seems to have much of a clue but I can only see these increasing. Despite the general unpopularity of these late models their scarcity will eventually be clear and I can even see some of them exceeding the traditional collector's favourite predecessors.