Corgi Model Club: the best copy of the best original

 I am beginning to think that we have had enough James Bond Aston Martins now and it would be nice to end on what is probably the best copy of the best original.

Just scrolling through these photos should be enough to demonstrate how lovely this model is (and, of course, was). I definitely prefer the silver grille and bumpers, probably because I like models that do look like a real car and the gold stuff was odd to say the least.

Of course, it is that bubble pack again and I need to provide a warning right at the start. If you don't intend to play with this, leave it in the box as you get it. That's because you will find it hard to avoid damaging the card at the back. It is not at all easy to pull back. After tearing the gold bumper issue last month, I was really very careful, gently inserting a flat part of a nail file to try and encourage the rear section to move. But, once again, I failed. Only by firmly pressing on those ends of the fold and prising very gently to prevent a tear at that vulnerable spot was I able to get it to move.

Anyway, back to the content . . . the next very careful work is when you open the flap on the tray to access the secret documents and spare baddie. I succeeded with this one but you do need to be so very careful. I have to ask why is it necessary for all these flaps to have those tiny slits? It's been the case since Day One. You would thought that someone at the Club would have considered simple folded flaps, even if they didn't always stay closed as neatly as these do. They would also have been more accurate copies but the boxes are always the least good examples of a 'copy' anyway, what with shiny surface, necessarily different text and incorrect font styles.

Inside, everything is as it was with the last issue.

I am impressed with how the Chinese have managed to make the roof lie nice and flat.

Whilst my model does sit evenly, the suspension on one side is distinctly more firm than the other. Indeed, it is as if the tyre is too wide but I have not had time to investigate. There have been reports that the car is very much squashed in to the bubble and that may have a detrimental effect on the suspension. It was certainly a bit of a struggle to extract the car from its clear home but I doubt either its insertion, life spent there nor my extraction caused any damage.

The baddie is inside the car but, of course, is free to move and, upon arrival appeared to be doing something I really cannot write about in this article without having to apply for a new Over-18 rating. As you need to open the roof in order to correct matters and have him sit up properly, it can be risky pressing that button. Should baddie decide to wedge himself sideways or in a way that prevents free movement of the seat then any vulnerable parts of the seat spring mechanism could be damaged. Luckily I got away with the push but do be careful and certainly I would recommend removing the baddie when moving the model around or posting it.

Incidentally, the previously best copy was the 96655 issue in the 1990s. That had rather unattractive wheels but otherwise was a nice example and packed in a nice window-style box. They were not trying to copy anything with that one but it all kinda worked. This one is very good but I think that's enough, now, thank you. 

Yes, I know there are the later edition without tyre slashers and the later sort of Whizzwheels but no-one wants copies of that. Indeed, I would have just issued this one and left it at that but I guess the shop sales of the gold bumpers, plus the bizarre silver 261 and even more bizarre Hornby R26101 help keep the business alive. Much as I moan about small differences and boxes, I do quite like to handle these brand new, shop-fresh models when they arrive and can persuade myself to forget for a while that they've come to Britain in a container aboard one of those ghastly container ships piled high with goods for consumers here.

Edit:

[I have just remembered the row about the rear wheel arches. So perhaps for some this may not be the best copy. I'll let you choose another!]

The MIchigan Collection: European Cars

Here are some models from the European section of the catalogue which are included in the Michigan collection. I am awaiting more pictures of most items but offers and reservations are welcome in the meantime.

 

The Michigan Collection: British cars

Here are some cars from the British section of the catalogue which are included in the Michigan Collection. They are all very nice and many have original boxes too.

The collector is based in USA so my normal postage charges have to be reversed as that is where they will be despatched from. Whilst this may make some prices less attractive for customers outside the States, I am hoping to be able to have several sent in one shipment and maybe a low valuation will minimise duties payable and the shipping cost itself can be spread across a number of models.

For the particularly special (and expensive) models the shipping cost is not a significant figure anyway and I am sure we will consider reasonable offers too.

You will eventually be able to view a range of photos, similar to what I always provide, for all the models but for now some may only have one or two. Below is a price guide. Contact me if you wish to make an offer or you can place an order in my own store, (not the Ebay one). This link will take you to the store where all the images I have and details are shown where I have them. I am advised that the models are mostly in first class condition, many with good boxes. The list below gives an indication of condition too. Prices are in GB£.

The Michigan Collection: American Cars

 Here are some cars from the American and Japanese section of the catalogue which are included in the Michigan Collection. They are all very nice and many have original boxes too. I am awaiting more pictures of many of these but offers and reservations welcome in the meantime.

The Michigan Collection

Here are some of the TV &Film models in a collection I have been asked to sell. There are many more in other categories that I will publish over the next week or two.

The collector is based in USA so my normal postage charges have to be reversed as that is where they will be despatched from. Whilst this may make some prices less attractive for customers outside the States, I am hoping to be able to have several sent in one shipment and maybe a low valuation will minimise duties payable and the shipping cost itself can be spread across a number of models.

For the particularly special (and expensive) models the shipping cost is not a significant figure anyway and I am sure we will consider reasonable offers too.

You will eventually be able to view a range of photos, similar to what I always provide, for all the models but for now some may only have one or two. Below is a price guide. Contact me if you wish to make an offer or you can place an order in my own store, (not the Ebay one). This link will take you to the store where all the images I have and details are shown where I have them. I am advised that the models are mostly in first class condition, many with good boxes. The list below gives an indication of condition too. Prices are in GB£.

I am also prepared to consider reserving some items where you need to see more photos - but, as I expect there to be quite a strong interest in some items (the Batmobile is the matt one), it is possible that some collectors may just buy outright. So everything is subject to models being still available and I reserve the right to amend the prices shown above should I discover that a model is much better or worse than the photos I have seen and details provided so far suggest.

Shipping is estimated to be £30 for UK buyers and $8 for US buyers. If you are anywhere else then get in touch and we will provide you with a precise figure for the models) you are interested in.

There shouldn't be an extra charge for UK or US buyers but there will be an import charge for those elsewhere which we can estimate based on an agreed value.

 

Corgi Toys @ 60: Marcos 1800GT

 

After all the excitement of the January launches, we had a quiet month in February 1966, with just a single new issue. This was the Marcos 1800GT.

Marcos was a small company and you didn't see many of these models on the roads, but there again, one could say the same about many of Corgi's models, now I think about it!

I think this was the first fixed roof car with a driver that could be removed. He is often missing nowadays but looks very similar to the one used in the Lotus Elan, with a blue helmet.

The model came with a set of peel-off racing number stickers and these seem to have been supplied randomly but 3,4 5 6 and 8 seem more common in my experience.

It has several variants: the obvious one being the less common blue edition with white stripes and a chalky blue interior. You will also find three types of stripe: green in a thin and much fatter style and a blue. The blue stripe was used on export models to Canada and is quite hard to find now.

The door mechanism was never very good on this model, often getting quite loose and either sagging or not closing nicely. The bonnet also often fails to settle in a fully closed in line manner.

Corgi Model Club have produced a good copy of this model.

Aston Martin wheel arches

 

I hadn't noticed until now the difference between the original #270 rear wheel arch shape and that of the Corgi Model Club issue.

I think the Club have got this wrong.

The #261 looks right.

It's quite surprising as the Club are supposed to be recreating the originals, not approximation to the originals. With modern technology one would think that something as basic as the shape of a wheel arch would be a simple thing to get right. I know that I criticise the models for an assortment of minor differences but I didn't notice what is probably the biggest error they've made so far.