Nearly the scarcest Major

If you were to compile a list of the Corgi Majors with the smallest numbers sold (and excluding the Rocket Age items) then this model, the 1141 second issue of the Bedford Milk Tanker would be at the top. The records show that only 20,000 of these were sold, a very small number, less than the very hard to find 351S RAF Land Rover and only a few more than the equally elusive 500 US Army Land Rover.

2nd and 3rd places in that would, incidentally, go to 1135, the Military Equipment Machinery Carrier (28,000) and 1132, the Bedford Low Loader (44,000).

This one has just come in and the owner says that he had it from new but, understandably, no-one can really ever be sure about these things. You may not see many of these for sale but when they do appear the prices seldom match what one might expect by virtue of their scarcity. The problem is that the tanker part is identical to that which was attached to the Big Bedford cab in its first appearance back in May 1962 (and actually no different in design to the Mobilgas version in April 1959). It never gets suspension and, as far as I am aware the tanker element never gets free-spinning wheels.

The 1131 Machinery Carrier had a blue TK cab and there are two variations of this, one having a distinctly lighter shade of blue. I remember this as I had one myself with a yellow rear axle. I believe that this pale blue is the same as the Milk Tanker shade and so, if you happen to have one you can make up this 1141 model quite easily.

The same applies to the Mobilgas second issue too, although it is hardly worth the effort because the 1140 model sold nearly 100,000. Although still not huge, an original (or something looking like an original) should be easier to find and probably not worth the effort.

 

Corgi Toys @ 60: Milk and Mini-Coopers

 

May brought a pretty and pretty iconic addition to the Corgi line-up. The Morris Mini-Cooper was 227, a very popular model. Simply the 226 model in new colours and with jewels added to the headlamps, but it started a whole new series which was to last many years and these models are very much in demand still today.

The initial May 1962 issues were in blue or primrose. Each would have a white roof and a white bonnet with crossed flags on the bonnet and a RN1, 3 or 7 on the doors. The blue model would have either red or lemon interior, the primrose always red.

First issues had fixed shaped wheels. Later this model would have just the roof painted white and this change almost coincides with the fitting of free-spinning wheels. There are, however, transitional models which have a white bonnet and free-spinning wheels.

In future years this little model would be the base for a series of Monte Carlo and another rally models, changing to BMC Mini-Cooper S and there will also be some which appear with an Austin badge on the bonnet. There are also several changes to the base design over time which are detailed in a separate article.

This month also sees the Bedford cab attached to a Milk Tanker as model 1129. This is the 1110 Mobilgas Tanker, from over three years ago, with a different coat of paint and decals. With no suspension and its fixed wheels, it seems a quite dated addition but would prove not to be the last by any means! This particular issue would seem only to have fixed shaped wheels but it may have been that some early issues had smooth wheels but I have yet to see one.

Another model getting the colour and decal change was the even more ancient (and ancient-looking) Karrier which had been a Lucozade van back in 1958. Now it is a Dairy produce Van, model 435. Still with no suspension and fixed wheels. The vast majority you will see have shaped fixed wheels but the very first models issued had smooth fixed wheels.

Completing the scene for May 1962 is yet another model to get a temporary extension of life - the even more ancient-looking ERF truck. This time it's the March 1958 truck with a fresh coat of paint and a 101 trailer in matching pale blue and white added along with some milk containers, a block on each of the truck and trailer.

So the Milk Marketing Board got plenty of publicity from these three models and Corgi got a little extra income from some otherwise very dated models.

As with the Milk Tanker, I have only seen this combination with shaped fixed wheels.